Vanderbrand is an independent strategy and creative office, operating in Toronto. Led by research, Vanderbrand uses combined experience to create concise and compelling work. Vanderbrand operates across all industries to deliver strategy, brand, creative direction, and design for clients of varying scales.

With a digital index of previously unpublished works dating back to 2009, vanderbrand.com features a refreshed visual identity while succinctly communicating the firm's expertise, body of work, and approach to strategy and brand.

Procurian is an international procurement consultancy based in Singapore. Procurian works to optimize procurement processes, select vendors, and ensure seamless logistics through a global network. With an understanding of market dynamics and supply chain optimization, Procurian enhances operational efficiency and drives growth.

Vanderbrand developed a brand and visual identity to establish Procurian as a leader in the procurement industry. The brand mark symbolizes the points of contact and connection between retailers and suppliers. The graphic language reflects the principles of adaptability, flexibility, and efficiency.

Woodcliffe is a Toronto-based residential and commercial heritage restoration and development company, working to develop landmark properties with generational impact.

After almost three decades Vanderbrand was engaged to mark Woodcliffe’s shift from a heritage restoration company to a mixed-use real estate builder. The new brand identity captures Woodcliffe’s philosophy of intelligent, innovative, and considered design.

On the Bench is a destination branding and tourism campaign by Globizen, designed to position the Niagara Benchlands, “the Bench,” region as a leisure destination within Southern Ontario. Globizen will soon launch a design-forward hotel and residence collection as the Bench’s anchor destination.

Through a comprehensive strategy, Vanderbrand developed the brand and campaign identities for On the Bench. The campaign centres around a website and printed field guide which serve as regional resources, educating readers about “What’s On” the Bench. The campaign brings attention to an overlooked region of Ontario, encouraging tourism by highlighting the offerings of the area: food, wine, art, culture, and recreation.

Burnaby Lake by Create Properties is a 14-acre mixed-use master-planned community in Burnaby designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects. Burnaby Lake offers human-scale architecture surrounded by nature. Burnaby Lake will provide 127,000 square feet of green space with 3,700 new homes.

Vanderbrand developed a name, brand strategy, and brand identity for Burnaby Lake that reflects its emphasis on the surrounding landscape. The name and identity embody Burnaby Lake’s values of sustainability, community, and connection. A visual system of geometric icons represents key characteristics of the area.

At Toronto Metropolitan University, Together Design Lab (TDL) is a team of planners, designers, and architects operating within an immersive partnership model to address housing issues experienced by marginalized communities. Working with interdisciplinary collaborators, TDL reimagines home environments and addresses communities’ overall well-being.

Capturing the essence of togetherness, Vanderbrand created an approachable and energetic brand identity. TDL’s brand mark is a reinvention of the plus sign, symbolizing unity. It embodies togetherness, resembling a collection of homes or a group of people. The brand mark changes and adapts to take on new forms, reflecting TDL’s values to listen, learn, and share together.

Corktown, Slate Asset Management’s inaugural residential project in Hamilton, Ontario, is a two-phase development spanning an entire city block. Located between downtown amenities and natural surroundings, the residence pays homage to Hamilton’s industrial heritage while looking to the city’s promising future. Corktown blends history with modernity, offering vibrant city living enriched with the distinctive character of one of Hamilton’s oldest neighbourhoods.

Vanderbrand created a brand identity for Corktown that would capture the evolution of the historic neighbourhood. Custom gradients were illustrated and animated to represent the city’s ongoing transformation. A gradient represents a transition point; colours evolve and harmonize converging in a chromatic metamorphosis. Select chrome applications nod to Hamilton’s industrial past and signify Slate’s commitment to the redevelopment of Steelport, formerly known as the Stelco lands. The brand mirrors Hamilton’s past, present, and future, forging a seamless connection between the residence and the energy of the city.

The logo is set in JHA Times Now, and Times Now and Basel Grotesk are used throughout the brand identity.

Park Road will stand as a symbol of architectural excellence, a vision realized by Capital Developments and Diamond Schmitt. The building is a contemporary reinterpretation of flatiron architectural design and its location at the intersection of Yorkville and Rosedale achieves a harmonious balance between city and park living.

Vanderbrand developed an immersive experience punctuated by a refined brand narrative. The cross-platform campaign highlights Park Road as a residence of distinction with timeless architecture and forward-thinking design, while emphasizing the premium amenities within the sought-after location of Yorkville. Every touchpoint is carefully curated to reflect the inherent quality of the residence, seamlessly incorporating both classic and contemporary brand applications.

The logo is set in ABC Arizona Flare, while supporting typography is set in ABC Social.

Resident is a Toronto-based, end-to-end real estate investment and development company. They build, develop, and manage their properties with the goal of creating quality homes and liveable communities. They draw inspiration from the distinct qualities of each setting to create communities that people connect to, and where they belong.

Formerly Plaza Partners, Resident selected Vanderbrand to deliver a comprehensive rebrand including a new name and corporate website to reflect their transition from acquisition and investment to active development. The name Resident uses a straightforward word to create identity; a company with a human approach which values development as a means to give back to each and every resident. Contemporary brand applications reflect the forward-thinking and innovative minds that drive Resident forward.

While Surt is used for the logo, Selecta is used throughout the brand identity.

The Templates, a division of global graphic design resource The Brand Identity, has partnered with Toronto-based creative agency Vanderbrand to produce a new collection of photo-realistic mockups.

The Templates contacted Vanderbrand with a vision for a mockup collection driven by their clean, contemporary aesthetic.

“We pride ourselves not only in the work we produce for our clients, but in the way we communicate our work,” says Anna Vander Herberg, Creative Director at Vanderbrand. “We are intentional in every aspect of our documentation, as the way a project is photographed can dramatically alter how it is perceived.”

The collection of 18 mockups ranges from common stationery applications such as business cards and note cards, to more elaborately fabricated pieces like retail packaging and books.

Founder of The Brand Identity and Co-founder of The Templates Elliott Moody notes, “We are delighted to bring Vanderbrand’s signature aesthetic into our world. Their ability to effortlessly present their work in clean, calm and considered environments translates perfectly into this collection of ultra-realistic mockups. We’re excited to see how designers, agencies and brands alike decide to use them.”

The placeholder items show the number in large numerals from Suisse Int’l, with the full file name and dimensions added in a smaller size.

The Templates : Vanderbrand collaboration is now available for purchase
at the-templates.com.

Heartland is one of Canada’s largest power centres, bringing together retail shops and specialty services in one convenient location. With over 190 storefronts occupying 2 million square feet of real estate, Heartland is the ultimate destination to shop, eat, and work. Located in Mississauga, the district attracts countless visitors per day due to its proximity to nearby residential, industrial, and office buildings.

Vanderbrand was approached by Orlando Corporation to deliver a rebrand for Heartland that would revitalize one of the most iconic districts in the city. The repositioning of Heartland as a landmark destination acts as a catalyst for growth by creating opportunities for new tenants and visitors alike.

Retaining the Heartland name as well as its brand equity, the new wordmark sits forward and is set in a bold sans serif typeface, Roobert, which grounds the mark horizontally. The wordmark is paired with an icon which features abstracted shapes based on a lowercase h. The icon represents the storefronts and architectural motifs found in Heartland, as the precinct is well known for being an open concept neighbourhood with high-profile street-front retail locations. The secondary typeface is Hellix. Both typefaces were designed by Martin Vácha and are available from his Displaay Type Foundry.

Langara Construction is a building practice specializing in design-driven and architecture-led residential construction projects. Located in the Greater Toronto Area, Langara Construction works alongside teams of award-winning architects, interior designers, landscape architects, and property developers to realize innovative structures that aim to propel the future of city building. With a distinct drive to produce buildings of enduring quality, Langara Construction meticulously oversees each project from conception to completion.

Vanderbrand developed a new visual identity that would establish Langara Construction as a leading authority in residential and multi-residential construction. Led by a striking graphic symbol, the resulting brand is designed around a contemporary framework that reflects the internal structures and processes of building. Grounded by the weight of the logo mark and supported by captivating photography, Langara Construction’s new visual presence allows for compositional flexibility across a wide range of brand applications.

Drawn with reference to geometry and architecture, the logo mark utilizes overlapping primary shapes to construct an abstracted graphic monogram that captures both the angular edges and round curves of Langara Construction’s initials. The resulting symbol is an iconic emblem that feels organic yet constructed. The monolithic form is balanced by a light-weight sans-serif wordmark set in Beausite Classic; pulling apart from each other to anchor the visual space within each composition they occupy. The secondary type is Surt.

Situated at the corner of Hurontario Street and Fairview Road East in Mississauga’s city centre, a contemporary community will take shape. Developed by Edenshaw with a design by Core Architects and Cecconi Simone, Alba will rise 32 storeys above the bustling downtown intersection – its fluid, curvilinear form offering sweeping views of its surroundings. With a reputation for sustainable and innovative building practices, Edenshaw is one of Canada’s most trusted and progressive boutique residential developers, and Alba is their newest addition to Mississauga’s residential landscape.

Engaged by Edenshaw and inspired by the undulating curvature of the architecture, Vanderbrand developed a contemporary brand identity and comprehensive launch campaign that would establish Alba not only as a desirable address within Mississauga, but as a distinct place in the world.

Set in loosely spaced uppercase, the logo features ABC Whyte Inktrap’s striking ink traps, resulting in a distinct visual motif. Conceived with reference to the flexibility of the building’s undulating envelope, the logo can be pulled apart and rearranged to create new and abstracted iterations. Whyte, with smooth and sharp transitions, contrasting with the inktrap style, is used for body copy. Both Whyte and Whyte Inktrap are available from Dinamo. Headers and captions are set in Ekstra by Good Type Foundry.

Bidmii is a revolutionary all-in-one platform, designed to simplify the process of bidding and paying for home improvement jobs, making life easier for homeowners, contractors, and realtors.

A new narrative had to be established for the home improvement industry. Bidmii introduces simple, automated project creation with reliable and trusted contractors that get the job done.

Vanderbrand was approached by Bidmii to reposition and redefine their brand and develop a strategy that would support the growth of the platform and bring together a community of people interested in a better home improvement experience.

Set confidently in Value Serif – a contemporary, robust slab serif font – the new brand identity for Bidmii is straightforward, approachable, and legible. Within the logo sits “The Three i’s”. These not only represent Bidmii’s core values – integrity, inspiration, and innovation – but serve as the building blocks for the “Build Your Ask” tagging system. Utilizing the tittles of the lowercase i within the logo, these forms become the framework for tags, that bring systematic efficiency to the platform.

At Yonge and St. Clair, a desirable neighbourhood in downtown Toronto, One Delisle will stand tall as the first project in Canada by world-renowned architect Jeanne Gang and her visionary architectural firm, Studio Gang. Studio Gang’s architecture considers narrative and context and is distinguished by a desire to build better connections between people and place. Together with a team of internationally celebrated architects, designers, and urban innovators, Slate Asset Management and Studio Gang will realize One Delisle, an iconic piece of architecture that unifies Toronto’s urbanity with the tranquility of the nearby ravine.

Vanderbrand was engaged by Slate Asset Management to develop a comprehensive brand strategy and launch campaign that would amplify the architectural ingenuity of the building and complement the surrounding natural landscape and ravines. The brand and marketing materials is a response to the poetics of the building and highlight the future of high-rise living at One Delisle.

Vanderbrand commissioned internationally acclaimed type foundry Letters from Sweden to develop a typeface that would reflect One Delisle’s transformation from a square retail base to a 16-sided circular floorplate. The foundry began by designing the wordmark, which became the base for the complete typeface. One Delisle Display is a contemporary sans serif which balances sophistication and complexity by honouring the architectural ingenuity of the tower. The custom typeface is paired with GT Super Display (Grilli Type) and Spezia (Luzi Type).

See the case study for more images and information.

Brochure spine.

Brochure table of contents.

Chapter title in brochure.

Brochure interior.

Chapter title in brochure.

Gift box with debossed logo.

Note card.

Website with sliding menu.

Mobile website.

Sales gallery.

Pin with letter O; newspaper.

Wayfinding signage.

Folder.

Sales gallery.

Permission is Toronto’s first size-inclusive and body-positive retail experience for curated athletic fashion. With inclusivity at the core of the brand story, Vanderbrand created a dynamic and flexible brand system and visual identity that is bold, empowering, and fresh.

Permission reinvents the concept of activewear with a retail store and supporting digital platform that embraces the body in all states, and creates an experience that celebrates authenticity.

The Permission brand system is a visual representation of fluidity and flexibility. Set confidently in a condensed Formula, mixing its condensed lettershapes with the wide alternate glyphs. Each application of the logo variant visualizes the countless evolutions that individuals experience.

Bold, enlarged, and interactive typographic treatments act as a graphic expression of one’s body in motion. This application is then further enhanced through strong use of colour in the merchandise highlighted in campaign photography across digital and print applications.

Westport is a new condominium collection that offers the convenience of modern dwelling, balanced with a pace of life that is truly unique to Port Credit. Edenshaw, a prominent property developer and community leader, engaged Vanderbrand to develop a name and accompanying brand strategy that would inspire and excite the public about the future of Mississauga living.

Westport is Edenshaw’s newest residential project, located directly adjacent to the Port Credit GO Station and future Hurontario LRT Line. Driven by Edenshaw’s ongoing commitment to develop Port Credit in a responsible and sustainable manner, Vanderbrand devised a launch strategy that effectively communicated the relationship between connectivity and nature that defines the neighbourhood. A contemporary approach for the area, Vanderbrand established a clean and fresh visual language punctuated by engaging messaging and storied visuals to capture Edenshaw’s vision for a future-forward Port Credit.

The name Westport captures the two most prominent strengths of the project site; its connected location west of Toronto, and its abundance of public, highly accessible waterfront land. Bw Gradual features unique notches in the letterforms, giving a contemporary edge to a name that feels sophisticated and established. The modernity of the logo is pushed further by its lowercase typesetting, imbuing the name with a youthful energy that aims to inspire and engage potential purchasers. Flexible and dynamic, the wordmark pulls apart and comes together to maximize visibility on all applications, allowing for optimal brand recognition across print and digital platforms.

All information is set in TWK Lausanne.

Website and social media content for Westport, a project by Edenshaw Developments, Canada, using Lausanne by Nizar Kazan. The logo uses Bw Gradual.

Oxford Properties came to Vanderbrand with a project that would set a record for the most significant mixed-use development in Canadian history, spanning 130 acres. Square One District will repurpose and transform downtown Mississauga with 37 new towers comprising over 18,000 new residences and class A office buildings, anchored by Square One Shopping Centre. The future Hurontario LRT stop at Mississauga City Centre will provide connections to thousands of commuters travelling back and forth from downtown Toronto.

As a response to a project of this scale, Vanderbrand designed a place brand and launch campaign for Square One District that would communicate Oxford’s vision and commitment to stimulate economic development in downtown Mississauga.

The new identity and graphic program are an important part of the strategy for Square One District. It allows for flexibility across spatial and digital communications, while still feeling inclusive to all arms of the mixed-use development spanning offices, condominiums, retail, and public spaces.

The brand mark for Square One District is set in the clean and modern Neue Haas Grotesk. This typeface was selected not only for longevity, but for the cohesion it brings to a brand designed for the future. The versatility of the primary typeface complements the atypical typographic system where the sans serif typeface is used in combination with the serif Domaine Text to bring vibrancy and optimism to the messaging used for promotional communications.

Website.

Brochure.

As a certified organic, plant-based tree water, Sapsucker is sourced using simple production methods, with a focus on sustainable forests. Nothing is overly complicated, and no artificial ingredients or preservatives have been added — sipsapsucker.com

Vanderbrand was engaged by Lower Valley Beverage Company (LVBC) to rebrand and reposition Sapsucker within the growing sparkling water market. This required a brand strategy and identity to position the beverage for global brand recognition. We worked closely with LVBC to create a holistic brand with a clear and consistent approach across the brand identity, product naming, packaging, copywriting, digital applications, social media, and art direction.

The brand identity for Sapsucker is strongly informed by its Canadian roots. The wordmark takes cues from Canadian nostalgia including local sport apparel and retail packaging. Pairing the historically referenced Central Avenue (designed by Studio Makgill and released at Colophon Foundry, 2011) with the clean-cut Favorit (Dinamo, 2016) and a modern graphic language results in a visual system that is appropriate, distinctive, and flexible for varied scales and applications.