Congress Heights is a neighborhood in Southeast DC. Known for its rich Black heritage, cultural landmarks, close-knit community, and many green spaces, locals refer to the neighborhood as the “Soul of the City.”

In partnership with Congress Heights residents, Champions Design worked to develop the name and visual identity for a long-awaited, multi-use development meant to serve as a “community within the community.”

Residents made it clear that the development name needed to honor its location in Congress Heights, its impact on the future of the community, and the history of the neighborhood. It also needed to make everyone feel welcome; it is a gathering place.

In the end, the name came from the cross streets. Sycamore & Oak spoke to the deep roots of the community and their vision for the future.

To inform logo design, we explored the semiotics of trees, leaves, and crowns and came to find that a crown with three arches carried a lot of meaning for the project. Crowns can represent power for the wearer and they can also be passed down from one generation to the next. 

A crown with three arches can also evoke the cultural and aesthetic history of the “afro,” a hairstyle with African origins, popularized in the 60’s and 70’s as an expression of Black beauty, liberation, creativity, pride, and activism, all traits which Congress Heights is known for.

The Sycamore & Oak color palette makes use of a spectrum of greens to bring trees and nature into every brand touchpoint. Black and purple ground the system and connect it back to the community’s cultural history.

Originating in Congress Heights during the mid-60s and 70s, Go-Go is a musical genre with a distinct sound unique to Washington D.C.

It draws influences from funk, blues, soul, and R&B and is recognized for its call-and-response interactions and high-energy live performances.

The promotion of Go-Go shows often involved posters printed in bright colors with explosive shapes and bold, straightforward typography.

The Sycamore & Oak wordmark is custom lettering drawn by Tré Seals of Vocal Type Co. His work was inspired by the Go-Go poster type.

Also designed by Tré Seals is the brand system’s headline typeface, Tatsuro. Its condensed letterforms are expressive and confident and provide contrast to the density of the Sycamore & Oak wordmark.

Congress Heights is one of only two places in America where Malcolm X Avenue intersects with Martin Luther King Jr Avenue. 

Sycamore and oak leaves, acorns, and cherry blossoms are all treasures found in the area and also project mascots. 

It’s important that the kids in the neighborhood feel welcomed too. There is so much fun to be had at Sycamore & Oak.

Since the opening ceremony, Sycamore & Oak has introduced “Incubate the Eight”, a program focused on the mission to create a thriving community. It also hosts Karaoke Wednesdays.