Thought-Built Exhibition

Exhibition Brand Design / Custom Typography / Environmental Design & Installation / Brand Promotion Design

The Thought-Built exhibition celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Imperial Hotel, a masterpiece designed by Frank Lloyd Wright that blended Western innovation with traditional Japanese aesthetics. Originally completed in 1923, the hotel was a marvel of engineering, designed to withstand earthquakes while showcasing Wright’s signature use of geometric forms and intricate ornamentation. Our team was responsible for the exhibition’s branding, crafting entryway signage that honored both Japanese sensibilities and Wright’s architectural vision. We developed custom letterforms inspired by the hotel’s original signage, designing a bespoke title mark and numbers that echoed Japanese calligraphy and resembled pagodas. The color red, significant in both Wright’s work and Japanese culture, was central to our design. Collaborating on this project was incredibly rewarding, especially working alongside Susana Tejada, the lead curator at the Martin House, whose deep knowledge enriched the process.