Foundation Design

When Altmann Builders approached us, they sought a visual reawakening to match their luxury craftsmanship. With a rebrand in progress, the challenge was to elevate their visual identity in a way that truly captured the prestige of custom homebuilding. Our mission was clear: create a brand that honors their legacy while pushing the boundaries of modern design.

Inspired by the iconic architecture of Richard Neutra, we reimagined the brand with refined typography, customized edits, and timeless design elements that exude luxury and sophistication. Altmann’s new look is a balance of simple elegance and bold craftsmanship, mirroring their attention to detail and architectural finesse. 🏡

Read our case study here: https://foundationdesign.us/altmann-case-study/, to see the challenges we tackled and the solutions we found.

If you're making brands for a living (hey, that's us), you better have some serious fun with your own.

At our core, we believe that bolder is better. In an industry full of creative visionaries, AEC companies deserve brands that match their ambition. Yet too often, we see brands playing it safe—careful, predictable, and uninspired. That’s not our style. We move with confidence and empower others to do the same. Anything less just isn't worth doing.

It’s time to leave behind the pedestrian and step into a brand that honors your craft with the same daring spirit you bring to every project.

Erik Fong, Principal Architect at OneStudio D+A, approached us to rebrand their firm and better align with their evolving values.

Through extensive discussions and research, we identified that "connection" is the essence of the OneStudio D+A brand, reflected in their collaborative and unified approach that helps people better connect with a place.

This insight guided us in crafting a design system that highlights their core values and vision for the future.

Working with Erik was an inspiring journey. Discover more about the thoughtful decisions behind their new identity and see the results here: https://foundationdesign.us/onestudio-da-case-study/

Branding is more than just a logo—it’s a universal expression of who you are. By keeping the design consistent, we help businesses build trust, reinforce their message, and leave a lasting impression wherever their brand appears.

Anything else just isn't worth doing.

Take a look at our website’s portfolio: https://foundationdesign.us/portfolio/, to see all the ways we were able to bring our clients' brand stories to life through impactful, unified design systems.

Well aware this is the design nerds in us talking but: who wouldn’t want to work with architects, engineers, and construction firms? 🏗️

AEC is design thinking on the most massive of scales. These people are tackling the world’s largest (literally) problems with solutions as innovative as they are beautiful.

That’s the kind of stuff that gets us fired up. So we decided to do whatever it takes to work with these people more.

Simply put: we’re huge fans. We get AEC companies and we respect the work they do. In turn, they tend to respect our work just as much.

That's a recipe for better work and better working relationships.

I love it when we can create a sub-brand that is of service to the parent brand but is also strong on its own. This is what’s NEXT.

Have you checked out the new website for Tolles yet?

Foundation redesigned the Tolles website to embody the essence of their brand. Seamlessly showcasing their mission, vision, values, and purpose, intertwining them with the narrative of their properties. As users navigate its user-friendly interface and monochromatic palette, they experience Tolles’ dedication to intent and purpose in commercial development. The brand’s tagline, ‘Thoughtful Development,’ embodies sophistication and purpose, resonating deeply with visitors.

Check out more of the Tolles rebrand: https://foundationdesign.us/tolles-portfolio/

We don’t have a vision—we have a process.

Focusing on the outcome inevitably leaves great work and big ideas on the table. Focusing on the process ensures that stones don't go unturned and roads are never less traveled. Always leave room for the unexpected.

To see where this process led us, check out our OneStudio D+A case study: https://ow.ly/si9h50SYWzP

The business card is dead; long live the business card.

In this increasingly digital world of branding and design, some things from the physical realm never really go out of style. On the contrary, tangible brand touch points like business cards might be better now than ever before.

Business cards are more than just contact details; they say everything about your brand and you as an extension of it the second they touch another's fingertips.

That physical contact is key to their power. Business cards are where the little things take center stage. The recipient feels the weight of the paper, its thickness and the texture, in an instant. They're able to hold it close and see the care and thought that goes into its design in a matter of seconds. If they take an extra second to admire it, you've already won.

Try getting that with an email signature.

A well-designed card speaks volumes about your personal professionalism, provides proof of pride in your brand, and helps your company instantly pass the vibe check. Never skip 'em.

Don’t let perfection get in the way of progress.

In this digital age, with A/B testing and the fluid nature of brands, the emphasis has shifted from achieving perfection to making continual progress.

Instead of striving for perfection, focus on iterating, learning, and improving over time. Embrace the journey of progress, knowing that it’s the steps forward that ultimately lead to success.

Todd Copenhaver, owner at Copenhaver Architecture, decided he wanted to work with us after seeing the work we did for ADAPT: the 206 Dice Design Conference. How's that for a first impression?

Working alongside Todd was a pleasure. He saw how we merged playfulness and purpose and asked us to carry that into his brand identity, logo, website, and collateral design. Check it out here: https://ow.ly/qyfX50SronJ

A quality brand extends to every aspect of communications, even photography. Which is exactly what we did for Clark/Sullivan Construction.

By understanding the firm’s genuine appreciation for their partnerships, we showcased the strong connections made on the job site. With the help of Jeff Dow, their photography radiates with the attention to detail their projects are known for.

In addition to photography, Foundation also handled brand development, visual identity, logo design, stationery, presentation materials, website design, illustration, fleet design, and uniform design.

📷 Jeff Dow Photography and Motion