Orange County Hotel
Identity
Having a stylish, premium hotel right next to Orange County's most sought-after attractions — where their services, smiles, and extra touches make the stay comfortable and memorable — is already a recipe for success. Orange County Hotel needed an identity that combined the sunny, warm and inviting vibes that the area is so well-known for to launch their flagship hotel.
Year: 2025
Role: Design Director (Design partner: Carlota Macros)
Exploration Phase
The first stage of the branding process was to pinpoint the most crucial aspects of who Orange County Hotel is through a 'tissue paper' session that divided the creative concepts into three buckets.
We focused on ideas around So-Cal vibes, ease and accessibility, and authenticity. With each exploration, we played around with double or triple meanings in the logos, playful versus bold wordmarks, and both deep and light color palettes.
Refinement &
Brand Book
The subtle integration of the letters O and C into the finalized mark, paired with sun rays, created a logo that is bright, dynamic and iconic. The wordmark combined a strong and standardized typeface that also includes a bit of a smile. We kept the palette light and airy, reminiscent of a sunset off the southern California coast.
