Case studies / Apple Tree Apartments
Rebranding student housing so Gen-Z trusts and rents online fast
Brand
Apple Tree
Industries
Real Estate
DTC
Services
Branding
Web Design
Web Development
Strategy
Background
Apple Tree Apartments is a rental company near the University of Maine that rents to UMaine students. After years of filling units with flyers and word of mouth, they needed a brand and website that fit how Gen Z students now search.
Challenge
Their listings were hard to find online and the old logo and site felt "sketchy" to students. With Gen Z doing all housing research on the web, they risked empty units unless we could build trust fast and make Apple Tree easy to discover and rent from.
01
Audited Apple Tree’s brand, site, and how UMaine students actually search for housing
02
Defined a position as trusted near campus housing that still felt independent from UMaine
03
Designed a logo, color palette, and type system that quietly echoed the university brand
04
Mapped and designed a simple rental flow so students can scan listings and apply in minutes
05
Built and launched the new site, then handed Doug and Fran a brand kit they could run with
Process
We positioned Apple Tree as trusted near campus housing, not a random landlord. Then we built a visual identity that nodded to University of Maine colors and style and a simple site where students could find, compare, and apply for units.
Solution
We delivered a clean logo, brand kit, and website that felt familiar to UMaine students while clearly separate from the school. Colors, type, and photography echo campus so Apple Tree now looks credible and is easy for students to find and rent from.
EPISODE 01 — THE FIRST TEE
EPISODE 04 — THE PLAYERS