Tag: Brand Identity

  • I notice the small brand details that some businesses are too busy to notice.

    I’m slightly triggered by a lack of small brand details.
    It’s useful for my clients.

    I received three emails from different people in the same company this week.
    It triggered me.

    Each email had a completely different footer design. Different layouts, different information and varying levels of detail.

    It looked sloppy and didn’t inspire much trust. Somewhere in the back of my mind, a small flag was raised; if they can’t look after their own brand properly at this level, how much care and attention would I receive as a customer?

    So how does a business end up with multiple versions of its own identity being sent out every day without anyone noticing?

    Email footers are probably one of the smallest parts of a brand, yet they’re also one of the most frequently seen.

    Usually, it’s not because people don’t care.
    It’s because everyone is busy doing the actual work.

    I’ve been thinking about this a lot while refining Signal’s new positioning and updating my own communications this week.

    Small brand detials shape perception.

    Here are three quick brand wins you can check yourself in under 10 minutes:

    Your company email footers
    Check your social profiles
    Look at your own website

    People often decide how much trust to place in a business long before they make contact.

    Looking after your own brand signals that you’ll probably look after your customers too.

    Consistency builds trust quietly over time and I suspect most businesses could improve at least one of these in under 10 minutes.

  • Designing Two Brands That Share the Same DNA

    Bridging the gap between Industry & Education.

    That’s not marketing speak. Specifically, it’s the actual problem I was asked to solve when designing the brand for Industry Ready, a new podcast that’s genuinely excellent (and I don’t say that lightly).

    Hosted by Sonya D’Arcy-Kilroy with guests like Geoffrey Fowler, CEO of London Design & Engineering UTC, each episode goes behind the scenes of “Exceptional” (Ofsted-rated) education. You’ll hear from learners achieving remarkable outcomes, educators creating inclusive cultures, and industry partners who are actively solving the skills gap – not just talking about it at conferences.

    The Challenge I See Every Day

    As a brand designer working in the education space, I see both sides of this challenge playing out constantly. Too many learners enter the workforce unprepared. Too many employers struggle to find industry-ready talent.

    It’s a real problem. And it needs real solutions, not just more noise.

    The Design Connection

    Here’s where it gets interesting for me as a designer.

    Industry Ready isn’t a standalone project. It’s the natural evolution of my work on The Industry & Educators Exchange (IndEX) at the-index.uk. Essentially, both brands share the same DNA because they’re solving the same problem from different angles.

    Specifically, I devised the name ‘IndEX’ and its typographic use with the capital EX, designed both brands, both websites, and the supporting books (Introduction & Compendium) that bring these ecosystems to life.

    IndEX connects educators and industry partners through employer-led learning, shared resources, books, and frameworks.

    Industry Ready amplifies those connections through authentic conversations and real stories.

    Designing a Brand Family

    The visual challenge was clear: create two distinct brands that feel like family.

    Visually, both identities colour palette, typeface, and use directional arrow forms that represent clear pathways, progress, and connection – not barriers. They’re designed as a family, working together to solve the same problem from different angles.

    The brief to myself? Professional but not corporate, similarly educational but not academic. Authentic and conversation-led. A direction and clear route, not a barrier.

    Why This Matters

    Importantly, Episode 1 launched today and it’s a brilliant introduction to what makes London Design & Engineering UTC (LDE UTC) and the Technical Education Skills Trust (TEST) so successful.

    So, If you’re in L&D, hiring, education, or workforce development, give it a listen. It’s worth your time.

    Listen and see the design work: www.industryready.co.uk

    Need help with your brand or website? Get in touch.