City Identities
Whether it’s to attract tourism, foreign investment or simply civic pride, cities increasingly must vie for attention in the same way brands do. As editor of Place Press and part of the team at dn&co, I co-curated an exhibition that brought together provoking examples from around the world to delve into the process of distilling an entire city into a single marque.
Image via Place Press
Podcast & Exhibition Booklet
It took extensive research to understand each city’s brand, including about a dozen interviews with designers around the world. Their stories were fascinating. Syntax Design pondered how to create an identity for Amman, Jordan, a city with one of the largest per capita population of refugees. I learned about a grassroots movement in Chattanooga to design a typeface for the city, which has now been adopted by its institutions and small businesses alike. And I spoke with the late, great Milton Glaser, who grumbled about the monster he created when, while riding in a New York taxi, he sketched I ♥ NY on the back of an envelope.
We produced an exhibition booklet which I wrote in part, and edited essays by the creative team.
Using original interviews with the designers behind city brands, I produced a six-part podcast series.
Writing sample: Read the exhibition essays here
Image via Place Press
