Shelby Ranch

Just outside of ordinary

When developer United Properties bought an expansive piece of land in southeast Austin, they knew it could offer something different for residents looking to relax, unplug, and connect with others in the natural world around them. 

Named for the Texas county where rancher Wilson “Larkin” Miller grew up and met his wife, everything about Shelby Ranch — from the landscape design and architecture through the branding and signage — reflects a homestead vibe inspired by the creativity, joy, and abundance of community. 

Services

  • Naming
  • Branding and Identity
  • Message Architecture
  • Experiential Design
  • Signage and Wayfinding

Project Team

  • Content & Context
  • Belshaw Mulholland Architects
  • TBG Partners
  • Keaton Interiors

From land to brand

Unapologetically unvarnished, the project’s visual identity references the history of the area’s ranch brands. Supporting typography harkens back to an era before utilitarian typefaces shed their eccentricities — lending a steadfast and peculiar character.

Chicken scratch

Off-beat illustrations tip a sun hat to the project's folksy offerings, from an onsite beekeeping area and herb garden to chicken coops and a communal maker space.

1/2

Paint it black

Building signage takes an uncomplicated approach. Simple materials like paint, corrugated metal, and a feed tank get the job done with understated style.

Exterior wayfinding takes its cues from regionally familiar farm to market highway signs. Interpretive signage around the site contextualizes the details of the site and its history.

Heading indoors, signage gets a little more refined. Solid oak panels with leather snap details provide some manual craft to cozy up to the warm interior palette.

Key Collaborators: Manning Signs
All Projects