Joshua Wilton House
Website and Logo Branding
Group Members: Annie Castro and Ceci White
My Role: Designer and Researcher
1
The Ask
2
Research
Refresh the branding and website for the Joshua Wilton House to better reflect its historic charm while appealing to a broader audience. The goal is to modernize the look and feel to attract younger guests, while still resonating with the inn’s loyal, older clientele who value tradition, elegance, and a homey dining experience.
-
The Joshua Wilton House, originally built in 1888, has long been a staple of the Harrisonburg community, serving as a home, fraternity house, and now a restaurant and inn.
-
The clientele typically skews 40 plus, with a focus on refined experiences for special occasions.
-
Past branding leaned into a “grandma” vintage feel, but the current direction calls for a more high-end, clean, and cool approach that nods to the past without feeling outdated. Feedback from the client emphasizes maintaining historical charm while updating the visual experience for today’s guest expectations.
3
Creative Concepts
We chose a serif typeface and mulled wine tones to evoke warmth, tradition, and elegance.
The logo redesign pulls from the iconic architecture of the home, holding on to the visual identity in place and history.
The updated website design focuses on streamlined navigation for reservations and events, visually driven storytelling, and a cohesive color palette that feels both timeless and fresh.
Click here to view our website!
