A New Community Anchor and Destination in Squamish, BC
DESIGN TALK
Black Label Designs Leads Branding for SQ-MRKT
Squamish, BC - Black Label Designs (BLD), led by Principal Designer Pria Rajput, is proud to announce its role as the lead design studio for SQ-MRKT, an upcoming food vendor and entertainment lounge concept in Squamish, BC. Envisioned as both a community anchor for locals and a tourist destination, SQ-MRKT will blend culinary experiences, cultural energy, and a design-forward identity to position itself as a landmark project in the region.
Currently in the branding phase, BLD is laying the groundwork for the project’s identity and storytelling, building a brand system that will carry SQ-MRKT from launch to legacy.
Currently in the branding phase, BLD is laying the groundwork for the project’s identity and storytelling, building a brand system that will carry SQ-MRKT from launch to legacy.
Q: How important is branding at this stage of the project?
Pria Rajput (PR): Branding is the foundation of everything. It sets the tone not only for how SQ-MRKT looks, but for how people will experience it. A strong brand provides direction for interiors, marketing, signage, and even the design of menus and wayfinding. Without it, you’re building without a blueprint.
Q: What excites you most about creating SQ-MRKT’s brand identity?
PR: It’s exciting to create a brand that tells a story beyond the logo. With SQ-MRKT, every detail, from the handcrafted characters to the colour palette, is part of a narrative about community, food, and culture in Squamish. We’re building an identity that will translate across stationery, packaging, merchandise, and signage, giving the project a recognizable presence from day one.
Q: How will the branding help bring SQ-MRKT’s story to life?
PR: Branding allows us to weave consistency into every touchpoint. When guests pick up a coffee cup, see a poster, or walk through the entrance, they should feel part of the same story. By creating a flexible identity system, we ensure that SQ-MRKT’s values of connection, discovery, and authenticity are conveyed in both visual and experiential ways.
Pria Rajput (PR): Branding is the foundation of everything. It sets the tone not only for how SQ-MRKT looks, but for how people will experience it. A strong brand provides direction for interiors, marketing, signage, and even the design of menus and wayfinding. Without it, you’re building without a blueprint.
Q: What excites you most about creating SQ-MRKT’s brand identity?
PR: It’s exciting to create a brand that tells a story beyond the logo. With SQ-MRKT, every detail, from the handcrafted characters to the colour palette, is part of a narrative about community, food, and culture in Squamish. We’re building an identity that will translate across stationery, packaging, merchandise, and signage, giving the project a recognizable presence from day one.
Q: How will the branding help bring SQ-MRKT’s story to life?
PR: Branding allows us to weave consistency into every touchpoint. When guests pick up a coffee cup, see a poster, or walk through the entrance, they should feel part of the same story. By creating a flexible identity system, we ensure that SQ-MRKT’s values of connection, discovery, and authenticity are conveyed in both visual and experiential ways.
Handcrafted Branding with Purpose
At the heart of this early phase is the work of Kiana from the BLD team, who has hand-designed each brand character to ensure the identity feels human, authentic, and timeless. Every stroke was created with strategy in mind, capturing the energy of a marketplace rooted in both community and discovery.
Strategy, Storytelling & Preliminary Design
As the lead on the project, Black Label Designs is guiding both the creative direction and brand strategy. The preliminary phase includes:
At the heart of this early phase is the work of Kiana from the BLD team, who has hand-designed each brand character to ensure the identity feels human, authentic, and timeless. Every stroke was created with strategy in mind, capturing the energy of a marketplace rooted in both community and discovery.
Strategy, Storytelling & Preliminary Design
As the lead on the project, Black Label Designs is guiding both the creative direction and brand strategy. The preliminary phase includes:
- Research & Benchmarking: Studying successful market and entertainment destinations worldwide, while tailoring the brand to Squamish’s unique culture.
- Brand Pillars: Defining SQ-MRKT as community-driven, culturally vibrant, and welcoming to locals and visitors alike.
- Preliminary Design: Developing custom characters, a flexible logo system, colour palette, and retail/event mockups to shape the brand’s first public impression.
Building a Community Anchor & Destination
“SQ-MRKT is designed to be more than a venue,” says Rajput. “It’s a community anchor for Squamish, a place where food vendors, entertainment, and people come together and also a destination that draws visitors seeking to experience the best of the region in one setting.”
As lead studio, Black Label Designs is ensuring that SQ-MRKT’s branding and design are not just visually striking but also strategically aligned with its mission to become a cultural landmark.
About Black Label Designs
Black Label Designs is a Canadian studio specializing in hospitality, wellness, retail, and branding. Led by Principal Designer Pria Rajput, the firm merges strategy with artistry, creating spaces and brands that are both commercially smart and emotionally resonant.
Black Label Designs is a Canadian studio specializing in hospitality, wellness, retail, and branding. Led by Principal Designer Pria Rajput, the firm merges strategy with artistry, creating spaces and brands that are both commercially smart and emotionally resonant.
