Creating a Luxury Modern Caribbean Aesthetic
Branding is about understanding a place, exposing its stories, defining its character, and translating all of that into a visual language people can feel.
For ZOAZO 87, the process initiated with research.
Set within a restored gingerbread house in Newtown, Port of Spain, the property already carried a remarkable history. Once home to the family of Trinidad’s first local Archbishop, the house gave a sense of place, heritage and character that became central to the brand.
The name ZOAZO, meaning “bird” in Creole, became the foundation of the identity—a symbol of place, movement, and the journey of the traveller. 87, the home’s historic address, anchors the brand in its background while allowing it to look confidently toward the future.
From there, we built a complete brand ecosystem around the story.
At the heart of the identity is a custom emblem inspired by the character of a medallion—a mark of quality, craftsmanship and distinction. Alongside it, original hand-painted and stamped botanical illustrations bring warmth, texture and a distinctly Caribbean sensibility to the brand. Rather than relying on generic tropical imagery, these brand properties celebrate the imperfect beauty and humanity of handmade work.
The visual language balances classical and modern styles, refinement and genuineness, and luxury with a genuine sense of place.
Sustainability was equally important to the vision. From refillable bathroom amenities and glass water carafes to thoughtfully selected materials, the brand illustrates a hospitality approach that is conscious without jeopardising comfort or quality.
Because a luxury brand is not defined by a logo alone.
It is created through the accumulation of details—the way a guest discovers the hotel online, receives a booking confirmation, encounters the identity in the physical space, opens their room door, or holds a simple stationery card.
Every exchange ought to reinforce the same feeling.
The richest brands are layered. They feel contemporary without losing their roots. They create familiarity without becoming predictable. And they make a place feel itself unmistakably.
For ZOAZO 87, that meant creating a brand that could honour the character of a historic Caribbean home while establishing a new language for contemporary boutique hospitality.
Timeless design. Thoughtful details. A brand rooted in place, designed for the future.
Project Scope
• Naming
• Brand Strategy & Positioning
• Brand Story Development
• Brand Identity Design
• Branding System Design
• Tagline Development
• Website Design
• Social Media Communication Guide
• Photography Style Guide
• Brand Guidelines