The Ellison
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
A Neighborhood Hotel with a Story to tell
The Ellison brand seeks to explore the character, creativity, and curiosity that are uniquely Oklahoman — to tell a story of atypical innovation, display hyper-inclusive hospitality, and foster unique experiences within the hotel and throughout the community. The Ellison inspires the guest to define their own narrative, encouraging exploration of the diverse experiences available throughout the hotel and city at large. Cooper House helped bring that narrative to life through a welcoming and layered branding approach.
Services
- Brand, Collateral, Experience, Signage, Strategy, Website
Industry
- Hospitality
Crew
- Erin Cooper
- Dane Strom
- Alaina Hunt
- Steph Shilling
- Blake Behrens
- Elizabeth Maxwell
- Loren Cookson
- Jordan Hayes
- Hallie Waugh
- Kori Hall
- Garett Mayfield
- Rachel Maucieri
In the interest of aligning the space with the ever-curious creative community Ralph Ellison inspired, Cooper House team member and local artist Alaina Hunt designed and installed a custom, floor-to-ceiling mural in the lobby. The Reader is made entirely of books and has already garnered attention and praise in the community. Read more about the process and artist here.
The Ellison Uniform
The Cooper House team worked diligently to extend the brand experience seamlessly throughout the space—and our work included recommendations for staff uniforms, signage and wayfinding design, and curated recommendations of local goods for the Market E located in the lobby.
In-room and print collateral applications were central to brand implementation—and in creating an exceptional guest experience. Cooper House’s work included a custom-illustrated quiz and map to help guests explore the city, as well as an in-room compendium that lists The Ellison’s unique offerings and Oklahoma City locations of note.
“The hotel displays and celebrates artistry in our architecture, atmosphere and visual arts.”
– Ryan Slater, Managing Partner
Throughout the entire brand strategy, development, and implementation phases, the Ellison Hotel and Cooper House teams worked closely with the Ralph Ellison Foundation and Michael Owens to establish a brand that honors Ralph Ellison’s legacy and champions his voice.
As part of the Ellison brand build-out, the Cooper House team built a custom vanity website centered around a seamless user experience across desktop and mobile. Ever-present calls to action and animated elements anchor the design and align the site with the Ellison brand.