Gig Harbor Connector

The Problem

Transit vehicle stock shortages were hitting everyone in the industry, and Pierce Transit was no exception. The replacement vehicles for Gig Harbor, Washington's beloved "trolley" bus summer service weren't going to be here in time. Working with Planning Department and Fleet Department staff, we needed to pivot quickly. The design solution needed to repurpose ADA shuttle vehicles, be adaptable to areas beyond Gig Harbor, be low-cost, and be designed in two weeks.

The Solution

The name "Connector" was approved and I immediately set about creating a visual identity for the service. To keep the service feeling cohesive, I:

• used colors and fonts consistent with our brand

• quickly sketched out over a dozen possible brandmarks until one clearly rose above the rest

• developed a background icon pattern that could easily be incorporated into horizontal and vertical layouts

• rebranded the previous "trolley" map into a clearer, more ADA-friendly layout

I then provided the brand elements to the team to use throughout all the Connector deliverables (rider information, webpages, advertisements, fleet decals, and more), while ensuring quality and consistency was maintained throughout as Art Director.

The Result

The service was well-received by Gig Harbor officials and residents, recording a 38% increase in rides. Also, because we created an adaptable system, we were able to quickly alter the deliverables for emergency service in Buckley, WA, when prolonged road closures kept residents from being able to access key destinations. This met a critical need in their community.