Background:

During the COVID-19 quarantine, the team at Novotel in Brickell created a powerful symbol of hope for the community. While the hotel remained closed, employees illuminated several windows at night in the shape of a heart, sending a message of care and unity to residents in the surrounding Miami neighborhood. The simple gesture quickly became a symbol of positivity during a difficult time. As the hotel prepared to reopen, the management team organized a welcome-back event for employees that included the final lighting of the heart before turning the lights off to make room once again for guests.

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Objective: Inspired by this initiative, Felicity set out to translate this moment into a meaningful expression of appreciation for Novotel employees. The goal was to design a commemorative T-shirt as part of a “Welcome Back” gift from management, celebrating the team’s resilience and reinforcing a culture of care within the workplace.

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Solution:

The final design features a graphic inspired by the illuminated heart displayed on the hotel’s façade during quarantine, paired with the tagline “Our Heart Is Now Open.” The T-shirt transforms a powerful community moment into a wearable symbol of pride and appreciation for the Novotel team, extending the emotional impact of the original gesture.