South Side Sanctuary
A team at Span led by Nick Adam MFA 18 GD crafted a dynamic visual identity that expressed the essence and energy of Chicago’s new public park, South Side Sanctuary, in the historic Bronzeville neighborhood.
The team at South Side Sanctuary, led by founders Cecilia Cuff and Jasmine Anwuli, architects Future Firm, and Nichole Humphry of Black Girls Shred, transformed a vacant lot into a hub for gathering, growth, and community engagement within Bronzeville, historically an area lacking in investment. They brought in RISD alum, Nick Adam given his life-long connection to the south side, cultural competency, and his reputation for meaning-based bespoke typography and identities.
The spirited visual identity reflects the form, expression, and movement in South Side Sanctuary’s intentionally inclusive architecture and the diverse activities of its visitors. Unlike most parks, South Side Sanctuary is built for pedestrians, skateboarders, roller-skaters, bicyclists, and wheelchair users alike. The logotype showcases custom typography with uniquely crafted letterforms that echo the geometry of the architecture and site plan. Designed for versatility, these letterforms can be oriented vertically for the beacon sign or horizontally for traditional applications, they also seamlessly uniting to form both a cross and an X. The bespoke stencil letterforms pay homage to Chicago artist Apache Wakefield’s Bronzeville bench, while the uppercase letters with descenders underscore the park unique topography.
Span created the eclectic color palette by being inspired by the park’s surroundings. Purple and green hues reflect the native-plant landscaping, while pink and teal come from nearby businesses. The Bronze tone is drawn from the four nearby statues that designate the area as Chicago's Blues District center. Additionally, historic and site-specific photographs from the Chicago History Museum’s Street Scenes on East 47th Street collection were selected by the park’s architects Future Firm, Span brought these images back to life with the identity’s distinctive color pairings. Throughout its extended visual language, the supportive typography utilizes expressive setting and the avant-garde alternates of Kilm’s The Future to maintain an expressive and angular character.
