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/ Work — The Road Home® Law

The Art of Branding:
A Journey to Iconic Distinction

Strategy
  • Research
  • Positioning
  • Messaging
Identity
  • Logo Design
  • Illustration
  • Iconography
  • Collateral Design
  • Brand Guidelines
  • Photography
Experience
  • Web Design & Development
  • Digital Marketing
  • Marketing Communications

When The Road Home® Law approached us, they had a clear mission but no brand to bring it to life. As a non-traditional law firm specializing in post-conviction legal services, they needed a brand that authentically conveyed their compassion, expertise, and transformative approach.

Through a collaborative brand strategy, we uncovered their core values and unique perspective, forming the foundation for a striking visual identity. At its heart was a poignant logo featuring a Manchurian crane, symbolizing transformation and spiritual guidance, paired with unconventional typography that balanced professionalism with empathy.

We extended their brand into collateral and a modern, user-friendly website designed to elevate their presence and defy traditional law firm expectations. Together, these elements created a cohesive brand that speaks deeply to their clients, offering hope and inspiration, and reflects their mission of guiding individuals and families on the road home.

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/ Project Goals
Create a brand identity that authentically represents The Road Home® Law’s unique approach, blending professionalism with compassion and transformation.
Design a visually impactful, user-friendly website that effectively conveys the firm’s mission and fosters trust with clients.
Build a cohesive brand experience that resonates deeply with clients and reflects the firm’s mission to guide individuals and families on the road home.
Ensure the brand and website elevate the firm’s presence in a competitive market, positioning them as a trusted, transformative resource for post-conviction legal services.
/ Brand Strategy

Crafting a meaningful brand experience begins with deep strategic insight. We began the process with The Road Home® Law team, diving into their unique mission, the individuals they serve, and how their core values intersect to form the foundation of a powerful brand narrative.

The brand strategy workshops were instrumental in uncovering the essence of their work—shaping the story of transformation and hope they offer to clients. Understanding the needs of those seeking post-conviction legal services and the emotional journey they face allowed us to connect the firm’s values with the people they serve. Through these sessions, we laid the groundwork for everything that followed—guiding the development of a standout visual identity, messaging, and an online presence that speaks to both the firm’s expertise and the deeply personal nature of their work.

This strategic process positioned The Road Home® Law as a compassionate, transformative force in the legal field—setting the stage for a brand that not only resonates but stands apart in a highly competitive market.

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/ The Stylescapes

After finalizing the brand strategy, we moved into The Stylescape Process, exploring visual directions that would bring The Road Home® Law’s brand to life. We presented three distinct Stylescapes, each reflecting the firm’s core values of compassion, resilience, and hope.

The Stylescape Process visually captured the brand’s voice, tone, look, and feel, giving our client a clear sense of how their identity could evolve. This collaborative step ensured alignment before moving into design.

The client found value in elements from all three Stylescapes, so we combined key aspects—selecting the font and color palette from Lotus Solace, the crane iconography from Crane’s Reverie, and the typography from Jade Garden. The result is a truly distinctive brand identity, one that breaks away from traditional legal branding, offering an innovative, fresh look that reflects the firm’s values in an entirely new and unexpected way.

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Stylescape 1: Jade Serenity

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Stylescape 2: Lotus Solace

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Stylescape 3: Crane’s Reverie

/ Brand Colors

We crafted The Road Home® Law’s color palette to evoke both calm and strength, mirroring the firm’s approach to guiding clients through transformative legal journeys. The soft, serene hues of sea foam green, jade green, and sea green convey a sense of peace and renewal, while the rich tuscan terracotta and Manchurian red provide bold contrast, symbolizing resilience and determination. These colors work together to form a visual identity that feels both compassionate and professional, setting the tone for a brand that is as welcoming as it is impactful.

PRIMARY BRAND COLORS

  • sea green
  • jade green
  • sea foam green
  • cloud white
  • tuscan terracotta
  • manchurian red
/ The Logo

For The Road Home® Law, we set out to create a logo that would break away from traditional legal aesthetics, capturing both the firm’s unique mission and its bold approach to post-conviction services. The design process centered around the Manchurian crane, a symbol of resilience, hope, and freedom.

We incorporated this majestic bird into the logo in a way that was both elegant and powerful, breaking the mold of typical legal imagery. The crane, paired with distinctive and unconventional typography, makes this logo stand out in the legal field, reflecting the firm’s commitment to guiding clients through transformative journeys with empathy, strength, and grace.

THE DESIGN CONCEPTS

  • Logo Option 1 – Shinrin Soar

    / Shinrin means ‘forest’; Soar is to fly or ascend /
  • Logo Option 2 – Sōran Sol

    / Sōran means ‘dance’; Sol means ‘sun’ /
  • Logo Option 3 – Satori Solstice

    / Satori means ‘enlightenment or understanding’; Solstice is the point at which the sun is at its highest or lowest point in the sky /
  • Logo Option 4 – Shizen Kin

    / Shizen means ‘nature’; Kin means ‘golden ratio’ /
  • Logo Option 5 – Tsuru Hikou

    / Tsuru means ‘crane’; Hikou means ‘flight or flying’ /
/ Website Design & Development

After completing The Road Home® Law’s brand strategy and identity, we brought their vision to life with a bespoke, one-page scrolling website that defies convention. Visitors are immediately drawn in by a stunning opening sequence: cranes in flight at sunrise, seamlessly transitioning into an animated logo and headline that establish a tone of hope, resilience, and inspiration—setting the stage for a meaningful experience.

Every element of the site was meticulously designed to reflect their mission, core services, and the profound symbolism of their Manchurian crane iconography. Parallax functionality adds depth and movement, creating a dynamic, immersive experience that feels both purposeful and modern.

The result is a law firm website unlike any other—bold, distinctive, and deeply rooted in their brand strategy. It not only informs but inspires, leaving a lasting impression of strength, compassion, and renewal, just like the firm itself.

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/ This Is Why We Do What We Do

“We initially partnered with 829 DESIGN to create a compelling brand identity and logo for The Road Home® Law. As a non-traditional law firm, we required a designer with a deep understanding of our distinct value proposition and our specialized approach to post-conviction legal services. During our first meeting, they wisely recommended beginning with a thorough brand strategy rather than diving straight into design work. Having experience with a commercial design firm, I immediately recognized the profound insight behind their suggestion.

The brand strategy process was both enlightening and enjoyable, giving us the chance to delve into the essence of our mission and purpose. It allowed us to express our core values while embarking on a collaborative journey to translate them into a captivating visual format.

Once we transitioned to our new brand identity, the team presented a series of stylescapes—design concepts that left us in awe. One concept was so poignant it brought me to tears; it masterfully captured the spirit of our work and the deep connection we share with our clients. Selecting just one design was incredibly difficult, but thanks to their extensive creativity and dedication, they seamlessly blended elements from the various stylescapes into one magnificent logo. The careful design of the typeface, strategic placement, and the crane imagery perfectly mirrored our firm’s name and the message we wanted to convey, resulting in a distinctive and remarkable brand identity.

As a final touch, they crafted a fully custom website, all while working within an extremely tight deadline. The result was a user-friendly site that beautifully encapsulated our brand identity. Web design is undoubtedly one of their greatest talents (next to brand design)—they created a site unlike anything we’ve encountered before. It’s exceptional, innovative, and truly sets us apart from our competition. In the realm of design, 829 DESIGN is a rare find. They don’t just produce outstanding creative work; they possess a deep understanding of branding and marketing that elevates every project they touch.”

Susan L. Jordan
Owner & Attorney — The Road Home® Law