Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle
Earlier this year, a friend and I went to a live show at Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle in Royal Oak, Michigan. It had been years since I’d been there, I couldn’t help but notice that the atmosphere felt dated and out of step with the vibrant town around it. The exterior and interior weren’t particularly inviting and didn’t reflect the caliber of talent we were there to see. The show was great, and I was inspired to do a hypothetical branding refresh project for fun.
Situation: Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle is the premier comedy club in Metro Detroit. It’s a local institution that hosts the full range of stand up comics, from national headliners, local pros and even open mic night novices. Back in the day, Tim Allen and Dave Coulier got started here. It’s been at this location since 1990 and the identity and interior may have stayed the same for over 30 years. Outside it’s pretty minimal and industrial. Inside there’s a lobby/waiting area with the ticket window and a small bar and then the main stage space — a large room with that classic 1980’s black box comedy club vibe.
Challenge: Totally update the brand identity and environmental design, for the same location and a decent budget. Make sustainable and responsible use of existing resources as much as possible. Assuming a creative brief was drafted and approved by the client, the design phase deliverables will include:
Foundation: Workshop, Value Proposition, Archetypal Mix, Voice
Concepts: Logo/Identity, Signs, Wayfinding, Wall Treatments, Print Collateral
Brand Standards: Logo Variations/Usage Guidelines, Palette, Typography, Graphic Assets, Examples