A century ago, the Ratner, Miller, and Shafran families founded Forest City in Cleveland, Ohio. They became leaders in developing large-scale, mixed-use, public-private real estate in the US. In 2018, Forest City Realty Trust was sold, and members of the founding families re-emerged as two new real estate entities. 

In 2019, a series of conversations with leadership led to a name for the new Cleveland-based real estate collaboration, inspired by a man named Max. The Max Collaborative creates dynamic spaces for people and the cities they live in. Their work can be found in Cleveland, Denver, Los Angeles, and beyond.

The visual identity features a modestly customized sans serif, bringing wisdom and reflecting the integrity, expertise and confidence of the Collaborative’s senior members. Color is contemporary and warm. Handsome materials and printing methods emphasize the family’s commitment to integrity.

In 2021, interviews with leadership offered firsthand accounts of 20+ legacy projects from their Forest City years, including a handful that became an integral part of the New York City skyline. These interviews were translated into a collection of case studies, and a website for The Max Collaborative was born. The name and visual identity honor the past while welcoming the future.