Live Oak Coffeehouse

In February of 2016 I began teaching painting classes at Captured Community (now Parker Lane Design Studio). It was an incredible experience that started as a way for me get out of the house once in a while and be creative, (hello, mom with young kids cabin fever!), but it became an awful lot more. In addition to painting, I ended up stretching my design muscles a lot doing marketing, logo updates, and creating a website for Captured Studios, which resides in Ashman Plaza in Midtown, Midland, Michigan.

During this time I got to know an amazing group of people and be a part of a creative community for the first time since college. It was comforting. It was empowering. Renée Deckrow is the founder of Captured Studios, which includes her first business baby; Captured Photography. She is a one in a million kind of person; compassionate, thoughtful, always learning more, always doing more, and always helping. When she told me they were planning on opening a coffee shop in Ashman Plaza I was very excited for her. When she asked me to help design the logo I was thrilled to be a small part of this big plan.

It was probably the most involved logo I’ve ever created, as far as rounds of concepts, edits, and tweaks. It was made with great intention, purpose, and love. When we began Renée expressed that the main goal of the coffee shop was going to be creating a place of community and rest. She wanted a place for the gathering of dreamers and doers; a place where everyone felt welcome. If you have been to Live Oak Coffeehouse, you will see it is all that, and much more.

With the recent announcement of a new location coming soon, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to look back and explore the design process for their logo. I was not surprised in the least to hear a second location was happening, despite the fact that that they’ve only been open since January of 2017. Every single person who works there is kind, friendly, and helpful, which it makes for a wonderful place to be. ‘Like Coffee, Love People’ isn’t just a slogan for them, it’s a way of life.

As you can see, there were a great deal of ideas and options explored before deciding on the final design. These are just a sampling! All the revisions and mock ups were absolutely worth doing, because sometimes you have to see what doesn’t work before you know for sure what you really want.

Here is the final design you will see when you stop by; ten feet tall on the side of Ashman Plaza. Since they’ve opened their doors I’ve had many a cup of tea for business meetings, had birthday parties up stairs in Little Midland, taken classes in the Live Oak Makers room, been a part of an incredible women’s entrepreneurs group Renée also founded, met up with old friends, and made new friends. It’s always a joy to stop in and I always feel welcome. They also host Midtown Midland Neighborhood Association meetings, Gather at Grove, trivia nights, have a variety of food trucks through the week, donate to local schools, compost and recycle to reduce their waste, have a Toys for Tots drop off box, and much, much more. I was so excited to read the official announcement this morning that their second location will be opening by the end of the year in Bay City, MI. I know they will flourish there and I can’t wait to see where else Live Oak branches to out in years to come.

Opening Day by the Mittenprints map.

Sign installation excitement.

I had to get a mug for home.

client meeting with my assistants.