School Outfitters, Environmental Graphics

Experiential Graphics- Small Scale (features or elements)

Project Narrative

Background
School Outfitters is a national leader in K–12 education furniture, proudly headquartered in the neighborhood of Norwood, Ohio. The company has built its reputation on exceptional customer service and innovative products, recently strengthening its people-first culture by becoming an ESOP – a 100% employee-owned and operated firm.

Opportunity
Following a rebrand of their visual identity, School Outfitters sought to bring that new energy into their physical space. Their goal was twofold: to create an environment that celebrated their mission, vision, history, and products and to design an engaging journey for clients that embodied the spirit of their brand.

The Solution
Working in concert with an interior renovation effort, we developed a storytelling-driven entry sequence to tour visitors through the culture, creativity, and purpose of School Outfitters.
The experience begins at the front desk, where a minimalist treatment of their refreshed brand assets allows their new mark to shine. From there, visitors are drawn into the main corridor, once a dark, narrow hallway, now transformed into a light-filled gallery of culture and history.

On the left side, four “culture walls” bring School Outfitters' values to life. These walls highlight the company’s mission and vision, showcase their guiding principles (“Our Way”), and feature a tactile fabric art installation by Sophie Dannin. The sequence concludes with heartfelt testimonials from School Outfitters' many satisfied customers, reinforcing the impact of their work.

Opposite, a custom-designed display case seamlessly integrates into the sloping corridor wall. With carefully integrated lighting, it provides a dynamic stage to showcase the creativity and craftsmanship they have built their reputation on. The School Outfitters' colorful and varied family of furniture brands turns a functional ramp into an engaging display. The locally fabricated and flexible design allows the display to easily adapt to new products that they may create in the future.

The journey culminates in a large-scale custom illustrated mural, weaving together stories from School Outfitters' beginnings, playful cultural legends like the “Beer Fairy,” and a nod to the community mural funded by the School Outfitters team that symbolizes their pride in their current home, all while integrating their new brand aesthetic.

Impact
The new entry sequence embodies the energy, color, and joy of the School Outfitters team. By blending culture, history, and product into one continuous story―the design shows rather than tells―the passion they bring to supporting educators nationwide and enables them to tell that story to current and prospective clients.