Civic Identity in Action

Holland, Michigan sits on the edge of Lake Macatawa and Lake Michigan—but for many residents, the city’s waterfront remains out of reach. A long history of environmental degradation, limited public access, and industrial land use has created a divide between the shoreline and the community it borders. Recent redevelopment efforts—like the Waterfront Holland Initiative—promised revitalization, but lacked transparency and public involvement. Most decisions were driven by private developers, city planners, and consultants, leaving many residents without a seat at the table.

Change the Wave emerged as a local movement calling for public accountability, environmental justice, and inclusive design. But like many grassroots coalitions, the group lacked a cohesive identity and had no central digital presence to educate, organize, and mobilize supporters.

The challenge was twofold: create a brand that felt deeply local and people-powered, and design a website that could act as both an educational tool and an organizing platform—capable of translating policy critique into public participation.

The new brand and website helped Change the Wave galvanize public attention and bring resident voices to the forefront of local redevelopment conversations. The platform supported community events, increased town hall participation, and served as a key reference for locals.

Most notably, the work contributed to ongoing dialogue between public residents and city leaders—culminating in a new, resident-informed plan to increase parkland and expand public access to the water on Holland’s south side.