Saint Kate, the Arts Hotel

One Design Company
2019

The hotel logotype literally wraps the southeast corner of the building
The brand concept and identity program impacts every aspect of the guest experience
Come closer, abandon doubt. The hotel promises to expand horizons and evolve the perception of Milwaukee—bringing the local arts community to the table.
From publications to amenities and everywhere in between, the One Design team created every guest touchpoint for the property.
Programming is the lifeblood of Saint Kate, and the hotel team required a flexible system of template to assist in promotion.

What exactly is an ‘arts hotel?’ How might the arts weave through the entire experience? Could a hotel function as an arts venue? How about a platform for the local creative community? A bridge between disparate communities in the same city? 

We spent the better part of a year exploring these questions, in the run up to the unveiling of Saint Kate, Milwaukee’s Arts Hotel.

The project has been an ongoing collaboration between us, Stonehill Taylor architects, and Marcus Hotels & Resorts. Our team led brand research, concept development, naming, and identity and experience design. Twelve months in, we collectively laid the groundwork for a brand new boutique property that is redefining how people experience hotels; as well as how visitors from near and far approach, celebrate, and support the arts and the spirit of the creative process.

Saint Kate—a nod to Saint Catherine, the patron saint of artists—has been designed from the ground up to celebrate all modes of artistic expression, and to serve as a platform for the Milwaukee arts community, a hub for locals, and a portal to the scene for travelers from afar.

Director of Design and Strategy
David Sieren
Strategy
Liz Olson
Copywriter / Strategy
Bianca Smith
Design Lead
Stacey Donaldson
Senior Designer
Kyle Meyer
Senior Interactive Designer
Collin Joyce
Senior Designer
Ian Dickens
Designer
Erick Morales
Developer
Molly Wells
Project Manager / Strategy
James Johnston
Designer
Johnathan Bufalino
Developer
Brett Burwell