Soul Studio is an artist studio dedicated to adults with special needs, offering multidisciplinary workspaces, a gallery, and an adjoining café. The goal was to design a space that fosters creativity and inclusivity, while also incorporating wayfinding, donor recognition, and visual art to communicate the studio’s mission. The project also included exterior signage to tie the whole experience together.

To address the client’s needs, we developed a clear and cohesive wayfinding system, ensuring that each destination within the space was easy to locate, while maintaining simplicity and clarity. The signage and wayfinding design used a consistent visual vocabulary to guide visitors through the studio, gallery, and café areas. The system was intentionally flexible, with hardware elements that seamlessly transitioned between the different areas of the space.

For donor recognition, we conceptualized and created an interactive piece that celebrates contributions of varying levels while accounting for future growth. The installation serves as both a functional recognition system and a symbolic representation of how donations provide the tools—and the "blank canvas"—to support the artists' potential. It visually reinforces the idea that, much like the art created in the studio, individual contributions come together to form something greater and more impactful.

The café area also received its own unique design, including hanging menus that feature artwork from the studio's artists. This not only showcases the talent of the individuals involved, but also integrates the studio’s mission directly into the café space. Additionally, small printed menus and menu storage were designed to complement the overall aesthetic.

• Developing the donor recognition system and conceptualizing the installation artwork

• Creating the wayfinding and signage system for the studio and café

• Overseeing fabrication coordination and on-site installation

• Designing printed materials for menus and menu storage

• Ensuring the design elements aligned with the space’s mission of supporting creativity and inclusion