Brand & Digital Agency
Brand & Digital Agency
City Quays Gardens
A community park, inspired by heritage.
2025
What we did
Design Strategy Placemaking Illustration Wayfinding
Landscape Architects
Gillespies
Production
Hardscape
Designed by landscape architects Gillespies, City Quays Gardens is a new public space in Belfast, created by transforming a former car park into a green, accessible place for people to spend time. Our role was to create integrated artwork that celebrates Belfast's shipbuilding history, from the 1600s to present day. Our work included engraved stone benches, a large compass rose that sits at the park entrance and a clear and consistent wayfinding and information system used throughout the gardens.
Designed by landscape architects Gillespies, City Quays Gardens is a new public space in Belfast, created by transforming a former car park into a green, accessible place for people to spend time. Our role was to create integrated artwork that celebrates Belfast's shipbuilding history, from the 1600s to present day. Our work included engraved stone benches, a large compass rose that sits at the park entrance and a clear and consistent wayfinding and information system used throughout the gardens.
Designed by landscape architects Gillespies, City Quays Gardens is a new public space in Belfast, created by transforming a former car park into a green, accessible place for people to spend time. Our role was to create integrated artwork that celebrates Belfast's shipbuilding history, from the 1600s to present day. Our work included engraved stone benches, a large compass rose that sits at the park entrance and a clear and consistent wayfinding and information system used throughout the gardens.
The story of Belfast Harbour
The benches at City Quays tell the story of Belfast Harbour, from its humble origins in the 15th century as a little-known port to its present-day role as a vibrant hub of commerce, tourism, and innovation. Along the way, they highlight Belfast’s world-renowned shipbuilding heritage and the transformation of its waterfront.
The story of Belfast Harbour
The benches at City Quays tell the story of Belfast Harbour, from its humble origins in the 15th century as a little-known port to its present-day role as a vibrant hub of commerce, tourism, and innovation. Along the way, they highlight Belfast’s world-renowned shipbuilding heritage and the transformation of its waterfront.
The story of Belfast Harbour
The benches at City Quays tell the story of Belfast Harbour, from its humble origins in the 15th century as a little-known port to its present-day role as a vibrant hub of commerce, tourism, and innovation. Along the way, they highlight Belfast’s world-renowned shipbuilding heritage and the transformation of its waterfront.
The story of Belfast Harbour
The benches at City Quays tell the story of Belfast Harbour, from its humble origins in the 15th century as a little-known port to its present-day role as a vibrant hub of commerce, tourism, and innovation. Along the way, they highlight Belfast’s world-renowned shipbuilding heritage and the transformation of its waterfront.
Wayfinding
We created a clean, modern wayfinding system and iconography suite to help visitors navigate the gardens and learn more about its environmental credentials.
Wayfinding
We created a clean, modern wayfinding system and iconography suite to help visitors navigate the gardens and learn more about its environmental credentials.
Wayfinding
We created a clean, modern wayfinding system and iconography suite to help visitors navigate the gardens and learn more about its environmental credentials.
Wayfinding
We created a clean, modern wayfinding system and iconography suite to help visitors navigate the gardens and learn more about its environmental credentials.
Compass Rose
The City Quays Gardens compass offers a contemporary interpretation of traditional maritime compasses. Using the distinctive illustration style found throughout the scheme, it highlights key destinations across the city in a visually engaging way.
Compass Rose
The City Quays Gardens compass offers a contemporary interpretation of traditional maritime compasses. Using the distinctive illustration style found throughout the scheme, it highlights key destinations across the city in a visually engaging way.
Compass Rose
The City Quays Gardens compass offers a contemporary interpretation of traditional maritime compasses. Using the distinctive illustration style found throughout the scheme, it highlights key destinations across the city in a visually engaging way.
Compass Rose
The City Quays Gardens compass offers a contemporary interpretation of traditional maritime compasses. Using the distinctive illustration style found throughout the scheme, it highlights key destinations across the city in a visually engaging way.
Heritage inspired type
We delved into a rich bank of historic imagery to find inspiration for the typography that would be used across the gardens. Many ships had their names displayed on their bow in a particular handpainted style which we used as our reference point, finally settling on 205TF's Plaax as the headline typeface.
Heritage inspired type
We delved into a rich bank of historic imagery to find inspiration for the typography that would be used across the gardens. Many ships had their names displayed on their bow in a particular handpainted style which we used as our reference point, finally settling on 205TF's Plaax as the headline typeface.
Heritage inspired type
We delved into a rich bank of historic imagery to find inspiration for the typography that would be used across the gardens. Many ships had their names displayed on their bow in a particular handpainted style which we used as our reference point, finally settling on 205TF's Plaax as the headline typeface.
Heritage inspired type
We delved into a rich bank of historic imagery to find inspiration for the typography that would be used across the gardens. Many ships had their names displayed on their bow in a particular handpainted style which we used as our reference point, finally settling on 205TF's Plaax as the headline typeface.
Work with us
or say hello.
Address
unit 9, 16 Brick st,
liverpool, l1 0bn
Making Cherished things since 2000
© Smiling Wolf Ltd 2025
Work with us
or say hello.
Address
unit 9, 16 Brick st,
liverpool, l1 0bn
Making Cherished things since 2000
© Smiling Wolf Ltd 2025
Work with us
or say hello.
Address
unit 9, 16 Brick st,
liverpool, l1 0bn
Making Cherished things since 2000
© Smiling Wolf Ltd 2025