Building from the Ground Up

Capturing a new brand purpose

After conducting a competitive analysis and interviewing a number of stakeholders, Ove went through a creative process to capture the essence of the renewed business focus and super-urban strategy. This exploration played a key role in the development of a new corporate brand platform, which led to the creation of a communications platform and a new corporate identity.

Changing perceptions through communication 

We created a new tagline, “Creating thriving urban neighbourhoods” to signal the company’s shift beyond retail into building mixed-use communities of the future. It’s not just about transforming spaces, but creating vibrant places that are at the centre of people’s daily lives. 

Conveying who they are and where they’re growing 

We developed a new brand identity for First Capital – one that helped it stand apart from its competitors while capturing the spirit of innovation, community and Real Estate development. 

The new logo, a stylized city intersection, was inspired by both the cobblestones found in human-scaled communities and speech bubbles. The design is unique and distinctive in the Real Estate Sector. The colour scheme strikes a balance between the need to position the company for REIT investors while reflecting the community focus of the company.  The four organic shapes that make up the logo also act as “supergraphic” elements that are used on marketing materials.

Built for growth

BMO’s evolution from Canadian bank to a North American financial services powerhouse with global reach demanded a brand system that would support evolving banking, wealth management, and capital markets businesses as it pursued new opportunities and markets. Ove developed BMO Financial Group as a strategic, structured brand system to serve as the platform for growth.

Leveraging the strength of the iconic Bank of Montreal logo, the BMO roundel was introduced in 2002. At that time, BMO was operating more than 30 lines of business, including Harris Bank and Nesbitt Burns. The move to a shared identity signaled a renewed commitment to serving customers as a single, diversified North American bank. The identity system continues to evolve to underscore BMO’s ‘one bank’ approach to serving its customers and supporting communities.

Telling the next chapter in the BMO story

Since 1991 – through BMO’s evolution and the evolution of corporate reporting – Ove has created award-winning annual reports for the bank. These reports tell the story of BMO’s continued relevance in the marketplace, and its perspective on broader shifts in technology, society and the economy. While annual reports are by their very nature reflective, they capture a moment in time and provide an opportunity to look to the future. BMO’s annual reports tell the story of the bank’s journey and its indelible, positive impact on the financial lives of its customers and the wellbeing of their communities.

Celebrating past, present and future

Along every journey there are milestones, and Ove has been there to help BMO commemorate some of its most important moments. They are moments to reflect and reaffirm purpose and acknowledge the progress that has been made, while firmly focusing on the future and opportunities ahead.

Creating community connections

Across North America, BMO Financial Group is engaged in the communities it serves, supporting social progress and positive change. As their longstanding brand partner, Ove helps bring the BMO brand to life and reinforces its purpose to boldly grow the good. Through support of the arts, financial literacy, sport and social change initiatives, BMO is creating stronger communities. The BMO logo is iconic in towns and cities across Canada and in the U.S. markets it serves, and its ubiquity is a testament to BMO’s deep connection to its communities.