Brand Experience Studio by Little

RESULTS BEYOND ARCHITECTURE

BRAND EXPERIENCE STUDIO

WHAT WE DO

Welcome to the Brand Experience Studio at Little, where every design is rooted in powerful storytelling, personalized experiences, and seamless brand integration. As part of a passionate, transdisciplinary design firm, we don’t just create spaces; we craft immersive experiences that elevate the performance of the people and organizations we serve.

Let us join you on your next journey where we’ll bring your brand to life, create an environment that inspires, and ensure every space tells a compelling story.

OUR PROCESS

We begin every project by getting to know you, setting goals, and defining project scope. After gaining a thorough understanding of your brand and project needs, we establish precise, measurable goals for brand communication systems, outline parameters for success and develop a roadmap for the design process.

Collaboration is at the heart of our process. With your key stakeholders, we creatively explore the project context. We delve deep, exploring every angle to craft unique solutions that exceed your expectations.

Here’s where the magic happens. Our team of experienced designers collaborate closely with architects, contractors and fabricators to ensure every detail of the design reflects our shared commitment to excellence. From beginning to end, we elevate your space and ensure your vision shines through with every experience.

We bring your brand to life by developing visual stories that connect with people.

Everything Connects

When your organization aligns its brand with the architectural essence of your space, the outcome is a seamless blend of cohesive experiences and functional design. We help you create spaces that not only look good but feel right - where every detail speaks to your brand’s story and purpose.

Everything Engages

Great experiences go beyond aesthetics; they captivate and resonate. We specialize in crafting environments that foster deep engagements with your brand and your story. By focusing on relevance and impact, we ensure your space becomes a stage for authentic connections. by making it more relevant, memorable and effective.

BRANDED ENVIRONMENTS

Experiential Graphic Design Placemaking, Digital Design and Creative Technology

SIGNAGE AND WAYFINDING

Wayfinding, Information and Signage Systems, Architectural Signage, ADA Signage, DigitalSignage

BRANDING AND MARKETING

Brand Strategy & Development, Naming, Logo and Identity Systems, Brand Guidelines, Print and Digital Collateral

A custom wooden ‘bloom’ and history wall helps establish the Big B Coffee Bar as a welcoming destination in Belk’s headquarters.

BRANDED ENVIRONMENTS

As part of a transdisciplinary design firm, the Brand Experience Studio believes in helping clients make bold moves through purposeful design. Rooted in powerful storytelling, personalized experiences, and seamless brand integration, we transform spaces into memorable narratives.

We start by immersing ourselves as integral members of the design team.

By carefully studying a user’s experience within the built environment, we uncover opportunities to weave your brand’s essence - whether it’s a feeling, a story, or a distinctive palette of color and materials.

Together, we craft a single concept that showcases your brand. From environmental graphics and murals to architectural installations and donor recognitions, we create a place that is uniquely yours.

SIGNAGE AND WAYFINDING

In design, signage becomes a vibrant medium where brands truly come alive. The Brand Experience team takes a holistic approach to crafting signage and wayfinding strategies that extend well beyond functionality, becoming integral to shaping user experiences and cultivating a sense of place. We delve deep into the unique context of each project, conducting site analyses and collaborating with stakeholders to understand their specific needs and objectives. Whether guiding students across a sprawling university campus or streamlining navigation in a bustling corporate headquarters, our solutions prioritize clarity, accessibility, and aesthetics.

With a meticulous eye for detail and a passion for enhancing spatial experiences, the Brand Experience Studio is dedicated to creating signage and wayfinding solutions that enrich the built environment and leave a lasting impression on the user experience.

The Brightleaf brand pulls elements of the property’s history into a modern, legible system. Updated wayfinding through signs and maps helps visitors find their destination.

BRANDING AND MARKETING

A brand isn’t just about visuals - it’s about crafting a ripple effect that leaves a lasting impression. We specialize in creating cohesive brand systems, the building blocks that define your organization with a holistic approach.

It begins with listening. We dive deep into research and discovery, eager to understand your story and your audience. With these insights, we develop a strategic foundation that aligns your brand’s personality with your goals.

Once the strategy is set, the real excitement begins - patterns, typography, logos and color are just the start. A comprehensive brand system addresses tone of voice, photography styles, materiality, and how your brand translates in digital and physical form.

Whether it’s through printed materials, digital platforms or immersive experiences, we put your brand to work.

Case Studies

Land. Water. Style.

Estero, FL

BUNULU

The retail concept store exudes a rhythmic, lovely energy with nods to coastal living.

When Florida retailer Beall’s wanted to launch a new brand to coincide with its 100-year anniversary, Bunulu was born. Bunulu - the Australian aboriginal word for “place of water”represents an active coastal lifestyle.

GOAL

Tasked with developing a new brand for a specific target audience, Little’s team aimed to design a space that embraced organic imperfection. The goal was to encourage customers to slow down, pause, and fully immerse themselves in the brand’s atmosphere and experience.

SOLUTION

Little created a coastal lifestyle brand that transcended coastal living, radiating a welcoming, laid-back vibe, attracting a customer base previously unreached by Beall’s. Starting with a comprehensive brand strategy, our team developed not just the name and identity, but also guided the use of real and authentic materials, a custom scent, the merchandising of unexpected products and the harmonization between style and function.

RESULTS

“Just left our first Bunulu store… Wow, it is amazing. I am so pleased with how it is coming together. You and the team should be very proud of the results.”

Lorna Nagler, President, Beallsy

BUNULU

Rooted in Family

DUDA

Oviedo, FL

Cultivating a legacy.

It takes more than hard work and dedication to build a powerful brand.

GOALS

Refreshing the brand of a century-old, family-run company entrenched in a history of agriculture, cattle farming, commercial development and diverse markets demanded reverence while embracing modernity. The design began with the goal of combining tradition with innovation. This involved updating the brand’s mission, vision and values to inform a new visual identity.

RESULTS

SOLUTION

Our design team collaborated with Duda in a series of workshops to clarify the company’s direction, reaffirming its role as a parent brand and identifying the core values essential for the new identity. With this foundation, we created a comprehensive brand identity that subtly references Duda’s history while including supporting assets that foster future growth and relevance across all sectors of its operation.

“Refreshing our brand in a way that honors our history has been such a rewarding experience. Our employees have a renewed sense of pride and our partners/clients have a better understanding of our commitment to diversified services and long-term sustainable growth.”

Tracy Duda Chapman, Senior Vice President

On our lands, in our communities and with our people.

The values Duda lives and works by were carved in stone long before Andrew Duda brought to market his first celery crop in 1926. And while much has changed in the last century, their core philosophy never will. This new brand will support Duda in their next hundred years.

DUDA

Bring Your A-Game

ACC HEADQUARTERS

Charlotte, NC

A new home for a conference of legends.

The Atlantic Coast Conference, who called Greensboro, NC home for decades, moved to downtown Charlotte, bringing with them both a strong legacy and an intense focus on the future.

GOALS

The Atlantic Coast Conference’s relocation to downtown Charlotte, North Carolina provided our design team with an exciting opportunity to establish a new headquarters environment. Our goal was to design a dynamic space that promotes innovation, fosters community, and equally represents all 15 member schools, 28 sponsored sports, and the ACC core values.

SOLUTION

Little transformed an existing space into a showpiece for the ACC, designing a visitor experience that narrates the Conference’s dynamic legacy and future direction. The headquarters not only showcases the proud, bold brand of the ACC across different scales and intensities but also fosters ongoing public engagement while meeting diverse visitor needs.

A Modern Brand Meets a Rich Legacy

CHARLOTTE COUNTRY DAY Charlotte, NC

Consistency Is Key.

After investing in a new brand and looking at signage to improve visitor experiences, as well as unite decades of growth across two campuses, Charlotte Country Day School used exterior and interior wayfinding to bring the school’s brand front and center at every turn.

GOALS

As Charlotte Country Day School underwent a rebrand, Little was engaged to not only study how that brand came to life in a new signage system, but how that signage system could help unify two campuses and decades

of growth. Once familiar with the new brand, Little was then asked to study how a strong brand and proud legacy could add a layer of storytelling and engagement to the school’s new Natatorium and athletic hub.

SOLUTION

After studying all potential user types and functions across the school’s two campuses, Little developed a comprehensive branded signage system. This system includes everything from base building signage and classroom identification to directional signs for vehicles and seasonal messaging. Every sign, located inside and outside each building and throughout every corner of the campuses, now features the school’s

new brand assets, ensuring consistent visibility for visitors. The Natatorium extends that reach into a series of bold, proud brand messages, bringing the now-recognizable color palette into the state-of-the-art facility. The design team also developed interactive, engaging storytelling to immerse visitors, parents, students and staff in the ever-evolving history of CCDS’ proudest athletic achievements.

A Healthy Community

LEVINE CHILDREN’S SPECIALTY OUTPATIENT CENTER

Charlotte, NC

A place for healing.

With curving walls, circular seats, and undulating floor patterns, the design is intended specifically to reduce anxiety and provide comforting distractions. The integrated custom-illustrated wallcoverings provide visitors with a welcoming environment.

GOAL

As Little’s Healthcare Studio worked to design an environment that met the needs of a world-class medical institution, our Brand Experience Studio focused on layering in a family of experiential graphics focused on reducing anxiety and providing comforting distractions for patients and their families.

SOLUTION

The solution included custom-illustrated wallcoverings and themed illustrations integrated throughout the facility offering a welcoming environment and engaging focal points for patients and family members. Postoccupancy surveys report a 90% satisfaction rate among families and patients.

RESULTS

“The before and after is nothing short of amazing. The space has a great vibe and will be a blessing for our community.”

Denton Wilson, Vice President Planning, Design and Construction, MCP 5

IIDA Carolinas Design Works AwardsHonorable Mention

The Epicenter for Dog Owners

REDDY (BY PETCO)

New York, NY

A new urban basecamp.

Reddy SoHo is the first concept flagship for Reddy, Petco’s lifestyle and fashion brand for dogs.

GOALS

Located in Manhattan’s SoHo district, the new store was challenged to respond to an urban, boutique market, as well as Reddy’s signature bold color palette, patterns and textures. Petco engaged Little to design an elevated shopping experience aimed at featuring Reddy merchandise and an array of exclusive, petcentric experiences.

SOLUTION

Reddy by Petco blends the industrial design cues of the area with the brand palette, integrating multiple store elements that blend physical and digital experiences. The dog fit station (a perfect Instagram moment with camo pattern and hashtag backdrop) is the ideal spot for a selfie; the “Bark Board” is home to a Polaroid selfie-wall and community exchange (a retro approach to sharing), and the “Adventure Concierge” features a touchscreen terminal providing dog owners access to services and resources for their next adventure. The store is an engaging, interactive experience that brings the brand to life and to SoHo.

RESULTS

“Pet parents are exploring outdoor activities and taking their pets with them wherever they go. This first-of-its kind boutique will continue fueling that exploration by giving New York City pet parents a hub to bond, recharge and find the latest must-have gear to style their best lives together.”

Nick Konat, Chief Merchandising Officer, Petco

Shop! Design Award: Signage & Graphics

Retail Touchpoint Brand Experience Award

Commercial Construction & Renovation Award

IIDA Carolinas Design Works Award

VMSD Retail Renovation Award

A Local Hub with a Global Legacy

Challenged to “disrupt the grid,” both literally and figuratively, the design relied heavily on environmental graphics to incorporate local relevance with a Raleigh-based muralist, maps, and connections to surrounding cities.

GOAL Woven together.

Little’s Brand and Interiors teams were challenged with creating a home for Confidential Client’s specialized engineers in their Raleigh hub, not only creatively using an existing space, but also blending Confidential Client’s brand with a

SOLUTION

The design team worked seamlessly, embedding conceptual cues at every turn from screening elements to room identification signs. The palette pulls on local cues and influences while adhering to stringent design standards, using graphics and color as wayfinding, delivering a variety of space types for a variety of work styles, and embedding subtle cues to the brand throughout.

RESULTS

“Our renovated space is an ‘intelligent workplace’ that affords employees greater connectivity, collaboration and communication.”

Dena Quinn, Senior Real Estate Portfolio Manager

CoreNet Carolinas Core Award

Elevating the Signature Experience

Mobile Thru

Little’s Brand Experience

Studio’s long history with Chick-fil-A became the perfect foundation to help expand the brand’s digital experiences without sacrificing consistency across all wayfinding applications.

GOALS

Little has been engaged in various aspects of Chick-fil-A’s wayfinding and visual communication. In each case, the goal is driven by a commitment to exploration and consistency. Little partners with Chick-fil-A to uphold a unified family of brand standards while supporting the brand’s expansion into new space types, digital experiences, and market prototypes. Among other projects, Little was tasked with designing and overseeing a prototyping study for both the Mobile Order Drive- Thru and Mobile Order Walk Up (Carry Out) experience, ensuring cohesion across all customer touchpoints with the brand.

SOLUTION

Digital Walk Up

Digital walk up allows Chick-fil-A to bring quality food and trademark hospitality to high traffic urban locations.

Mobile ordering enables Chick-fil-A to seamlessly fit into guests’ busy schedules. They simply order on the app so when they arrive, their freshly prepared order is handed to them with a smile, and they can quickly be on their way.

RESULTS

“At Chick-fil-A, we are always looking for ways to innovate and enhance the guest experience. Digital concepts meet the changing needs of our customers without compromising our signature service.”

Nathaniel Cates, Principal Design Lead, Chick-fil-A

A FEW BRANDS WE’VE WORKED WITH:

Adventist Health System

Ally

Altria

Appalachian State University

Asana Partners

Atrium Health

Axiom Bank

Bank of America

Beall’s

Belk

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina

Blue Diamond Almonds

Campbell University

Capital Area Food Bank

CenterWell Senior Care

Charlotte Catholic High School

Charlotte Center City Partners

Charlotte Country Day School

Charlotte Latin School

Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools

Chedraui (Mexico)

Chick-fil-A

Cisco

City of Charlotte

Compass Group

Comporium

Concentra Urgent Care

Confidential Client

Corkcicle

Davidson College

Duda

Duke Clinical Research Institute

Duke Energy

Durham Public Schools

Fairwinds Credit Union

First Citizens Bank

Florida Hospital

Guess

Krispy Kreme

Lidl

Longfellow

Longwood University

Lowe’s Home Improvement

Lucky Brand Jeans

North Carolina State University

Northeastern University

Nutramax

Petco (by Reddy)

Phillip Morris USA

PNC Arena

Reynolds American

The Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC)

The Good Pour

The Home Depot

The Nature Conservancy

Total Wine & More

Truist

UNC Greensboro

UnitedHealth Group Inc

Universal Creative

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

University of Texas at Austin Co-op

Virginia Tech

Wake Public Schools

Wake Tech Community College

Wells Fargo

YMCA

“We communicated our mission, vision, beliefs, and thoughts about community. Little heard our voices and the result is evident the minute you walk in the building.”

Dr. Nancy Duffy, Professor & Director of School of Nursing Campbell University

NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES 440+

LEED & WELL ACCREDITED PROFESSIONALS

114

LEED & WELL PROJECTS 115+

Certified or Pursuing Certification

OFFICE LOCATIONS

CHARLESTON, SC

CHARLOTTE, NC

DURHAM, NC

NEWPORT BEACH, CA

ORLANDO, FL

WASHINGTON, DC

SERVICES

ARCHITECTURE

• Design

• Construction Administration

• Project Execution & Program Management

• Quality Assurance

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE

• Interior Design

• Programming

• Space Planning

• Occupancy Strategy

• Change Management

BRAND EXPERIENCE

• Branding & Marketing

• Branded Environments

• Signage & Wayfinding

ENGINEERING

• Structural Engineering

• Mechanical Engineering

• Electrical Engineering

• Lighting Design

• Low Voltage Engineering

PLANNING

• Master Planning

• Feasibility / Yield Studies

• Development Strategy

PRACTICES

COMMUNITY

• Civic

• Justice

• Schools

• Higher Education

HEALTHCARE

• Acute Care

• Specialty Centers

• Medical Office Buildings & Clinics

SITE DESIGN

• Landscape Architecture

• Civil Engineering

• Land & Master Planning

• Urban Design

• Site Development / Entitlements Consulting

SMART BUILDING TECHNOLOGIES

• IWMS Implementation & Support

• IoT Sensor Deployment & Integration

• Workplace / Tenant Experience Apps

• Building Analytics & Operational Insights

SUSTAINABILITY

• Sustainability Consulting

• Certification Management

• Building Performance Optimization

• Energy Modeling

• Daylight Modeling

• Embodied Carbon Analysis

• Life Cycle Analysis

• Life Cycle Cost Analysis

• Corporate & Building Feasibility Studies

VISUAL IMPACT

• Cinematic Storytelling

• Immersive Experiences

• Virtual Placemaking

RETAIL

• Food

• Service

• Store Design

• Multi-Use & Adaptive Reuse

WORKPLACE

• Office

• Interiors

• Mixed-Use

• Critical Facilities

• Science & Technology