featured project
Orange County’s Credit Union has been steadily expanding its presence and service throughout Orange County and beyond. Consistently ranked among the top three credit unions for the past eight years, OCCU is known for its friendly customer service, diverse product offerings, and unwavering commitment to treating both members and employees with care and respect.
With the opportunity to relocate their Santa Ana branch to a new, high-profile corner unit at Raffety Square, OCCU partnered with a/k/a creatives to reimagine their brand experience. At the heart of the design is a simple but powerful idea: to create a space that feels familiar, welcoming, and emotionally grounded—like sitting around the kitchen table at home with loved ones. It’s a place where members can make important financial decisions with ease, surrounded by warmth and care.
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Chino Branch Lobby Seating Area
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Chino Branch Lobby Bar Counter and Conference Room
Chino Branch Teller Line
Chino Branch Member Service Area
Chino Branch View From Entrance
Now open, the Santa Ana and Chino branches showcase this new design prototype—an environment that’s clean, modern, and inviting. The atmosphere blends residential comfort with refined hospitality, offering a fresh alternative to the typical financial institution.
The interiors feature tone-on-tone layers of color and texture, high ceilings, and expansive floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the space with natural light. The result is open and airy, yet intimate and approachable.
Design Highlights:
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Concierge & Check-In Stations: Strategically placed to guide traffic flow and create a seamless entry experience.
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Bar Counter with Tablet Station: A warm wood cabinet paired with a marble-like countertop evokes the feeling of a home dining area, subtly directing members toward the teller line.
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Living/Dining-Inspired Lounge: A mix of club chairs, poufs, and round four-tops invites casual financial conversations in a relaxed setting. A suspended wood soffit above this area softens the scale and slows the pace.
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Window-Facing Cubicles: Custom-designed desks, felt panels, and oversized suspended lights provide privacy while maintaining visibility and openness—ensuring the branch remains visually engaging even after hours.
From concept design to construction administration, a/k/a creatives led every phase of the project. The result is a new kind of banking experience—one that feels personal, thoughtful, and deeply rooted in community.
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Santa Ana Branch Lobby Seating Area
Concept Renderings for Santa Ana Branch
