Meanwhile Block

Making a great space for even greater stories.

▵ Brand Strategy + Positioning

▵ Naming
▵ Identity Design

▵ Custom Typeface
▵ Signage & Environmental Graphics

▵ Murals & Art

▵ Website & Digital Design

Cities are always evolving — we’re nostalgic for what was and wonder about what will come, and when. The concept of meanwhile use was born from this: using empty space to create opportunities for people, beyond a pop-up shop time period of a few weeks to make full use of a space for the maximum period it is empty.

We worked with project visionary Lauren Ripko of Studio Q Events and Norwood to bring this concept to downtown Colorado Springs with the Meanwhile Block, a full city block in the future Park Union Business District, adjacent to the US Olympic & Paralympic Museum.

Designing a "blank slate” with personality was a top challenge, answered with a black & white modular identity and logo from, well, blocks. This allowed us the ability to infuse the brand with pattern and color when needed, and let the events, markets and art that frequent the block easily take center stage. We concepted and executed onsite brand wayfinding as well as large-scale murals and art installations that activated the block and seeded future ideas, here and at future Meanwhile Blocks across the city.

Comparison of two town signs for 'Park Union Downtown' in green and 'Banning Lewis Ranch' in blue with yellow accents.
Colorful graphic with overlapping rectangles containing the letters M, B, W, and W in different colored backgrounds: yellow, purple, blue, and red.
Neon sign with the word 'BAR' in yellow, mounted on a colorful geometric wall, with part of a person in dark clothing visible on the left.
Colorful sign on a fence with the words 'MEANWHILE BLOCK' written in a crossword style. The sign asks 'What is this place?' and describes it as a space for creativity, curiosity, art, and sharing ideas, with a QR code and social media handle '@meanwhileblock'.
Street corner with a sign on a white brick wall that reads 'MEAN WHILE BLOCK' in black and white letter tiles with an orange background.
Group of people socializing at a mixer event in a bright industrial space with large windows and high ceilings. There is a sign that reads 'Playground for Curiosity' hanging from the ceiling.
Clear glass with a colorful sticker reading 'Mean While W -h I L E B L O C K' placed on it, in an indoor setting with blurred background and other objects.
Bright indoor event space with large stained glass windows, decorated with colorful banners hanging from the ceiling with words like 'Interacting', 'Creating', and 'Welcome'. Several round tables with yellow tablecloths and small potted plants are arranged around the room. There are signs on tables and a bicycle against the wall.
A colorful map of an area with labeled locations including Grey Rose, The Garage, Barrel Building, Market Square, The HeYground, and surrounding streets such as Sierra Madres Street, Costilla Street, Cimmaron Street, and Weidner Field.
Smartphone displaying a colorful weekly event schedule on an orange background.
Colorful background with overlapping geometric shapes and the text "This Week @Mean While Block" in black and white boxes, with black double arrow symbols.
A promotional graphic for a Zumba class on Tuesday, May 21, from 11 am to 12 pm at the Barrel Building, featuring a woman dancing with hair flying and smiling, with colorful geometric background elements.
A woman shopping at a farmers market with fresh vegetables on display, including purple cabbage and leafy greens.
A colorful graphic advertising the Portugal Circus with a photograph of a circus performer balancing on a tightrope at night, and text indicating the event is on Friday, May 17 at 7:30 pm.