Creative direction
When several designers, agencies or freelancers work on your brand, it can start to look like several brands. Creative direction sets the visual and verbal standard and keeps every piece of work pointing the same way.
One eye across everything you make
Good direction starts from evidence. The Mary Rose Trust's palette came from the golds, reds and dark greys of Henry VIII's portraits, which looked muted on screen. Oil paint darkens and fades; Tudor stained glass doesn't. A palette drawn from the glass gave the Trust richer colour that was still historically grounded.
We set the direction, brief the people producing the work and review it before it goes out, whether that's a campaign, a website or a set of social assets.
Decisions with reasons
Every creative choice traces back to your audience and goals, which makes approvals quicker and less about taste.
Experience across disciplines
Matt Laakvand brings 25 years across branding and UX/UI, so direction covers print, screen and product alike.
How it works
Discovery
What's working, what's holding the brand back, and what your audience needs to feel in the first few seconds.
Listen to your audience
Customers, members and staff tell us what to keep and what to change.
Define the foundations
Positioning, purpose, values and tone of voice, agreed before any visuals.
Design the identity
Logo, colour, type and imagery, tested on the places your brand actually appears.
Roll it out
Guidelines and assets, delivered in the order you need them.
Bring your creative output into line
Tell us who is making what for you, and where it has started to drift.
Our 'why' & promise to you
A brand is judged on everything it puts out. Creative direction keeps all of it pointing the same way.
This work exists to help people understand what you stand for quickly, and to give your team a brand they can use with confidence every day.
You’ll get reasons behind every decision
Every visual and verbal choice comes from research into your audience and goals, so you can explain it to anyone who asks.
You’ll shape it from the start
You are the expert on your organisation. You are involved from the first workshop, so the brand describes the organisation you really are.
You’ll get a brand your team can use
Clear guidelines and examples mean anyone writing or designing for you can apply it without guessing.
You’ll see it working before you commit
We test the direction on the places your brand actually appears, so there are no surprises at rollout.
Our full list of Services
Consultancy
& Research
- Competitor research
- Customer journey mapping
- Digital/web strategy
- Usability testing
- User research
- User personas
UI/UX Design
- UI & UX design system
- Information architecture
- Wireframing & prototyping
- User flows & stories
- Conversion rate optimisation
- Accessibility
- Mobile first design
Brand & Design
- Creative direction
- Brand assets creation
- Brand identity system
- Tone of voice
- Brand purpose services
- Brand values
- Print design services
- Design retainers
- Video & motion graphics
- Corporate presentations
- Social asset creation