Project
CANAL HOUSE
Type
Hospitality / Boutique Stay
Deliverables
Brand Identity
Design
UI/UX Design
Year
2024
Collaborators
oneeightoneone
samurai
rodo dendron
mahuliena
ayscha
Project team
Maya Lin
Olivia Reyes
Ethan Cole
Jasmine Park
Sofia Alvarez
Chloe Bennett
Noah Brooks
Liam Carter
Amelia Clarke
Freya Bennett
Isla Morgan
Oliver Hughes
Ethan Patel
Brooklyn, NY Team, Manchester, UK Team
The research phase focused on how hospitality has evolved into a hybrid between service, media, and cultural storytelling. Guests increasingly form expectations long before arrival, meaning that digital presence shapes perception as strongly as physical experience. This shift required rethinking the platform not as a booking tool, but as a narrative interface. References included boutique hotels, editorial travel publications, and immersive digital storytelling platforms. The direction moved toward creating a system where information and atmosphere coexist without hierarchy.
The identity system was designed to feel quiet, refined, and deliberately understated. Typography and spacing were used to create structure, while avoiding any visual noise that could compete with imagery or narrative content. Instead of building a highly expressive brand, the focus was on consistency and restraint. The identity adapts easily across digital interfaces, print materials, and editorial storytelling formats. The result is a brand presence that supports content rather than defining it.
The booking experience was redesigned to feel more like a guided journey than a transactional flow. Steps were reduced, interactions simplified, and transitions softened to remove friction from the decision-making process. Information is revealed progressively, allowing users to understand context before committing to action. This creates a calmer, more intentional interaction pattern compared to traditional hospitality platforms. The experience prioritizes clarity and emotional pacing over efficiency alone.
Beyond functionality, the platform introduces an editorial layer that expands the perception of place. Stories about the neighborhood, cultural references, and atmospheric descriptions create depth beyond accommodation details. This layer transforms the platform into something closer to a publication than a booking engine. It encourages exploration rather than immediate conversion. The result is a richer relationship between audience and destination.
The final system merges transactional functionality with narrative depth, creating a platform that operates on both practical and emotional levels. Canal House becomes not only a place to book a stay, but a way to understand the atmosphere of Amsterdam before arrival.
Our Work
