ZIBI
Challenge
Windmill Developments challenged us to create a brand identity and strategy to launch Zibi, the most sustainable, environmentally-friendly, and innovative development project in Canada. The branding needed to take into consideration the geography, language, and heritage of three cultures: Francophone Quebec (Gatineau), Anglophone Ontario (Ottawa), and First Nations.
ZIBI
Insight
Zibi is not “just a condo”. This is a new neighbourhood. A 10-year, award-winning, master-planned community spanning two provinces along the Ottawa River in downtown Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec. Zibi would consist of several residential buildings by a variety of architects, as well as commercial and retail space, several new parks, plazas, and public spaces with waterfront access. The site would remediate and redevelop 37 acres of post-industrial land, combining heritage buildings and new construction. blackiron had to create branding and marketing materials that were appealing to the various cultures, languages, and a sustainably-minded consumer that was looking for something different from other residential offerings.
ZIBI
Strategy
Create a name, brand identity, voice, marketing materials, and an experiential presentation centre that embraced the various cultures, heritage, and sustainable innovation inherent to the site. Be bold and different. Create a neighbourhood brand that Ottawa/Gatineau had not seen before. Develop an advertising, social media, PR, and event plan that appealed to our target market’s sense of innovation and uniqueness using lifestyle and behavioural targeted campaigns.
Material
Results
Top-selling launch in Ottawa-Gatineau in 2015
The largest attended residential sales launch in Ottawa/Gatineau. Over 500 people attended the public grand opening on May 30, 2015, some standing in line for hours.
4,928
Registrants to date
157,712
Total Youtube Views
2,658
Facebook Followers
“blackiron did an amazing job stick handling a complicated branding and launch. We needed to find a name and a brand that worked for three cultures, and in three languages – a tall task that was pulled off beautifully. Our launch had a huge line-up, almost unheard of for Ottawa, with very strong sales.”
Rodney Wilts
Partner, Windmill Development Group, Ltd.