Once-Future Office

Once–Future AKG Signage Gundlach

Buffalo AKG Art Museum

Expanding a global contemporary art icon

  • Brand, Wayfinding

Collaborators: Wkshps, OMA, Cooper Robertson

As part of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery’s ambitious campus redevelopment and expansion, we executed a full strategic rebrand and comprehensive signage and wayfinding system for this renowned institution in Buffalo, NY. Using insights gathered from stakeholder workshops, our team, in collaboration with Wkshps, developed a flexible identity system featuring a new name, custom typeface, and an iconic, context-specific wordmark with variable punctuation. Working in close proximity to architects OMA and Cooper Robertson, we developed a gradated signage palette of tone-on-tone lettering and reflective metal to guide visitors between intimate, introspective spaces and more dynamic, social spaces that extend the museum’s community and global reach. The new Buffalo AKG Art Museum’s identity and signage system support the museum’s objectives to create a more community-focused, autonomous visitor experience across three architecturally unique and iconic buildings and a 146,300 GSF campus.

Buffalo AKG Art Museum Campus
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Buffalo AKG Art Museum celebrating Pride with our community

Buffalo AKG Art Museum celebrating Pride with our community. Photo by Jeff Mace

Buffalo AKG Art Museum Art Truck

Buffalo AKG Art Museum Art Truck. Photo by Jeff Mace

Fall studio art classes at the buffalo AKG

Fall studio art classes at the buffalo AKG

AKG, Performance on the lawn

AKG, Performance on the lawn

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Connecting a local, regional, national, and global audience.

O-FFICE-Buffalo AKG Art Museum Entrance
O-FFICE-Buffalo AKG Art Museum Bridge Reflection
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O-FFICE-Buffalo AKG Art Museum Wilmers Building
O-FFICE-Buffalo AKG Art Museum_ Wilmers Building ID and Donor ID
O-FFICE-Buffalo AKG Art Museum_Donor plaque

Once-Future Office’s thoughtful, disciplined process allowed us to widen our focus from our history and renowned collection to our local community in a generous, harmonious way.”

Pam Hatley, Head of Publications & Digital Experience
O-FFICE-Buffalo AKG Art Museum Donor Plaque
O-FFICE-Buffalo AKG Art Museum_Restroom Directional
O-FFICE-Buffalo AKG Art Museum Bridge
O-FFICE-Buffalo AKG Art Museum Gundlach Lobby
O-FFICE-Buffalo AKG Art Museum 360 Donor Wall
O-FFICE-Buffalo AKG Art Museum 360 Donor Wall Detail
O-FFICE-Buffalo AKG Art Museum Gundlach Gallery
O-FFICE-Buffalo AKG Art Museum_Knox Building Entrance
O-FFICE-Buffalo AKG Art Museum Town Square
O-FFICE-Buffalo AKG Art Museum Shop and Resin Sign
AKG Swag–Sweatshirts
AKG Swag
AKG Swag–Baby
AKG Swag–Notebooks and Pencils
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O-FFICE-Buffalo AKG Art Museum Basement Flag Sign
O-FFICE-Buffalo AKG Art Museum Parking Garage Supergraphics
O-FFICE-Buffalo AKG Art Museum Exterior Donor Plaque
O-FFICE-Buffalo AKG Art Museum at Night
O-FFICE-Buffalo AKG Art Museum and Greater Buffalo

Photos by Magda Biernat; first and last image Marco Cappelletti; slideshow images courtesy AKG, Jeff Mace