The Mill District
A grass-roots tactical urbanism and brand project for an historic district in Kent, Ohio.
The Mill District Better Block was a day-long event temporarily showcasing road improvements, community activities, artwork, and communal gathering spaces on N. Water Street in Kent, Ohio. The street is a vibrant neighborhood that boasts quality coffee shops, art galleries, yoga, and dance—but it’s also known for its vacant lots and buildings, and lacks of many basic infrastructural elements such as crosswalks and streetlights.
We worked with the community to plan and brand the event which resulted from months of vision casting, community planning, research, and volunteer coordination, and was preceded by working with the community and City of Kent to brand the street as “The Mill District”—named after the iconic Mill established by the Williams Brothers in 1879. Shortly after the planning for Kent Better Block began, the City of Kent received a $1 million grant for street improvements to North Water Street from the Ohio Department of Transportation.
Client
City of Kent, Ohio
Services
Brand Identity, Apparel, Print Collateral, Web Design, Strategic Workshops, Consultation, Signage, Wayfinding, Placemaking
Year
2018
Kent Better Block was planned and executed through 22 bi-weekly meetings with 75+ dedicated community members. These visioning workshops were comprised of brainstorming sessions, placemaking exercises, resource and volunteer coordination, and community outreach. Through a survey with local businesses, we found that there was a shared desire for change and revitalization in the community, as well as a new opportunity to unite the business owners and community members with a shared sense of place.
We designed a flexible brand system for the street based on old images of the iconic mill established by the Williams Brothers in 1879, known as one of the most recognizable buildings in Kent’s skyline. We became inspired by the rich visual history of the street, in addition to the arts and coffee culture which thrives there.
Day-of features included mocked-up crosswalks, diagonal parking, and temporary traffic bump outs in addition to other temporary street-wide improvements that included expanded gathering spaces and art installations.
More Work
File/LifeCo-creating an installation design remembering the stories of Pennhurst
Mobile MakerspaceRedesigning an RV into a mobile poetry makerspace and classroom
KENT SignDesigning a new placemaking opportunity for downtown Kent, Ohio
Franklin HallCreating an energetic and dynamic environment for Franklin Hall at Kent State University
Peninsula ArchitectsA timeless and sculpted brand identity for an architecture studio focusing on sustainability.
Roofsmith RestorationCrafting a confident brand toolkit for an ambitious roofing company
Christ Community ChapelDesigning a comprehensive brand system, space, and web app to empower a church to reimagine its mission
Charles Koch Institute and Foundation WebsitesBuilding a pair of custom, responsive websites for a social philanthropy foundation and institute
ArcotRedefining the world leader in digital payment security
North Water Brewing Co.Branding a local brewery with a quirky name, brand, and signage system
Armed with Our VoicesDesigning an adaptable pop-up exhibit experience that encourages visitors to explore the history of May 4th, student protest, and the timely themes of peace and conflict transformation
Honeycutt PropertiesCreating a boldly framed brand for a real estate company in New Bern, North Carolina
Mapping May 4Designing an exploratory web app that maps the oral histories of May 4, 1970.
Poynter-Koch Media & Journalism FellowshipDesigning an adaptive brand system for a thought-leading journalism fellowship program
Traveling StanzasDesigning a comprehensive set of digital writing tools, spaces, and apps with an award-winning poetry center
Fieldstone CounselingComing Soon
CRG TechnologiesDesigning a vibrant brand for a team of API management experts
Neighborhood VoicesBuilding a humble website highlighting the poetry, memoirs, and essays written by everyday Clevelanders
TiccoNaming, branding, web, and product design for a network of people shaping cities
The Project on Rural MinistryCrafting a brand identity for a regional interdisciplinary initiative that celebrates the unique characteristics of the communities who participate
Daisy CakesCrafting a colorful brand identity for a growing cake pop business
Parkside StudentsForming an adaptive brand identity created with a restrained typography and expressive collages for a growing youth ministry
Misc LogosVarious logos we’ve created over the years