Double Nomination Delight

We are delighted to announce that we have been nominated for two Scottish Design Awards. These awards act as a crucial conduit between client and customer and are a celebration of profound examples of design, architecture, art, and advertising that shape our interaction with the world around us. The categories in which we’ve been recognised are ‘Brand Identity’ and ‘Design Craft’.

The Scottish Design Awards, organised by Urban Realm and The Drum, recognise work done by Scottish design consultancies, advertising agencies, printers, and client companies, or work done for Scottish clients no matter where the designer is based.

Isle of Arran Cottages: Brand Identity

Our work for Isle of Arran Cottages has been nominated in the ‘Brand Identity’ category. This project involved creating a brand identity and modern digital presence for a unique collection of historic cottages on the Isle of Arran. Our challenge was to elevate their online presence to stand out from competitors and third-party booking companies, while growing awareness among a new audience of potential customers without alienating existing clientele.

Our solution was rooted in a deep understanding of the island’s history. We created a bespoke logotype and monogram inspired by alphabetic Nordic runes found across Arran, offering a timeless and sophisticated feel while acting as a nod towards Arran’s rich history.

Moreover, we launched a new website aiming to attract more direct and organic bookings through a seamless web booking process. It showcases the beauty of the island setting and unique details of each property in a clean and easy to navigate way.

Buchan Guns: Design Craft

In the ‘Design Craft’ category, our work for Buchan Guns has been recognised. For this luxury Scottish shotgun and rifle maker, we developed a brand identity, positioning, and direction that is inspired by the Scottish and British best gunmaking traditions. This involved representing the exceptional level of quality, detail, and craftsmanship found in each of Buchan Guns’ bespoke pieces.

We collaborated with artist Ella Ginn to create a monogram and crest based on Buchan Guns’ unique and distinguishable house scroll. This scroll, inspired by spectacular Scottish landscapes and engraved by the world’s finest master engravers, is a key feature of our design. We chose a classic yet contemporary serif with sharp details to mirror the precise detail of the eye-catching engravings. The Buchan color palette takes direct inspiration from specialist materials, and we selected paper stocks to reflect the English checkering pattern found on the finished wooden stocks.