windows alive!
Funded by the City of Bellingham to enhance Downtown activation & beautification, Paper Whale is activating vacant storefronts in our City center.
Windows Alive!
Windows Alive! is a temporary design installation aimed at transforming vacant storefronts in Downtown Bellingham into vibrant, eye-catching displays. By infusing these spaces with visual art, we’re bringing energy and life to the heart of our city. This project not only beautifies but also fosters a sense of community and renewal, helping to ignite the revitalization of downtown with every window we transform.
Paper Whale collaborated with a Western Washington University BFA senior level Design course to create a series of illustrative designs. The project began in early 2025, with installation taking place in April. Windows Alive! is temporary, meaning the installations are intended to draw attention to vacancies with the goal that they will become more visible, and an eventually secure long-term leasing. ​
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See the work taking place at the following locations downtown:
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1015 N. State
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1155 N. State
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1329 N. State
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1324 Commercial
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215 Prospect
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114 Holly
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1215 Railroad Ave
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Interested in having your downtown Bellingham vacancy included in this project? Please reach out to us at info (at) paper-whale.com
Create your own Windows Alive! walking tour by using our interactive Google map and visiting each of the red pins.
Program Partnerships
While Windows Alive! is a simple idea to brighten an urban core, it is also a technical achievement. To bring a variety of custom-designed illustrations to life, you need the participation of property owners, leasing agents, surrounding businesses, a motivated City staff, ally partnership the Main Street Association (Downtown Bellingham Partnership), illustrators and designers, and a motivated agency like Paper Whale to manage the project to success. This project was funded by the City of Bellingham to enhance Downtown Activation & Beautification.
Student-Led Designs
It all began with an initiative from Western Washington University Department of Design professors John Gialanella and Brittany Schade, and Paper Whale's co-founders, creating a Winter/Fall syllabus to engage 18 BFA students in the art of public engagement. Ultimately, seven designs were selected from the following student leads:
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Olivia (Liv) Cicciarelli | "Natural Vibrance"
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Lily Shaw | "Herons on Holly" & "Belly of the Bay"
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​Julian Cabrera | "Generations" & "Over Time"
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Caroline Alton | "Tarot Biome"
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Chloë Cho | "Lunar Crab and Solar Fawn"
Honorable Mentions
It takes a team, and the outcome of this project is a result of the entire senior design class at WWU:
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Abby Daugherty: abbydaugherty.com
Annalise Walloch: walloca2.myportfolio.com
Caroline Alton: carolinealton.myportfolio.com
Chloë Cho: bychloecho.com
Cody Pham: cody-pham.com
Dan Feng Yang: yangdccf7.myportfolio.com
Emily Grund: emilygrund.com [made the Windows Alive! logo]
Larry Obenberger: larryobe.com
Maya Crowder: crowdem2e338.myportfolio.com
Nikki Araya: nikkistuff.design
Nina Burkett: ninaaburkett.com
Saroth Kruy: sarothkruy.xyz
Sofia Pelkey: sofiapelky.com
Willow Byrne: willowbyrne.com