Emerick Architects

Elevating a Legacy: How Emerick Architects Defined Their Brand and Digital Presence

Emerick Architects has spent decades shaping Portland’s architectural landscape, from restoring historic landmarks to designing future classics. Their portfolio is extensive, their craftsmanship undeniable, and their reputation strong. But even the most respected firms face a challenge: how do you stand out in an industry where beautiful buildings are the baseline?

For Emerick, the answer wasn’t about generating more business—it was about attracting the right kind of work. They didn’t need to fill their schedule. They wanted to refine their client pool, ensuring their projects aligned with their passion for craftsmanship, sustainability, and preservation.

branding architecture firm
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A Relationship Built on Shared Vision

Watson’s work with Emerick began through branding The Almr, a striking Portland development designed by the firm. That project sparked a conversation—one that evolved into a long-term partnership focused on brand management, digital storytelling, and marketing strategy.

Emerick wasn’t looking for an agency to simply showcase their work. They needed a strategic approach that positioned them as thought leaders, differentiated their firm from competitors, and increased their visibility among the clients and projects they most wanted to attract.

Building a Brand Beyond Portfolio Pages

Any architecture firm can showcase stunning images of completed projects. But Watson knew that photos alone wouldn’t set Emerick apart. The brand needed to convey not just what they did, but how they thought.

Watson began with a deep-dive strategy session, conducting interviews with Emerick’s past clients to uncover what made the firm exceptional. While clients raved about the quality of their designs, the common theme that emerged wasn’t just aesthetics—it was the firm’s thoughtful approach, deep care for history, and the balance they struck between preservation and modern innovation.

This insight informed the core strategy: position Emerick as a firm that shapes Portland’s future by honoring its past.

From Digital Content to Thought Leadership

RESEARCH

  • Video content highlighting the craftsmanship and impact of Emerick’s projects.
  • Long-form blog articles exploring architectural trends, adaptive reuse, and design principles.
  • An “Architect Spotlight” series that introduced the people behind the work, giving clients insight into the team’s philosophy and expertise.
  • Short-form content such as renovation tips, project insights, and historical deep dives, all tied to Emerick’s portfolio.

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Results

A Digital Presence That Drove Results

To amplify the impact, Watson developed a targeted social media strategy, repurposing blog content and video into organic and paid campaigns across LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook. The results were immediate and measurable. For a firm that wasn’t looking to take on more volume, these results weren’t just about visibility—they were about control. Emerick could now choose projects that aligned with their values and strengths, reinforcing their position as one of Portland’s leading architectural firms.

Benefits

  • Website traffic increased by 74% within a year.
  • Social media sharing increased by 590%, expanding their reach beyond their existing audience.
  • 60 project inquiries were generated through social media ads, giving Emerick the ability to be selective with their work.

Melody Emerick, Co-Founder of Emerick Architects, shared her thoughts on the partnership:

“Watson Creative has completely transformed how we think about branding and marketing. Their strategy has helped us stand out as thought leaders in our industry, and we now look to them as a trusted partner in everything we do.”

Not Everything. Just What Works.

Strategy

Build from insight. Strategy isn’t guesswork—it’s groundwork. We listen, research, and distill what matters to guide smarter decisions and set a solid creative direction.

Content

Make it meaningful. From naming to narratives, we create content that speaks with purpose—rooted in truth, tuned to your audience, and built to connect.

Digital

Design for behavior. We craft digital experiences that are intuitive, scalable, and aligned with how real people move, click, swipe, and search.

Experiential

Bring brands to life. Physical spaces, moments, and memories matter. We design experiences that feel human—and stay with you long after the lights go out.

Marketing

Drive connection. Our marketing approach blends data and instinct—getting the right message to the right people, in ways that actually move them.

Consulting

Partner on progress. We work alongside your team to solve real problems, shift thinking, and build internal alignment—without the agency ego.