Newport Beach, California

Balboa Fun Zone

A Seaside Treasure Anchored by Play, Food, & Fun

Project type

Public Art & Murals Environmental Graphic Design

Project sector

Sports & Entertainment Food & Beverage
The entry gateway to Balboa Fun Zone at dusk featuring a bold red illuminated "Balboa Fun Zone" identity sign spanning a pedestrian paseo between two white-painted buildings with red and white striped awnings, string lights overhead, and brick steps leading toward the waterfront — showcasing RSM Design's identity signage, branding and visual identity, and placemaking services applied within the waterfront, retail, and mixed-use markets

Project info

Client Balboa Fun Zone

Other Look Signs

A fresh start for a local gem

RSM Design was invited to complete signage and public art for the restoration of the Balboa Fun Zone located in Newport Beach, California. The Fun Zone is a charming collection of retail shops, restaurants, and nostalgic rides, such as the iconic Balboa ferris wheel. Visitors can enjoy a sweet treat and a stroll along the charming waterfront, while making memories with family and friends. RSM Design worked with local muralist Chris McNeil at Look Signs to craft hand painted murals and art for the Balboa Fun Zone. It was important for the RSM Design team to recognize the history of the Balboa Fun Zone, while developing signage and art that would enhance the visitor experience.

A illustrated contextual district map of the Newport Beach coastal area highlighting the Balboa Fun Zone as the central destination node in red, with annotated points of interest including Lido Marina Village, 32nd Street Commerce, Newport Pier, Marina Park, Balboa Pier, Balboa Island, The Wedge, Corona Del Mar, and Newport Center — demonstrating RSM Design's environmental graphic design and placemaking approach to understanding district context, pedestrian nodes, and landmarks within the waterfront and mixed-use markets
A street-level view of the Balboa Fun Zone waterfront promenade featuring the bold red and white "Fun Zone Arcade" tenant sign above an open storefront, with a burger restaurant sign, illustrated wall graphics, the Fun Zone identity sign visible down the pedestrian corridor, and visitors walking and cycling past — illustrating RSM Design's tenant signage, experiential graphics and branded environments, and placemaking services applied within the waterfront, retail, and food and beverage markets
A street-level view of the Balboa Fun Zone waterfront district featuring a "Welcome to Balboa" identity sign with a ship's wheel motif, a colorful Ferris wheel, Jane's Corndogs food and beverage tenant signage, a teal wayfinding kiosk, red and white ferry dock railing, and passing vehicular traffic under palm trees — demonstrating RSM Design's identity signage, wayfinding and signage design, and placemaking services applied within the waterfront, retail, and food and beverage markets
A daytime street-level view of the Balboa Fun Zone pedestrian paseo entry featuring the iconic coral and white illuminated gateway sign, red and white striped awnings, string lights overhead, a light blue brick base, brick steps leading toward the waterfront, and a skateboarder passing by in the foreground — capturing the joyful, people-centered placemaking and identity signage RSM Design delivered within the waterfront and mixed-use markets
A dusk exterior view of the Balboa Fun Zone featuring a bold illuminated "The Fun Starts Here" wall sign in red and navy on a white shiplap building facade, flanked by towering palm trees, a colorful Ferris wheel, gooseneck wall sconces, and a pedestrian with a stroller passing by — showcasing RSM Design's experiential graphics and branded environments, identity signage, and placemaking services within the waterfront and mixed-use markets
A wide dusk view of the Balboa Fun Zone central courtyard plaza featuring the large-scale "Balboa Fun Zone" roofline identity lettering in red and blue with carnival bulb lighting and red pennant flags, a whimsical illustrated octopus mural on the building corner, red bistro tables and white picnic benches arranged across a circular brick paver plaza, and a classic gas lamp post — demonstrating RSM Design's art programs and public art and murals, identity signage, experiential graphics and branded environments, and placemaking services within the waterfront and mixed-use markets
An open brand concept book spread for Balboa Fun Zone presenting "Palette One: Ice Cream Dreams" — featuring evocative narrative copy alongside a mood board of coastal lifestyle imagery including electric boats on the bay, a neon "EAT" sign, Cervecería signage, a neon ice cream popsicle, and a taco bar interior, paired with a color palette of coral red, charleston gray, aquamarine, and white linen — illustrating RSM Design's branding and visual identity and print collateral process applied within the waterfront, food and beverage, and mixed-use markets
An open brand concept book spread for Balboa Fun Zone featuring a coral left page declaring "The Balboa Fun Zone is a California Icon — Nostalgic, Charming, and One-of-a-Kind" alongside a vintage black and white archival photograph of the original waterfront boardwalk with Motor Boats for Rent, Bay Arcade, and Playland signage and beachgoers — illustrating RSM Design's research-driven, culturally rooted approach to branding and visual identity and placemaking within the waterfront and mixed-use markets
A hand-painted style brand illustration for Balboa Fun Zone depicting a navy and red tricycle with a golden yellow balloon tied to the handlebars on a soft gray background — exemplifying RSM Design's branding and visual identity and specialty graphics approach to creating joyful, character-driven imagery that reinforces a sense of place within the waterfront and mixed-use markets
The Balboa Fun Zone brand color palette displayed as four circles in carnival red, golden yellow, seafoam mist, and ocean blue, surrounded by scattered confetti shapes in the same hues — illustrating RSM Design's branding and visual identity process for developing a playful, place-specific color system that captures the nostalgic coastal spirit of the waterfront and mixed-use markets
A wide exterior building mural at Balboa Fun Zone featuring a bold illustrated yellow tandem bicycle and a navy blue cruiser with a yellow basket, roller skates, colorful confetti shapes, and a red banner reading "Let's Go to the Fun Zone" painted across a white shiplap facade — showcasing RSM Design's art programs and public art and murals, experiential graphics and branded environments, and placemaking services within the waterfront and mixed-use markets

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