close

Kresston Community

digital / identity / print / merch / environmental / naming
Hero image showing an aerial view of the area, with a colored overlay and a textured Kresston logo on it, with a brand pattern along the edges

Nestled in the small town of Magnolia, Texas, on the outskirts of Houston, you’ll find a new master-planned community named Kresston. Influenced by all things Texan, ST8MNT created a full brand system complete with brand essence, naming, identity, collateral and environmental design, marketing assets and event needs. The core values of this community can be seen in every aspect of the master-planned community brand, creating an authentic experience through and through. This Texas brand was established to be seamlessly carried through all mediums and channels, and set a deep foundation for decades of growth.

Moodboard of images serving as inspiration for Kresston. The moodboard has the brand attributes listed as

We arrived at this name in a collaborative effort with the client. The origin of the name starts with the found of Johnson Development, Larry Johnson. He was from a small town in Texas named Kress, and he embodied everything it took to be a genuine legend. He often referred to a set of standards called “The Cowboy Code of Ethics” that were rules to live by, inspired by the pioneers. Thus, Kresston was created to pay homage to this icon and his noble way of life. It also ties into the word “crest” which has many positive connotations such as the top of a mountain and peak of an experience, or a connection to the strong foundation of a family’s lineage. The tagline “Live Legendary” promotes a sense of adventure that all residents can expect to embark on when they enter this new development.

 

In addition the overall name of the community, ST8MNT worked collaboratively to name individual neighborhoods within. As seen in the map below, there are seven neighborhoods or “districts” that exist on the property. Each of these name reflects something that is core to the identity of Kresston. For many of these districts the location of future amenities and features such as a school, retail, etc. were taken in to consideration with the naming.

A colored map shows the different neighborhoods in Kresston, each neighborhood has the name outlined with the meaning behind each name
The main Kresston logo with tagline
A gif alternates between different Kresston brand marks
A gif alternates between different Kresston brand patterns
Kresston color palette laid out with colors listed as

K and S, as a nod to the unique double s’s in the name, are combined to create this logo’s monogram. The look and feel is inspired by a classic cattle brand, something one could find on any authentic Texas ranch. The serifs give off the feeling of spurs, with rounded corners to provide a welcoming touch. The wordmark features a type with subtle contrast, allowing the name to look both vintage and current. All of this is paired with a script that emphasizes the tagline’s “legendary,” harkening back to the times of hand painted signs in small town America.

 

The color palette reflects the rich tones and colors seen across a Texas landscape. Inspired by nature this palette includes colors ranging from the clay dirt to a clear sky on a sunny day. The dark maroon creates a refined and grounded feeling, while the gold and clay bring a warmth to the palette. To compliment these colors, we’ve added cool, bright tones that relate to nature with a soft blue and green. These colors bring balance to the brand and paint a harmonious picture.

 

Image showing the Texas landscape with hues of clay and sky blue
Image showing Texas ranch landscape with hues of green and sky blue
Image showing a Texas sunrise with a warm golden glow
Kresston typography showing how the fonts work for the subhead, headline, body copy, and emphasis text.
Animation showing navigation design for website designed by ST8MNT for Kresston, a Johnson Development community in Texas
Kresston website design showing the landing page
Kresston website design showing the gallery page for the event
Social Media
Mockups showing examples of social media profiles for Kresston. On the left sits a desktop view of a facebook profile, on the right is a mobile view of showing instagram posts for Kresston.
Gallery of social media posts for the rollout of the Kresston brand on instagram. The gallery contains photos and gifs of reels.
Email Templates
A mockup of 3 email templates show different sections designed for the Kresston brand
Presentation Template
Presentation template design for the Kresston brand
Name Reveal Event

Once the key brand elements were established, it was time to announce it’s birth to the real world at the Kresston Name Reveal event. Essential members of the local real estate community, partners and investors gathered to celebrate the unveiling of this new master-planned community’s name and identity. ST8MNT helped by creating promotional materials in the form of invites, pens, mugs, postcards, drink stirrers, napkins, and more. In addition, we also brand consulted on the event down to the details of the table covers. Ensuring a brand is communicated remarkably and clearly across many fronts is our bread and butter jam in every way.

 

A mockup showcases a postcard sized printout that served as an invitation to a community kickoff and name reveal event. One side consists of event details, while the other side is a designed map of the surrounding area.
Image of branded drink stirrers from the name reveal event
Image of branded sign with balloon decor from the name reveal event
Image of branded cocktail napkin from the name reveal event
Image of branded materials displayed on a table at the name reveal event
Image of large scale poster board with takeaway flyer design from the name reveal event
Image of branded notebook displayed on a table at the name reveal event
Image of two margarita glasses cheersing with branded drink stirrers from the name reveal event
Image of branded leather koozie at the name reveal event
Image of large scale poster board with branded map design showcasing the surrounding area, from the name reveal event
Image of presentation with map showing neighborhood names, being presented at the name reveal event
Kresston is spelled out in light-lined boxes surrounded by colored balloons matching the brand colors