Thoughts & Process

Studio
Journal

Notes on branding, identity design, content strategy, and what we've learned building visual systems for real companies.

All articles
01

The logo is not the brand — and other things clients need to hear

A logo is an entry point, not a destination. What most companies actually need is a system — and understanding the difference changes everything about how you brief a designer.

02

How to build a social content system your team will actually use

Most content templates fail not because the design is bad, but because nobody explained how to use them. This is what a handover that sticks looks like.

03

What we ask every client before starting a brand identity project

Seven questions that reveal whether a client is ready for a rebrand — or still figuring out what they're selling. The answers shape every creative decision that follows.

04

Why your brand needs a motion language — not just an animated logo

An animated logo is a trick. A motion language is a system. Here's what separates brands that move with intention from brands that just move.

05

Unheard Music: building a brand identity from a single material

When the brief is "make it feel independent," the challenge is turning that feeling into something visible. How a vinyl groove became the foundation for an entire visual system.

06

Positioning is not a tagline: what it actually means to know who you're for

Most companies confuse a slogan with a position. Positioning isn't what you say — it's the set of tradeoffs you've committed to. Here's how to find yours before you open a brief.

Get new articles
in your inbox

No spam. One article when there's something worth saying — usually once or twice a month.