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Close up detail shot of the blocks of the Kanawha County Public Library legacy wall juxtaposed with the donor names engraved on the surface.
Press
Awards
June 5, 2023

Kanawha County Public Library Legacy Wall Wins AIA Honor Award

The West Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects has recognized the Kanawha County Public Library Legacy Wall with an Honor Award for Craftsmanship. This award is the highest level of recognition for this special category celebrating design, detailing, and execution. RSM Design worked alongside Silling Architects, DCL, Prayworks, and the Kanawha County Public Library to design and fabricate this wall that honors those members of the community that made the wall possible. RSM Design was honored to collaborate with this team in creating this dimensional Legacy Wall that honors the Charleston community.

AIA HONOR AWARD FOR CRAFTSMANSHIP

The West Virginia Chapter of the American Institute of Architects has recognized the Kanawha County Public Library Legacy Wall with an Honor Award for Craftsmanship. This award is the highest level of recognition for this special category celebrating design, detailing, and execution. RSM Design worked alongside Silling Architects, DCL, Prayworks, and the Kanawha County Public Library to design and fabricate this wall that honors those members of the community that made the wall possible. RSM Design was honored to collaborate with this team in creating this dimensional Legacy Wall that honors the Charleston community. 

Placed within the entry lobby and rising over four floors, the installation embodies the principle of individual participation as a building block to create something greater than oneself, with the individual elements assembled as an additive structure, supporting one another and crafting a unified experience.

See more of our work with the Kanawha County Public Library
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Wooden directional sign for a golf course. Golf course identification signage designed by RSM Design, with a golfer in the background.
Press
May 22, 2023

The Golf Experience

The words “golf” and “resort” often go hand in hand. Now add in “Texas” and “PGA” and you end up having one of the most impressive new golf destinations in the United States. The recently opened 550-room Omni PGA Resort in Frisco, Texas is home to two championship golf courses and numerous amenities including a golf-inspired retail and restaurant village, conference center, event pavilions, and numerous trails linking the development to the surrounding community. It’s a fresh new era for golf, expanding the typical golf experience to be more inclusive of hospitality, entertainment, and engagement.

ENGAGING THE GUEST AT THE OMNI PGA FRISCO RESORT

The words “golf” and “resort” often go hand in hand. Now add in “Texas” and “PGA” and you  end up having one of the most impressive new golf destinations in the United States. The recently opened 550-room Omni PGA Resort in Frisco, Texas is home to two championship golf courses  and numerous amenities including a golf-inspired retail and restaurant village, conference center,  event pavilions, and numerous trails linking the development to the surrounding community. It’s a fresh new era for golf, expanding the typical golf experience to be more inclusive of hospitality, entertainment, and engagement. 

RSM Design was thrilled that Omni Hotels & Resorts invited our creative team, led by Executive Director Harry Mark FAIA, to envision a comprehensive wayfinding and architectural graphics  experience throughout the resort, including the branded experience and logos for all of the retail, amenities, and restaurant venues.

MODERN TEXAS AESTHETICS

Senior Designer, Zach Burson, crafted the branding and wayfinding with both golf fans and the regional Texas context in mind. The timeless and creative interventions were designed with simplicity and clarity, all while aligning with the warm “modern Texas ranch” aesthetic of the architecture. Omni Hotels are known for their sophisticated and engaging resort experiences, and  RSM Design’s brands and graphics contributed seamlessly to the luxurious feel, harmonizing with the elegance of the contemporary and welcoming character of the resort. 

It was important that guests feel like they are in both Texas and in a golf resort. So, the team drew their creative inspiration from the way the bold Texas sun changes characters throughout the day, and washes over the textures of the designs. Timeless and classic design principles, conveying  strength, solidity, and bravado, were used to create a branded aesthetic that speaks to the character of the area. Authentically crafted materials that complement the limestone and steel of the architecture, weather well, and stand the test of time, were carefully selected and used throughout. 

TAILORING EACH BRAND 

A unique set of names for all the retail and restaurant destinations was crafted to relate to the golf  experience or the regional context. RSM Design then branded each to reflect the design and positioning of each. Some of those unique venues include, Blue Lacy Mercantile (a clothing store named after the state dog of Texas), Gimme Toys! (a toy store selling children’s golf themed merchandise), the Ice House (a classic barn turned bar with virtual golf bays), and Trick Rider (an elegant rodeo inspired steakhouse), among others. 

The brand opportunity was to make each logo unique, telling each venue’s narrative in a compelling and understandable way, while also ensuring that the resort’s underlying design DNA  was visible across the entire experience. The creative team achieved this by taking into  consideration the intended audience for each space, as well as the environmental context. At the Ice House, for example, the aesthetics crafted by the architecture team was inspired by rustic Texas barns, appropriate for the ranching origins of Frisco. To reflect both the architecture and the intended function, the RSM Design team created a hand painted brand on the side of the weathered  wood facade, appropriate for an old barn that may have existed on the site. At the Gimme Toys! shop, the team balanced childlike playfulness with the sense of sophistication found throughout the resort. And within the Mokara Spa, an area all about freshness and rejuvenation, every treatment room is inspired by a native succulent. Keeping relaxation, simplicity, and comfort in  mind, the creative team crafted a unique custom graphic language for each individual succulent, using them to identify and embellish the treatment rooms. 

NAVIGATING THE EXPERIENCE

Because of the resort’s large size and numerous destinations, the comprehensive identity and wayfinding system needed to appear simple and straightforward through the complexity of the  development. RSM Design’s task was to bring understated clarity to the resort, honor the  architectural and landscape context, and comfortably guide guests, all while giving them clarity  and a sense of certainty, variety, and delight through signage and placemaking elements. 

Identity and specialty elements were seamlessly woven throughout the resort’s entries, golf courses, clubhouse, and hotel areas, clearly stitched together with understated and elegant  wayfinding directionals. As with the branding, the team designed the wayfinding to appeal to a  broad spectrum of visitors, respecting each particular context’s scale, while aiming for an overall  sense of timelessness.

FINDING FRISCO

Once a small suburban town outside of Dallas, Frisco is now one of the fastest-growing areas in  the United States and a burgeoning hub for sports. With the opening of the Omni PGA Resort, RSM Design has added to their architectural graphics influence within the north Texas region. Collaborating with teams throughout the area, RSM Design has been honored to craft brands and  experiential graphics for a number of transformative developments within the Frisco community, including the Dallas Cowboys Headquarters at The Star, Frisco Station, HALL Park, Fields, The Mix, and now the Omni PGA Frisco Resort

This latest project is more than just a golf destination—it is a celebration of the Texas spirit and a testament to the power of finely tuned site-specific design. The highly collaborative teamwork and passion for this complex project—ranging from sports and events to dining and hospitality—and beyond—has elevated everyone’s game.


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OH! letters at the grand staircase entry for Ovation Hollywood in Los Angeles with colorful mural in the background and shops to the right side.
Project Updates
March 13, 2023

Finding Your Way to the Oscars!

Home of the Academy Awards within the Dolby Theater since 2002, the re-imagined Ovation development is located in the heart of Hollywood. Adjacent to the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre and the Hollywood Walk of Fame, this newly envisioned mixed-use complex is positioned to become the epicenter of the Hollywood experience.

RSM Design's new wayfinding within Ovation Hollywood

Home of the Academy Awards within the Dolby Theater since 2002, the re-imagined Ovation development is located in the heart of Hollywood. Adjacent to the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre and the Hollywood Walk of Fame, this newly envisioned mixed-use complex is positioned to become the epicenter of the Hollywood experience.

For close to a decade, RSM Design has collaborated with multiple development teams to repurpose and reposition the project formerly known as Hollywood & Highland, and now re-branded as Ovation Hollywood. The goal was to open the public gathering spaces to Hollywood Boulevard and make the site and its amenities more inviting. The development has opened its doors to a more diverse collection of offerings, now including creative offices, a hotel, retail, entertainment, and dining destinations, creating a true mixed-use destination for tourists and the local community. RSM Design’s team was engaged to integrate identity, wayfinding, and specialty placemaking graphics into the whole experience, uniquely inspired and abstractly rooted by the past, present, and future of Hollywood.

A refresh for the Hollywood icon

Since its origins in the early 1900s, the site has stood as a hallmark at the epicenter of Hollywood. During the 1910s, moviemakers discovered that the always-sunny climate of Los Angeles was ideal for year-round filming. It was at this time that many started migrating to the area, wanting to stay at the famed original Hollywood Hotel located on this site. But by the late 1940s, the hotel started to decline, and the land use began to evolve– ultimately becoming the largest development in the area, known as Hollywood & Highland. 

For over a decade, developers have been trying to revamp the outdated center, confronted by many challenges. When recently acquired by DJM Capital and GAW Capital, and by putting nearly $100 million into the redevelopment, exciting things began to happen. One of the primary goals was focused on eliminating the former Babylonian-style graphic references and creating a space that was more inclusive and inviting to a larger audience. Ovation now features a dynamic and welcoming open plaza, murals commissioned by artist Geoff McFetridge, specialty graphics and wayfinding by RSM Design, and an overall design approach that feels contemporary, inspiring, timeless, and authentically Hollywood.

Placemaking inspired by Hollywood

While crafting the designs for Ovation, RSM Design was inspired by a juxtaposition of classic Hollywood meets the future and the evolutions of digital inspirations.

Graphic elements enliven the walls of Ovation, celebrating the artful nature of the community.

While celebrating the diversity and creativity of the local community, the specialty placemaking designs also pay homage to the entertainment industry and Ovation as the backdrop to the Academy Awards. As the development evolves to suit the needs of the contemporary audience, it was important for the placemaking elements to also adapt and appeal to a more diverse audience.

The refreshed brand celebrates the future of new beginnings. At the new Ovation, the stage is set for everyone, and with the venue's inclusive and immersive design, everyone has a part to play in the show and deserves their standing ovation.

Ovation is the ball gown, signage is the tuxedo

Within Ovation, the wayfinding is referred to as the "tuxedo", as it adds a touch of sophistication, classic elegance, and timeless quality, guiding visitors through the space while contributing to the overall atmosphere and aesthetic. 

Inspired by the timeless black tuxedo, the RSM Design team took an intentionally classic approach to graphic language. Through sophisticated materiality, timeless typography, and a bold but simple black-and-white color palette, the final design is both contemporary and ageless. 

Ovation itself can be compared to the beauty of the ball gown….it's the showstopper. The overall environment is where the ambiance, atmosphere, and spectrum of opportunities all come together to create an unforgettable experience. RSM Design wanted to support the environment and the guest with elements that were both functional and fashionable but let the space take center stage.

Wayfinding for 25 million annual visitors

In addition to feeling timeless and classic, another important principle of the signage design is clarity. Wayfinding is critical at Ovation to help the venue's diverse visitors navigate the large and complex space, particularly during peak weekends and evenings. To accommodate the diversity of visitors, the signage uses clear, concise language and universal symbols to ensure everyone can understand the directional information.

The placement of signage was also carefully considered and positioned at key decision-making points, beginning at the entrances, parking structures, interior core, and exits. This strategic placement, woven into the architectural context, is intended to keep the visitor journey not only smooth and painless but exciting and delightful. Additionally, as a transformational day-to-night venue, many of the wayfinding elements use dynamic lighting as a navigational tool. Specialty placemaking designs were used as an integral part of Ovation’s overall branding and design language– contributing to the iconic status of this world-renowned entertainment destination. 

Ovation Hollywood is a must-see destination for anyone interested in the history and culture of Hollywood...and wanting to be in a cool place! With its mix of entertainment, shopping, and dining options, it offers a unique experience that captures the spirit of this iconic Los Angeles neighborhood. Ovation is a celebrated venue that is playing a significant role in shaping Hollywood's entertainment landscape, with a focus on and applauding the diversity that makes Los Angeles so wonderful.

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White RSM Design mark against a charcoal background.
RSM Culture
February 3, 2023

2023 Team Member Promotions

We are excited to celebrate our team’s growth to kick off 2023! RSM Design is committed to putting “people first.” Our studios are dedicated to growing our unique team of designers, storytellers, and brand visionaries. We are fortunate to have a team of incredible individuals who devote themselves to their practice and their team each and every day. Cheers to the following members on their new positions at RSM Design!

GROWTH AT RSM DESIGN

We are excited to celebrate our team’s growth to kick off 2023! RSM Design is committed to putting “people first.” Our studios are dedicated to growing our unique team of designers, storytellers, and brand visionaries. We are fortunate to have a team of incredible individuals who devote themselves to their practice and their team each and every day. Cheers to the following members on their new positions at RSM Design!

NEWEST SENIOR ASSOCIATES

Kate Gilman has been with RSM Design for nine years. Her passion for design process and problem solving has pushed and inspired the RSM Design team. Kate’s focus on clear communication has served the design teams she has led; Kate has been involved with several educational presentations on communication and building client relationships. 

Joining RSM Design just over a year ago, Steve Luoma leads our branding team. He has focused his career to serve a wide variety of clients’ needs, from initial strategy through design implementation. His work has spanned a diverse set of disciplines, including branding, packaging, digital design, and the built environment. Steve is dedicated to his relationships with his clients and colleagues.

NEWEST ASSOCIATES

Will Heinze works through all aspects of the design process seeking to find the optimal intersection between form and function. Will taps his industrial design background in seeking user-focused solutions, modeling and rendering to visualize the experience. His wide range of skills has contributed to a variety of projects, such as the City of Dana Point, Nashville Yards, and West Harbor.

Sydney Patterson works closely with clients to help them fully realize their vision, as seen in her portfolio of notable, user-centered projects in the life science, civic, hospitality and retail sectors. Her experience as an environmental graphic designer working in wayfinding, placemaking, and experiential design has driven RSM Design’s portfolio of projects.

NEWEST SENIOR DESIGNERS

As both a talented architect and graphic designer, Zach Burson has excelled in his role as a senior designer and is constantly growing in his skills, confidence, and connections with the studio’s clients. He has successfully led designs and relationships for such important and varied projects as the Omni PGA Resort, The University of Texas Permian Basin campus, and The Farm in Allen. 

Mackenna Figueroa specializes in visioning, brand narratives, logo design, as well as bringing a brand to life through marketing, social media, digital, and printed applications. Her expertise in storytelling methods and engaging in design research, analysis, and implementation has pushed RSM Design’s branding service to the next level. Mackenna has worked to drive RSM Design’s marketing team as well, using her wide array of skills and knack for branding.

Self-taught hobbyist with a honed eye for design and the ability to persevere through comprehensive design challenges, Maxwell Helm has been with RSM Design since 2017. He enjoys cooperating with architecture and landscape teams to ensure unity of the design’s story, as well as seeing a project through to fabrication, as he believes that the beauty of design can be found in the details. 

Leading the design on a number of high profile projects, Carly Zembrodt’s talent and design acumen has increased with each new experience. Utilizing her talents as both an interior designer and graphic designer, this unique combination has generated exciting environmental graphics results on influential recent projects, such as the Pier 66 Resort and Marina, Kanawha County Public Library, HALL Park, and numerous other collaborations. 

NEWEST DESIGNERS

Thi Do, joining the RSM Design team six months ago, is experienced in a variety of design disciplines ranging from branding and logo design to digital advertisements and marketing to rendering and 3D environmental graphic design. 

Also joining the RSM Design team six months ago, Holland Keller uses her creative marketing and design education to drive RSM Design’s internal marketing initiatives through social media, our website, articles and promotional books. 

Rae Peterson has been with RSM Design for just over a year, contributing her digital and fine art skills to her project teams. Her excitement and passion for design drives her ability to connect people to their environment.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR NEWLY PROMOTED TEAM MEMBERS!


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Rendering of National Landing dog park with large tower buildings in the background
Education
November 29, 2022

Pedestrian Focused Wayfinding Strategy for the 21st Century at National Landing

RSM Design was invited to craft a wayfinding and signage strategy and global wayfinding and experience trends to position the neighborhood as a world-class leader in innovation as a people-centric environment. The goal was to create a cohesive, “future-proof” design system that can be adapted by future neighborhood development through the implementation of smart technology in the three major neighborhoods to improve the pedestrian experience throughout.

National Landing in Arlington, Virginia encompasses three major neighborhoods: Crystal City, Pentagon City, and Potomac Yard. The National Landing BID (Business Improvement District), located at the center of the DC region, invited RSM Design to craft a wayfinding and signage strategy and global wayfinding and experience trends to position the neighborhood as a world-class leader in innovation as a people-centric environment. The goal was to create a cohesive, “future-proof” design system that can be adapted by future neighborhood development through the implementation of smart technology in the three major neighborhoods to improve the pedestrian experience throughout.

The Strategy

Shane Reiner-Roth:

In the context of 21st century America, how did you design a “pedestrian minded experience” for National Landing? 

Cory Clinton:

It was important that the National Landing BID leverage the density of the surrounding area while moving away from what had historically been uninviting, highly trafficked boulevards. We wanted to alleviate that by creating a consistent arrival experience that would help guests explore the three districts within National Landing without relying on the cars. We proposed a multi-layered approach, some of which is timeless in an architectural relationship with the landscape, such as sculptures to create landmarks that people want to visit that help them find their place within National Landing or more explicit physical wayfinding pieces at entry points and nodes. Other solutions are more reliant on current technology, handheld devices with apps designed to guide people using tools like maps, augmented reality and projection mapping compatible with the 5G technology in National Landing.

Cody Clark:

One of the things that we wanted to do was to bring the experience back to the individual so that the neighborhood can celebrate the pedestrian — something we learned by looking at Kevin Lynch’s approach to sensitive urban planning in The Image of the City, but with a 21st century spin. By offering easy movement throughout the neighborhood, this multi mobility network also invites visitors to feel free in investigating the unique details of National Landing. But this led us to ask: how do you facilitate the means by which people can meaningfully decipher the elements of their environment? How do you make them want to celebrate and discover their neighborhood rather than merely get from point A to B? We wanted commuters and tourists alike to become curious by inviting that element of discovery.

Shane:

Can you elaborate on the trends studies you conducted to arrive at the final application of placemaking and wayfinding strategies for National Landing?

Cody:

RSM developed a global trends benchmarking process that outlined innovative applications of wayfinding in urban, civic environments. Our process outlined key municipalities and public/private developments that are using commercially viable and experimental static and digital tools to layer into the physical environment. Our goal was to provide a wide range of tools that would support the key objectives. Our findings centered around market experience and how AI or personal devices might aid in transit, placemaking or education concerning the build environment. 

Shane:

What were your precedents for National Landing?

Cory:

Downtown Santa Monica may have been one of them, but it was generally difficult to find parallels that dealt with a project of this large a scale. Because we were looking toward the future, the Walk NYC and Legible London projects became valuable case studies that we used quite a bit. We were looking for holistic approaches to a system that’s consistent from the bus stops to the train stops to those on the street directories and digital apps.. Also, older cities like Amsterdam that have a long history of integrating bike navigation informed a lot of our trend research.

Micromobility & Tech Integration

Shane:

When you brought up the the idea of “celebrating the pedestrian,” I was reminded that in America, the pedestrian has been more or less villainized the word “jaywalking” came into existence in the early 1920s to lay the blame on pedestrians for car accidents rather than the car owners as a means of privileging automobile access to the city. In National Landing, you are undoing a lot of the history of this relationship between pedestrians and car drivers in a uniquely American context.

Cory:

They identified the presence of cars in the neighborhood as a real safety concern, as well as something that was limiting pedestrian access across the site. Another big piece of the pedestrian story is micro-mobility, including the bicycle experience and rentable scooters. These modes of transportation enhance the pedestrian experience by offering flexibility and the option to move at your pace, while reducing the need for cars. Planned improvements to bike lanes and sidewalks can be optimized with signage that creates safer environments and access to micro-mobility wayfinding hubs.

Shane:

What technology might be initially unfamiliar to visitors to National Landing when they first arrive?

Cory:

The idea of a truly dynamic wayfinding system is a new approach to an urban center like this. Based on the fluctuating needs and traffic conditions, we envision a system that can respond to best routes, parking availability and transit schedules. Visitors will no longer have to rely solely on static signage or be uninformed about potential hazards or delays. If the system is designed correctly, the learning curve for new technology should be fast and effortless, with messaging located exactly when and where you need it.

Interior vs Exterior Wayfinding

Shane:

How do you feel that designing a wayfinding system for something as large and open-air as National Landing is different from that of vast interiors, such as airports or malls?

Cory:

I think it’s a lot of the same principles, because in both, it’s about understanding where people need information and where they’re going. The solutions for offering safety and certainty are often the same because both provide opportunities for placemaking elements, such as sculptures, murals, and other kinds of landmarks that might speak to the community. 

Cody:

I would say that the experience of time is different between large interiors and neighborhoods: how people experience spaces and the duration of time. It does change how you design for people. The elements of National Landing, for instance, are things that people will be seeing every day. These will be places that people really love and have associations with already. In a neighborhood, you want wayfinding systems around only where they are needed. They should ultimately be experiencing their neighborhood, their architecture and parks, and their families more often than they interact with signs. And so I think that’s actually much more tangible, because in other contexts, such as an airport, visitors will have a relatively dissociated experience. In other environments, you have to turn up the volume and frequency of wayfinding systems.

Shane:

Yes, in an airport, a mall or a subway system, there is often a more deliberate movement, and the signage is therefore expected to be crystal clear and omnipresent. How do the wayfinding systems you have designed for National Landing reflect the fact that it is not an interior, but rather a layered community?

Cory:

The initial arrival and parking experience is more akin to that of going to the airport, but after making the transition from the garage to the street, the wayfinding systems are usually only there where needed to help people make a decision. That choice could be based on curiosity or it could be based on the easiest  route to their destination. We look for ways of integrating with the existing downtown infrastructure, for instance, where there is a lot of pedestrian activity, in which we can integrate wayfinding systems into public kiosks or as part of a plaza area where people will be taking a little more time between finding their way to the next place.

Cody:

It’s similar to the public parking branded system in Downtown Santa Monica. Anywhere you go downtown, there’s that icon, and that color. Even though they are owned by different parking operators, they are rebranded as one, and their exteriors are more or less pure sign systems. Then once you’re out, how many signs are there in the pedestrian areas? Not many. But you have them where you need them. The outdoor experience shouldn’t be like a mall, but it should be clear nonetheless.

Physical & Digital Connection

Shane:

What do you hope other cities might see in National Landing as an example of how the infrastructure of a city can provide ‘feedback’ to its users through smart technology?

Cory:

One of the fundamental priorities of this project was to be responsive to accessibility concerns in every dimension imaginable. They wanted a system that would work for everyone: spanning those that are hearing and/or sight impaired, but also those that come to the neighborhood speaking different languages or users from varying socio-economic conditions. That goes back to the concept of ‘layered systems,’ where the full breadth of the system might include experiences that you have on your phone, but also digital hubs that can access the internet for those without phones, as well as Braille options, haptic feedback, and other technologies that could inform people outside of just a single app or even a single language. We considered a wide range of devices, which could include artificial intelligence software and digital kiosks that might predict what visitors are looking for and help them along like a neighborhood concierge that is both highly recognizable and approachable.

Shane:

How might smart technology be used to increase the safety of an urban center?

Cory:

One of the key needs identified was improving the wayfinding visual consistency and unifying the site. An exciting way that technology can help with this unification is through a digital “hand-off” between signage in the physical environment to your mobile device. This could create checkpoints for guests to confirm their route along the way, as well as integrate up-to-date information on changes or conditions, all in a consistent graphic language.

We  researched a number of new apps and technologies that are improving safety. Important touchpoints in an environment like National Landing are crosswalks, bike lanes and accessibility for all visitors. For example, there are some amazing apps designed for the visually impaired that use 3D audio technology to describe your surroundings and set audio beacons that track your direction. At crosswalks, smart technologies are being developed that detect all road users, pedestrian and vehicular, with integrated safety notifications and AI algorithms that can predict the trajectory and speed of oncoming traffic. We were interested in tapping into advances being made in mobile robotics (such as MIT’s Spot project) to optimize National Landing’s 5G smart city infrastructure for capturing data and learning how and where to best assist people over time. Artificial intelligence can become a feedback loop that automates improvements in communication and public safety.

Shane:

This model of urban wayfinding has the potential to undo the sense of modern alienation that has defined urban living since at least the end of the 19th century, in which urban residents feel as the city does not care about them, and that they have to operate within this unfeeling, unresponsive metropolis. Will this smart system act as a ‘friendly local’ that can guide pedestrians?

Cory:

Yes, we want visitors to feel welcome as quickly as possible and feel as though there is nothing prohibiting them from exploring the area upon arrival.

National Landing as a model for other cities

Shane:

It seems like what is taking place at National Landing could become a model for other American neighbors that are currently overly reliant on private automobiles for inner city transportation.

Cory:

Absolutely. We were hoping to demonstrate to the residents of the Arlington and DC area that it is possible for an aging vehicular-centric downtown to be revitalized as a walkable city with multiple functions and a vitality that was not there before.

Shane:

How do you see the placemaking and wayfinding applications gathered at National Landing as fitting within global benchmarks?

Cody:

National Landing sees themselves as a global leader in creating liveable, connected and mobile communities. The key aspects of placemaking and wayfinding are contextual layers that only those elements can support. Our team seeks to stitch together these layers of brand, direction, education, art & culture, transit, commercial and entertainment to interconnect a community at all legible levels.

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Little boy looking at tenant listing on surfboard fins for food court in Huntington Beach
Education
November 29, 2022

Design Trends for Places We Love

As we reach towards a new year RSM Design finds itself future-focused on how our industry is shapeshifting. As a global, multi-disciplinary design studio we find ourselves at the table on projects that are creating significant changes in the way we engage with our communities.

As we reach towards a new year RSM Design finds itself future-focused on how our industry is shapeshifting. As a global, multi-disciplinary design studio we find ourselves at the table on projects that are creating significant changes in the way we engage with our communities.

One key aspect of our daily design process within the studios is to utilize key global trends as a crystal ball to observe and implement the latest thought processes into the designs.  Our team’s collective pulse on developmental, economical, and social change allows us a way to root innovation and relevance into the studio’s solutions and the impact on engagement and involvement in the community.

Today, we are collaborating with architects, developers, and communities to ask the big question:

"How can design shapeshift more vital, accessible and soulful places?"

Trend #1: The Joy Factor!

We all crave engagement and places that value shared interest, experiences and memories. This curated (but not over-curated) public realm is driving development, event, and brand strategies to enrich our sense of belonging.

The Trick to Getting it Right...

Relevance, deep market awareness, brand bravery, and a clear grasp on how place loyalty drives clear return on investment.

See how we created joy at Rodeo39 in Stanton, CA

Trend #2: Places to Engage

Let’s face it. We all travel less than we did 24 months ago. As both urban and suburban retail centers evolve into mixed-use districts that cater to their 15-minute walkable city markets, the spaces in between become the jewels of the project. The return to green linkages, sidewalk culture, and places designed for people, and not cars, is making a critical rebirth.

The Trick to Getting it Right...

Context is everything. Actually, access is everything. Understanding how to craft a decentralized neighborhood strategy with all that is needed within a short metro, walk, or bike ride. Embracing advocacy within the community, integrating a healthy mixture of different demographic markets, ensuring that multi-mobility access is ever-present, and crafting resonant natural green spaces are just a few of the important factors to get it right. The “Projects” of years past are evolving into the “Districts” of the present and future… a new way of embracing growth and evolution.

See how we embraced growth at Amazon HQ2 in Arlington, VA

Trend #3: Placekeeping

“Placekeeping” is definitely not a new term but is regaining ground as a counterpoint to “Placemaking”. The term is a catalyst for project teams in prioritizing an empathic, diverse, and collaborative community engagement process to revitalize and preserve existing public spaces… utilizing their voice and needs. Public advocacy is critical in how to shape existing public spaces to reflect, honor, and evolve the cultural, historical, and social dimensions of a place.

The Trick to Getting it Right...

Defining what are the placekeeping opportunities, constructing a team of advocates, and deep public engagement processes….key components to create that relevant place. Ask, listen, and implement learning objectives into the design outcomes. Be a great neighborhood partner. Create differentiation to maintain and grow market loyalty.

See how we embraced the placekeeping process at the Miami Waterfront

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