KPMB Architects
Unlocking the potential of the built environment
KPMB Architects is a Toronto-based firm renowned for their commitment to timeless and enduring design solutions. As they entered their thirtieth year of work, KPMB came to AREA 17 to expand their vision—seamlessly marrying their heritage with a more forward-thinking spirit of innovation.
Together, we worked to craft a brand strategy, visual identity, and website that embodies their unique design ethos and approach, cementing their role as a true partner to their clients and a catalyst for positive change through the built environment.
While KPMB has a rich history of projects, our role was to help position the firm around more than just its portfolio. It needed to be recognized as a true strategic partner, not simply as vendors who design functional buildings.
By devoting themselves to the distinct purpose of each project, KPMB assumes the role of a catalyst, propelling their clients towards their own purpose and helping to create positive transformational shifts within their organizations. We created a standardized strategic framework that unites the organization around this shared understanding of its value in the market.
KPMB doesn’t rely on a time-tested formula to produce their work. Instead, they incorporate a tapestry of opinions and engage in a collaborative process to unlock their clients’ vision and bring it to life.
The visual identity reflects this unique design approach. The logo flips the traditional left to right orientation on its head by converging the letters of KPMB around a central point, reflecting people and ideas coming together. The lines that unite the letters act as a system—beyond the logo—that reveals, frames, and unlocks new perspectives.
We also built a new digital portfolio experience, leveraging their existing Wordpress CMS. Moving from an old site that was word heavy and clunky, we built a platform that prioritized rich and immersive image galleries, giving their work room to shine. The line system becomes a key interactive feature, revealing the main navigation and acting as a signal in page transitions.
