Richard Born, the visionary real estate developer behind iconic properties like The Jane and The Bowery Hotel, joined forces with interior architect Vanessa Guilford to launch a new hotel concept. The challenge? To rebrand a hotel with extremely small rooms in a way that would attract a young, international audience without alienating its existing older clientele. Guilford’s design was inspired by mid-century modern icons Charles Eames and Jean Prouvé, and I was tasked with not only creating the brand identity to complement this vision but also developing all on-property brand experience collateral to ensure a cohesive, immersive experience for guests.

We reimagined the brand under the name POD—a nod to mid-century aviation design, conjuring images of intimate yet luxurious spaces from the 50s and 60s. This wasn’t just a name; it was a promise of a personal, cozy experience that felt exclusive and bold. The visual identity complemented this vision, with a vibrant color palette and the rich textures of wood and metal, bringing a tactile homage to the design era.

From the moment Richard Born suggested the tagline "Sleep Tight, Stay Happy," we knew it was a keeper. It perfectly captured the essence of the hotel—comfort, joy, and that irresistible mix of coziness and style. It wasn’t just a tagline; it became the heartbeat of the brand.

Finally, I took this brand beyond the expected, infusing every aspect with watchable elements like a daily curated Survival Guides for guests turned every stay into a tailored adventure, offering bite-sized content recommendations for places to visit, eat, and explore. Guests could 'binge' the city, curated by the hotel.

12 MONTH RESULTS


• 500% increase in revenues year 1


• Expansion: Another hotel opened on 39th street


• 32% site conversions to booking


• Over 180 articles written about the hotel including The New York
Times, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal