Lamu Old Town
Proposed branding suite for UNESCO World Heritage site Lamu Old Town off the coast of Kenya.
challenge
Develop a cohesive visual identity that pulls from the history and heritage of the site.
Lamu Old Town is a nexus of Swahili, Arabic, and Portuguese culture. Through the use of elements inspired by this unique cultural blend, this identity references the past and brings it into the present.
The logomark was developed by taking elements from windows and decorative Swahili architecture. The star-shaped mark takes from carvings made into stone fixtures common on balconies and as ventilation in buildings. The A and U of the type reference the archways of Swahili-style doors.
Logo exploration
The color scheme draws from the colors of the beach, ocean, and architecture. The blues, a reference to the deep blue and bright teal of the Indian ocean. The warm red, a reference to the Mediterranean-style roofs common through East Africa.
After developing a visual identity, multiple implementations of the brand were created, including an informational booklet, wayfinding, poster and web design, and a wrap for a carrier van.
site signage