Belclare Wellesley

Full brand identity, naming, and award-winning campaign for a Wellesley condominium that sold out within six months of launch.

belclare wellesley logo on window vertical
belclare wellesley book cover on chair embossed vertical

About this project

Belclare was developed for individuals and couples downsizing into a condominium lifestyle while remaining rooted in the community they already knew. Located in downtown Wellesley, on the site of a former inn, the project marked the first introduction of new condominiums at the center of town. The brand needed to acknowledge both familiarity and change.

Rather than framing downsizing as departure, the identity positioned Belclare as continuity. Proximity to family, friends, shops, and daily routines became central to the narrative. The move was presented not as compromise, but as a deliberate choice to simplify while staying connected to place.

The name Belclare was inspired by a residents-only courtyard garden hidden from the street, a quiet amenity that reveals itself only once inside. The name blends words meaning beautiful and bright, reflecting the sense of light, calm, and privacy found within the building. This idea of a private interior world informed the broader identity.

The visual system draws from the architecture and landscape of the Garden Court. Eighteenth-century floral motifs and references to dahlias and hydrangeas shape the emblem and supporting graphics, grounding the brand in tradition and place while remaining personal and approachable.

Tone played a critical role. To avoid formality or distance, the brand introduced moments of warmth and humor, most notably through advertising imagery by Rodney Smith. This use of wit helped humanize the transition to condominium living, making it relatable without losing a sense of elegance.

Client

Sector

Residential Real Estate

Location

Wellesley, MA

Awards

Print Magazine Ad Campaign
Prism Awards Best Ad

Scope of Work

Brand Strategy, Brand Messaging, Brand Identity, Visual System, Marketing Collateral, Website Design and Development, Environmental Graphics, Signage

Photography

Rodney Smith

belclare logo for movie thumb

The identity drew from eighteenth-century floral motifs and the Garden Court’s dahlias and hydrangeas, grounding the mark in place and tradition.

The visual system centers on a considered emblem and typography grounded in classical proportion, paired with a gentle palette that feels both timeless and personal.

belcare wellesley close up of open brochure interior

The brochure carries the Garden Court’s botanical spirit into print, pairing the floral emblem with imagery as quiet and personal as the brand itself.

Belclare Wellesley luxury condo branding applied across print and digital marketing
belclare wellesley woman in blue jacket with belclare shopping bag

The brand moves through the world with the same quiet confidence it brings to print. The Belclare shopping bag carries the dahlia emblem into daily life in downtown Wellesley.

Belclare Wellesley marketing couple page ad spread featuring messaging for downsizing luxury homeowners

Working with acclaimed fashion photographer Rodney Smith, the campaign was built around a single striking image that reframed a familiar real estate phrase. ‘Thinking of downsizing?’ became an invitation rather than a question, delivered with wit and visual confidence. The approach humanized the transition to condominium living without diminishing a sense of elegance.

The campaign earned a Prism Award for Best Ad and was recognized by Print Magazine, validating the strategic decision to lead with humor and humanity rather than aspirational lifestyle photography.

We partnered with acclaimed fashion photographer Rodney Smith to center the campaign on a single image that turned a familiar real estate phrase into a bold, memorable statement. The residences sold out within six months of launch.

belclare wellesley laptop on sofa

Across print, digital, and environmental applications, the identity balances refinement with ease. Belclare is positioned as a place defined by quiet confidence and thoughtful living, offering residents both familiarity and a sense of retreat.

The identity established Belclare as a distinctive offering within the Wellesley residential market. By aligning place, naming, and tone with how people actually experience this transition, the residences sold out within six months.

Explore our approach to Real Estate Branding in Boston and New England, Brand Strategy & Positioning, Brand Identity, and Naming for distinctive residential communities.

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Boston, MA 02116

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