(Case 0
5
)
2023
AKERA
AKERA
Design + Branding, Spacial Design
Case Study
AKERA
About the case
AKERA is a wild sanctuary in Upstate New York—125 untamed acres of retreat, reverence, and renewal. A sacred space for dance, play, and self-discovery, where the Earth's pulse is felt with one's whole being.
Photography had to be grounded in a sense of agency, not pulled by the gravitational weight of an unknown future, but subjects were centered by their confidence, even in the unknown. There is optimism and a touch of whimsy conveyed through color and tonal vibrancy.
We invited images that explore luminosity, shadow, light motion, refraction, lens flare, light leaks, and the depth and layering of an image.
image curation
Graphic Illustration
The graphic system draws on natural phenomena and structural flows. The same systems that reveal when something under the surface is moving or shifting. These visuals echo the tension inherent in emerging AI technologies: potential and uncertainty, disruption and protection.
It’s designed to reflect the big picture — the unpredictable nature of change, the fragile balance between power and vulnerability, the collective responsibility we carry in shaping a human-centered future of AI.
Through that lens, every line, shape, and color feels like part of a larger conversation: one about awareness, safety, humanity, and possibility.
The end result is a graphic illustrative system that supports Seismic not just as an organization issuing reports but as a movement advocating informed public engagement, responsible adoption, and proactive guardianship of human integrity in an AI-transformed world.
These forms were then woven into the design system across social graphics, banners, and advertising. They serve as subtle cues to the brand and its mission, adding a sense of luminosity and optimism about human agency in an uncertain future.
AKERA
AKERA envisioned a brand infused with sensuality, playfulness, and femininity—something mystical yet inviting. We created an identity that feels soft yet powerful, romantic yet grounded in nature, evoking a deep connection to the divine through the natural world. Through a bespoke logotype and visual language, we captured this essence in a way that feels both ethereal and deeply rooted.
We shaped the interiors of AKERA’s signature accommodations, the Grand Chalet and the Sanctuary, in collaboration with Coywolf. Designed to awaken the senses, each space is grand, textured, and immersive. The Sanctuary is especially fluid and inviting, wrapped in custom pigmented plaster made from clay drawn from the land itself. Soft archways rise and flow, guiding the eye through an open floor plan designed to feel safe, intimate, and effortlessly sensual. (Furnishing and decor not selected or styled by us)
Highlighting natural elements, the Grand Chalet is draped in custom wallpaper and lime wash, grounding the space in Earthy romance.
