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The Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations’ brand image metamorphosis
By : Agence Kabane
GRANDS PRIX DU DESIGN – 16th edition
Discipline : Communication & Branding
Categories : Brand Design / Brand Identity Creation and Update : Platinum Winner
Reviving memories with refinement
The Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations’ brand image metamorphosis was inspired by the memory of the land. It pays homage to the richness of the Huron-Wendat culture, its customs and traditions—all while evoking contemporary refinement that enhances the experience of a new generation of visitors. The brand image that was developed embodies the bridge between the traditional and the contemporary, the past and the present, authenticity and exclusivity. The brand signature « De notre mémoire à la votre” (From our memory to yours) highlights this precious legacy, which is at the heart of the Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations’ sensory and memorial experience.
The redesign work was guided by the desire to create an immersive escape that reconciles history and modern comfort—and symbolizes expansion and renovation of the establishment’s infrastructure. These transformations have the common goal of strengthening the hotel-museum’s position as a must-visit destination within the luxury First Nations’ tourism circuit in Canada.
A brand rooted rich in history
The use of strong symbols from the Huron-Wendat culture, such as the tobacco leaf and the longhouses, patterns reminiscent of weaving looms, and close-ups of textures evoking the territory, were used to create a compelling link between living memory and the upscale hotel experience.
The numbers were custom-created to be unique and match the style of the logo. They are used for room numbers, lists, etc.
As for the colours, a refined palette in deep sage was chosen because of its symbolism and softer hues. The ensemble is punctuated with earthy and natural colours, with the addition of a dense black for a more refined aspect. The overall imagery features a distinctive, balanced palette that inspires openness, memory, timelessness and being welcomed.
The photography is marked by strong contrasts, sharp lighting, shadow play and dishes placed on raw material. This blending of light and textures showcases the region’s culinary heritage and richness. Secondary colours weave harmoniously with the brand’s distinctive colours.
Creativity fostered by listening and curiosity
Celebrating the Huron-Wendat Nation’s profound culture required the strategic and creative teams to have a sensitive and open understanding of its history, art and ways of life.
Taking the time to listen was an essential aspect of the design process, as the team wanted to accurately convey the true nature of the culinary, tourist and resort experiences. As more and more visitors crave authenticity, properly representing this First Nations population was paramount.
The visual design also had to maximize the brand ecosystem’s potential and facilitate the implementation of promotional initiatives. The brand image has been applied to several communication tools, website, and various decorative objects. We have also created a social media strategy and design guide for clients to use the graphic platform easily in the future.
Collaboration
