CX 2026
The identity, guide, cookbook and event kit for Compass Group Canada's flagship event.
- Client
- Compass Group Canada, hosted by Envision Group
- Year
- 2026
- Role
- Creative lead
- Scope
- Identity, brand guide, cookbook system, event collateral
Justin Francisco
I design brand systems for places where people eat and gather: campus dining, arenas, food halls and events. Ten years in, most of it in-house at Compass Group Canada, where my work helps win contracts and then runs in hundreds of locations.
The short version
$13.3Min awarded annual contracts my brand work was part of, in fiscal 2026See Algonquin
300+dining units across Canada built on one station frameworkSee Foundations
55,000York University students served by YU Eats, the campus dining brand I designedSee YU Eats
2 weeksto rebrand an eight-zone arena, from concept to printSee the arena
Selected work
Foundations
One station framework for 300+ dining units, and the pipeline that makes every file. Grill House shown in all eight identities. 1 of 8
- Client
- Compass Group Canada
- Year
- 2026
- Role
- System design, identity, production pipeline
- Scale
- 11 stations, 8 identities, 300+ units
Algonquin College
A dining program that reads as part of the college. $9.0M a year, awarded.
- Client
- Algonquin College, through Compass Group Canada
- Year
- 2026
- Role
- Creative lead
- Outcome
- Awarded, $9.0M a year
York University: YU Eats
Won the RFP in 2022, then came back in 2026 to refresh it. 55,000 students, 70+ locations.
- Client
- York University, through Chartwells
- Year
- 2022, refresh in 2026
- Role
- Sole creative
- Outcome
- Won the RFP, live across 70+ locations
Stella's Games
Calm learning games I made to help my daughter learn, that grow with her as she plays.
- For
- Stella, age 3½, on an iPad
- Year
- 2026
- Role
- Design, illustration and code
- Format
- 24 games, a sticker book and a grown-ups' report
More work
Progressive Auto Sales Arena
A two-week rebrand of a whole arena, then a new bar, District 94. Built and open.
Nia: Natural Interface Agent
An AI assistant built into my own phone, and the rules the phone taught me.
Mohawk College
A dining brand, a res café and two food courts, built from the college's own colours.
Fort Edmonton Park
Posters and menus for nine venues across nine eras.
Dalhousie University
Brand architecture for a $180M proposal. Not awarded.
Liberty Entertainment Group
A logo evolution for nine Toronto landmark venues.
How I work
I start with the system
Names, structure and rules come before the look. If the system is right, the tenth location is as easy as the first, and the brand survives people other than me using it.
I use code and AI for production
I build file pipelines in Python and use Claude and image models for mockups and variations. That takes the repetitive work off my plate so the time goes to judgment. Foundations generates hundreds of print-ready files this way.
I build for whoever comes next
Guides, templates and file kits are part of the job, not an extra. The CX cookbook ran to 131 pages filled in by other people, and it still looks like one book.
What people say
"Two weeks. That's all it took for the full arena rebrand. Eight zones, wayfinding, lighting specs, all print-ready. We're building it out now exactly as [Justin] designed it. I didn't think that timeline was realistic until he delivered."
"Justin is quick to build relationships with many stakeholders internally and externally. He is committed to excellence and supports his team in achieving our common goals."
"We were a brand new initiative and Justin treated us like a big client. The logo and brand he built gave us instant credibility with donors. I still get compliments on it."
"Not long ago, the space was dated, worn down and no longer reflective of the experience our partners or their fans deserved. Today, District 94 represents something entirely different: a welcoming, elevated destination."