Each year, Willamette Week’s “Best of Portland” Readers’ Poll throws a spotlight on the city’s quirks, contradictions, and cult favorites—declaring what’s “best” with equal parts humor, grit, and civic pride. For this Portland institution, I developed a bold, adaptable identity system that reflects the city’s scrappy charm and industrial backbone.

The visual system was built for versatility—whether stacked, stretched, or squeezed, it holds its own across tight verticals, sprawling horizontals, and everything in between. Inspired by Portland’s working-class roots and unapologetically raw character, the design marries thick, utilitarian typography with high-contrast layouts and a no-frills attitude. It doesn’t whisper; it declares.