Here is Union Office’s brand collateral. The letterhead and business card are multi-functional. The letterhead has a built in grid—allowing artist and designers to sketch ideas, and the business card has a diecut “U” shape which functions as a paperclip/bookmark.

The website acts as a resource: connecting Seattle artists and designers; a web gallery: promoting works by Union Office members, volunteers, and public workshop students; and a virtual store-front: making the works created available for public purchase. The site is intentionally minimal as to let the works generated to be the focus.

Here are the Union Office’s logo studies and development comps. The logo sketches are arranged in chronological order from top left to bottom right in order to see the final logo’s evolution. There are some pretty horrid sketches in the mix—but hey, you gotta dig through the mud to find fresh water!

The final logo is a representation of the collaborative philosophy that is so important to the Union Office. Each point symbolizes an idea and the lines that cross and intersect represent the cross-pollination of these ideas—creating a multi-faceted Union of artistic minds.

The chaps over a Hort have tackled the most intimidating re-brand—The Bauhaus Dessau Foundation. And may I say: I think they came to a smart solution. By employing Gropius’s philosophy that form must follow function, Hort took a completely minimalist and complimentary approach by using typography, strict grids, and a customized Courier typeface! Check out their site to see more photos and hear the complete design story.

A few comparable organizations used as inspiration to develop Union Office’s non-profit business model.

A couple of process slides from Union Office’s 11th week review

“Golden Parachutes”, gold leaf and pencil drawings by James Bills

Awesome poster of Wim Crouwel by Spin. I want one!