Hugo House

Environmental Graphics
Signage
Fabrication & Installation

Hugo House was founded as an urban writer’s retreat. The namesake, Richard Hugo, was a nationally recognized PNW poet who wrote about overlooked places and the people who came from them. The re-design of Hugo House draws upon both the roots of its organization and the intention of its former shelter: a place of eccentricity and community.

This hanging gable-shape installation sits above the central desk and offers a focal point upon arrival. 

Scans of original writings from Richard Hugo are printed on semi-transparent material to allow light to pass through and maintain a sense of levity.

For a non-profit, design is about resource conservation and budget consideration.  We were fortunate to deliver on each of these goals; many of the artifacts and installations were designed, fabricated, and installed by us. 

The donor wall, a critical foundation for creative arts organizations. This installation of laser etched wood “book spines” features donors who made the new space possible. 

The donor installation became a celebrated focal point in the space, and galvanized a new wave of donations to the Hugo House.

Quotes from Richard Hugo’s creative writing book Triggering Town are placed around the building in somewhat unconventional spaces: next to an outlet, on the restroom mirror, within a seating booth, on the ceilings, etc.

The discoverable quotes offer young writers moments of reflection and inspiration during their creative writing journey.

Project team: