Raising the bar for cannabis culture in Massachusetts.
Yamba Market Branding & Interior Design
As the first fully black owned and operated recreational dispensary in Cambridge MA, Yamba Market’s mission is to authentically build a socially restorative and inclusive adult cannabis space in Massachusetts centered around community. Subtle references within the brand identity and interiors pay homage to the founders’ West African heritage and local, Cambridge, MA roots.
The visual identity for Yamba (a West African colloquial term for cannabis) is inspired by both the urban textures of the square, mudcloth textiles and natural botanicals. This visual language is carried forward into murals, signage, and collateral throughout – adding to layers of interest and connection to the brand experience. The custom stencil typography of the multi-colored YAMBA wordmark makes the mark easily ‘taggable (but, of course, we don’t condone illegal graffiti.)
Services
Brand Strategy
Logo Design
Identity System
Core Collateral
Signage
Environmental
Segment
Retail
Lifestyle & Consumer
Alcohol & Cannabis
Credits
Select Photography:
Josh Jaminson
Murals:
Best Dressed Signs
General Contractor:
Build Out
Signage:
New England Neon
Architect:
David Barsky
Interior design that blends the vibrancy of an international marketplace with the urban grit of Central Square.
Entering the space from Mass Ave, guests are afforded an immediate respite from the street via a wood-wrapped interior and initial receiving lounge for gathering, exploring, and learning. Retail displays showcase cannabis stories and education, alongside custom-branded and thoughtfully curated merchandise. Guests circulate through oversized birch pivot panels to the central sales floor, surrounded by a layered mixture of urban and organic textures.
The lounge area features an installation of vivid, hand-woven plateau baskets from Indego Africa, an organization working to empower African women, youth, and refugees.
A large rolling shutter at the online order counter acts as a functional pass-through from the vault, while referencing the storefronts of the street.
The custom-designed sales counter is a powerful focal piece of the retail space, featuring angled cuts that mimic the geometries of the identity system.
