Englewood Square

Contracted for:

Englewood Square, a 5-acre development in Chicago, aims to address food access issues in the Englewood neighborhood by bringing a Whole Foods Market and additional retail spaces. The project’s refreshed brand and website enhance investor interest and community engagement, framing the development as a catalyst for economic growth and neighborhood revitalization.

Disciplines
Visual Identity Graphic Design
User Interface Graphic Design
Marketing & Advertising Graphic Design
Industry
Retail

Project Overview

Englewood Square is a transformative 5-acre development project nestled in the heart of Chicago's Englewood neighborhood. This ambitious venture aims to revitalize the area by introducing a 20,000 SF Whole Foods Market, complemented by 22,000 SF of additional retail space and two outlot parcels. The centerpiece Whole Foods Market is set to become a beacon of health and nutrition, providing residents of Englewood and surrounding South Side neighborhoods with unprecedented access to fresh, healthy, natural, and organic food options.

The significance of this project extends far beyond its physical footprint. By bringing a high-quality grocery store to an area traditionally underserved by major retailers, Englewood Square is poised to address food desert issues that have long plagued the community. This development represents a pivotal step towards improving the overall quality of life for local residents, fostering economic growth, and attracting further investment to the area.

Brand Identity and Website Refresh

Client Objectives

  • Refresh the existing logo concept to better align with the project's transformative vision
  • Create a sophisticated website design that reflects the development's importance and appeal
  • Inform potential investors about Englewood Square's profound impact on the historic Englewood community
  • Showcase the project's commitment to community revitalization and economic development
  • Highlight the unique features and benefits of the Whole Foods Market anchor

Design Approach

Logo Refresh: Our team embarked on a thoughtful journey to refine the client-provided logo concept. The goal was to create a visual identity that not only captured the essence of the project but also resonated with the community it serves. We focused on elements that symbolized growth, connectivity, and renewal, drawing inspiration from Englewood's rich history and promising future. The refined logo now stands as a powerful emblem of the project's mission and its potential to catalyze positive change in the community.

Website Design: To create a digital presence befitting Englewood Square's transformative role, we incorporated a range of sophisticated design elements. Soft gradients were carefully selected to evoke a sense of warmth and progress, while a Vogue Magazine-inspired typeface added a touch of modernity and elegance. This delicate balance of elements was crucial in aligning the shopping center's image with its dual identity as both a cutting-edge retail destination and a community-centric development.

Content Strategy: Recognizing the importance of storytelling in attracting investors and engaging the community, we developed a comprehensive content strategy. This approach focused on highlighting the project's positive impact on Englewood, showcasing success stories, and providing detailed information about the development's features and benefits. We crafted compelling narratives that emphasized the project's role in job creation, economic stimulation, and improved access to healthy food options.

Key Features

  • Elegant typography that seamlessly bridges the gap between modern retail aesthetics and the rich heritage of the Englewood community
  • Soft gradient color scheme carefully designed to create a welcoming and refined digital environment, reflecting the project's transformative nature
  • Informative and engaging content that focuses on the project's positive impact on Englewood, including testimonials from community leaders and residents
  • Interactive elements showcasing the development's layout, tenant mix, and community benefits
  • Responsive design ensuring optimal viewing experience across all devices, from desktop computers to mobile phones
  • Integration of social media feeds to highlight community engagement and ongoing events at Englewood Square
  • Photo gallery and virtual tour features to give visitors a immersive look at the development

Outcome and Impact

The refreshed brand identity and new website have successfully positioned Englewood Square as a sophisticated yet community-oriented development, effectively bridging the gap between high-end retail and neighborhood revitalization. The redesigned digital presence has played a crucial role in communicating the project's significance to potential investors, highlighting its potential for both financial returns and social impact.

Key outcomes of the brand refresh and website redesign include:

  • Increased investor interest, with the website serving as a powerful tool for showcasing the project's potential
  • Enhanced community engagement, as residents and local organizations use the platform to stay informed about development progress and opportunities
  • Improved perception of the Englewood neighborhood, with the project serving as a beacon of positive change and economic growth
  • Greater awareness of the development's impact on local access to fresh, healthy food options, positioning Englewood Square as a solution to food desert issues
  • Attraction of additional quality tenants to the retail spaces, further diversifying the shopping and service options available to the community

The success of Englewood Square's brand identity and website refresh extends beyond mere aesthetics. It has become a catalyst for changing narratives about urban development in underserved communities. By effectively communicating the project's vision and impact, we have helped create a model for future developments that prioritize both commercial success and community well-being.

As Englewood Square continues to evolve and grow, its refreshed brand identity and website will serve as powerful tools for ongoing community engagement, investor relations, and showcasing the transformative power of thoughtful urban development. This project stands as a testament to the potential for design and digital strategy to play a pivotal role in reshaping communities and creating lasting positive impact.

Project Overview

Englewood Square is a 5‑acre development in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood anchored by a 20,000 SF Whole Foods Market, 22,000 SF of additional retail, and two outlot parcels.

Beyond the square footage, the development addresses a core community need: reliable access to fresh, healthy food in an area long considered a food desert.

Brand Identity and Website Refresh

Client objectives

  • Refresh the existing logo concept to better reflect the project’s impact.  
  • Design a website that feels both sophisticated and community‑rooted.  
  • Give investors a clear story about Englewood Square’s significance.  
  • Communicate the project’s role in neighborhood revitalization and economic development.  
  • Highlight the Whole Foods anchor and the broader tenant mix.

Logo refresh

Starting from a client‑provided concept, we refined the mark to better embody growth, connection, and renewal. Visual cues reference both the square itself and Englewood’s evolving story.

The updated logo strikes a balance between:

  • Professional retail center branding.  
  • A symbol residents can feel proud to see representing their neighborhood.

Website design

For the site, we combined:

  • Soft gradients to suggest forward motion and warmth.  
  • Editorial, Vogue‑inspired typography to give the project a polished, destination‑level feel.  
  • A content structure focused on impact, not just square footage.

Key content areas:

  • Overview of the development and anchor tenants.  
  • Context on food access and economic impact.  
  • Information for potential tenants and investors.  
  • Imagery of the site, community, and surrounding area.

Key Features

  • Elegant typography that bridges contemporary retail aesthetics with Englewood’s heritage.  
  • Gradient‑based color system that feels optimistic and inviting.  
  • Impact‑driven content, including space for quotes from community leaders and residents.  
  • Responsive layouts, interactive maps, and project visuals.  
  • Social and media integration to show ongoing activity.

Outcome and Impact

The refreshed brand and website have helped:

  • Increase investor interest and make conversations more concrete.  
  • Improve perception of Englewood by framing the development in terms of opportunity and progress.  
  • Raise awareness about improved access to healthy food and essential services.  
  • Attract quality tenants and partners aligned with the project’s goals.

Englewood Square’s identity now reflects both its commercial importance and its role as a catalyst for neighborhood change, giving stakeholders a clear, compelling story to rally around.