austin, texas
whole Foods Market
“It all begins with a seed under a deep blue sky." Much like the visionaries that founded Whole Foods, we believe ideas are the seeds that spawn great design and experiences. Whether it’s designing their East block reception signage, crafting the lobby signs in their West 5th office building, conjuring a welcoming beacon for their fitness center, or elevating architectural wayfinding at their corporate headquarters, we have contributed extensively to bringing brand-elevating experiences for Whole Foods Market.
2023 TSA Design Award Winner - 1st place - Integrated / Way-finding sign packages
Starting with their West 5th offices, we were challenged with designing brand aligned building entryway and reception signage that compliments the finishes and the clean and sophisticated vibe of the space. Pairing with the modern interior of the building, opaque routed acrylic mounted to a solid birch wood sets the tone in the entryway. A reverse-lit illuminated cabinet painted matte white and finished with birch wood provides the neutral backer for the Whole Foods Market logo at the reception desk.
Considering both interior and exterior materials, we designed a congruent experience for their employee fitness center in Downtown Austin, delivering the perfect amount of style and function. Finished to give the look of rusted corten, this internally illuminated reverse-lit sign reveals a matte white interior, giving a warm glow as well as bringing back that sweet halo of light reflecting off the dark metallic brick wall. Providing the perfect amount of “extra” we're known for, this upgraded architectural sign pairs nicely with sweat and smoothies.
The Whole Foods East block office lobby welcomes guests with warm trimless compact channel letters that we designed to seamlessly integrate with the faux greenery wall. Consistency is key when staying true to a brand’s identity, and we’re no stranger to designing brand aligned signage that provides beauty and timelessness to our partner’s space.
In partnership with Gensler, we elevated the branding and wayfinding experiences for employees at the Whole Foods corporate office. Leveraging the quote by John Mackey, Whole Foods co-founder, employees are reminded of the mission. Machined and routed birch wood delivers the high-touch detail inspired by the fit and finish throughout the entire building.
Across the four floors, you’ll find direct printed and routed birch wood floor numbers outside each elevator including the words “Grow”, “Harvest”, “Gather”, “Regenerate”. Bringing wayfinding to the stairwells, color-coordinated vinyl wall coverings and floor numbers provided a budget continuous solution without compromising the vision.
“it was an absolute pleasure working with you! Your team demonstrated a deep understanding of our vision and your exceptional craftsmanship, attention to detail, and creative expertise made the process smooth and enjoyable”
The partnerships we cultivate are the foundational roots that allow our work to grow and thrive. Enriching that growth with dedication, diligence, attention to detail, and intentional decision-making is what brings our good work to fruition, generating infinite, exquisite signage for our partner. We’re endlessly grateful for the trust our partner at Whole Foods Market has put in us over the past few years, and can’t wait to see where the brand will go next.
