Blue Bat Design turned Fiserv’s downtown Milwaukee headquarters into a vibrant showcase of environmental graphics, weaving state symbols and brand geometry into every corner of the workplace. Lead designer Cecilia Kembel shares how localized storytelling, reclaimed materials, and tech-forward aesthetics came together to energize employees the moment they step inside.
Project Overview
- Winning Project Title: Fiserv Milwaukee Headquarters
- Winning Category: Corporate Design
- Firm Location: Marietta, United States
- Company: Blue Bat Design
- Lead Designer: Cecilia Kembel
Blue Bat Design’s work transforms Fiserv’s new headquarters with large murals of Wisconsin’s state flower, animal, and bird, sound-wave art panels of the company’s Mission, Vision, and Values, and wall cladding made from Milwaukee Bucks championship-court wood. The result is an office that celebrates local culture while reflecting Fiserv’s innovative spirit.
Interview with Cecilia Kembel
1. Can you share how you got started in design? How has your work grown and evolved over time?
Cecilia Kembel: I started working for a boutique agency out of art school. From there, I became more and more passionate about, and specialized in, large-scale graphics—specifically environmental graphics.
2. What was the brief or challenge behind your winning project? What primary goals did you have when starting this project?
Cecilia Kembel: I was asked to create a unique headquarters space that was a reflection of the Fiserv brand, while also having localized aspects that the associates working out of the office could feel connected to, and that would help inspire their workday. The aim was to provide a space that felt innovative and reflective of a technology company, while also ensuring a colorful and inspirational environment.
3. What inspired your project? How did you transform your ideas into the final design, whether it was a product or a visual concept?
Cecilia Kembel: The localization aspect was a big part of my approach. The large wall coverings that are hero visuals in the space were inspired by the state flower, animal, and bird: a violet, a badger, and a robin. The design style incorporated brand colors as well as the geometric aspects of the brand look and feel. Other pieces in the space included sound-wave art depictions of Fiserv Aspiration, Purpose, and Values, and custom art printed on court wood from the Milwaukee Bucks Championship Game.
4. Did you encounter any challenges during your project? How did you overcome them while ensuring your design remained both clear and practical?
Cecilia Kembel: The main challenge was to merge the simplicity and modern nature of the Fiserv brand with a desire to create a unique, colorful, and inspirational space. The final designs were able to perfectly merge these two objectives into a space that associates are proud to work in.
5. How do you stay updated with new design trends and technologies, such as AI? In what ways have these tools influenced your work?
Cecilia Kembel: I am currently taking a course in AI applications for marketing, but even before that I was exploring ways to utilize AI tools for tasks that were previously labor-intensive. The tools I am using have allowed me to move faster, create more, and ultimately bring more value to my clients.
6. How do you balance client or market demands with your own creative style? What strategies help you meet both aspects effectively?
Cecilia Kembel: I take on clients and work that are aligned with my own values and style to some extent. I tend to have a very strong creative vision and point of view, and when communicating this to my clients as a norm they are receptive. I believe the most important skill here is truly just that: being able to communicate your vision in a way that the client can picture it and become as excited about it as you are.
7. Reflecting on your winning project, what lessons did you learn? How will these insights shape your future work?
Cecilia Kembel: By taking a different approach, having a strong point of view, and effectively communicating with my client, I was able to get approvals quickly with very little pushback. I learned to trust my vision and expertise even more than I may have in the past and was able to create something that I am immensely proud of.
8. What does winning the Design MasterPrize mean to you both personally and professionally? How does this achievement inspire your upcoming projects?
Cecilia Kembel: Winning the Design MasterPrize was an amazing feeling! For me personally as a designer, it was validation that the work I do is truly top-notch. And as a professional, it has helped me market my business and services in a new way. I am inspired to continue doing great things, and hopefully in the future, win more awards such as this that help communicate the value of my unique design perspective as well as the services I specialize in and provide to my clients.
ConclusioN
Fiserv’s Milwaukee headquarters proves how localized storytelling, reclaimed materials, and brand-centric geometry can turn a corporate office into a place employees feel proud to call home—an approach that underscores Cecilia Kembel’s expertise in environmental graphics.
