Project: Branch on Bowen
Date: 2016 - 2019
Role: co-Founder, creative director
Co-Founder: Robin McMillan
DeliverABLES:
BRANDING /
PACKAGING /
PRODUCT design & Sourcing /
ecommerce design/
INTERIOR DESIGN /
Launched in 2016, Branch is a lifestyle retailer of Canadian design objects, artisan products and apothecary. Conceived as an Ecommerce marketplace, with a tiny brick and mortar location on Bowen Island, a popular tourist destination 20 minutes from West Vancouver, Canada.
In 2017, we expanded to include a snack bar serving Earnest Ice Cream, Artisan Toast and Harry's Winnipeg Kosher Dill Pickles.
In 2019, we sold the business and transitioned the concept for the new owners who continue to operate this special place on the island.
I was the co-founder and creative director responsible for the concept, interior design, branding, product design, product curation, e-commerce experience and service design.
01. The Brand
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01. The Brand 〰️
Nod to the Nautical
Marine flags convey messages without the use of words, and this theme serves as the design concept for Branch 01. The brand utilizes marine flag collages and nautical references.
High-low: Using both high and low cost boat-building materials, the retail space is a reflection of its nautical location and the concept of selling designer goods in a small wooden shack.
02. The Shop
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02. The Shop 〰️
“An unexpected oasis of contemporary design.”
Experience Design
From the playlist to the scent at the door to the guest interactions, to the custom staff aprons, we designed the entire experience with intention, down to the very last detail.
A Place For Small Discovery
We envisioned a special one-of-a-kind shop to stumble upon in a popular tourist destination in the Pacific Northwest.
03. People
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03. People 〰️
Created for people.
For their lives, for their homes, for others.
The shop quickly became a notable destination for social media influencers such as HelloBC (406,000 follows), Narcity (201,000 follows), Local Wanderer (65,900 follows) and has been consistently featured in lifestyle magazines such as Montecristo, CBC, Scout, Poppytalk, Vancouver Is Awesome, Gray, BC Living, Vancouver Magazine, etc.
04. Introducing & Butter
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04. Introducing & Butter 〰️
Branch & Butter
We expanded to include a snack bar serving Earnest Ice Cream, Artisan Toast and Harry's Winnipeg Kosher Dill Pickles.
We created Branch and Butter to be that special place you discover when travelling; a place you stumble upon on a perfect summer day. To have a light lunch before a hike, an ice cream after a day at the beach, and even find a special object to remember it all by.
05. Concept
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05. Concept 〰️
Who’s Harry?
An homage to my dad, the story behind Branch and Butter
Harry and a group of old men gathered every other morning in downtown Winnipeg where they'd eat toast and yell at each other for just over an hour.
Once a week, I would sit with this strange toast club, periodically getting yelled at for not eating my crusts. I never thought I'd create a toast club of my own one day.
Toast & Ice Cream
Toast: Served on organic wholewheat sourdough baked fresh by Birds & the Beets, we designed the toast menu to be nostalgic and familiar with organic ingredients sourced from local farmers and distributors.
Ice Cream: We partnered with the legendary Earnest Ice Cream, scooping a rotating seasonal menu of batch-made goodness.
Pickles: Our very own Harry’s Pickles, a crunchy winnipeg kosher dill on a stick.
05. The Brand
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05. The Brand 〰️
The Logo
Created to reflect the personality of Branch, the brand is approachable, playful, and expressive. The brand is anchored by the simple gesture of one happy toast icon.
Using coral as a primary brand colour, along with custom iconography, the brand was translated to all marketing materials, interior design, and merchandise.
#strangetoastclub
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#strangetoastclub 〰️
