Only Talk

We had the pleasure of local design studio 'Only' coming in to do a talk with us regarding design for screen and their experience of the industry. 

"Only is an award-winning strategy and design consultancy helping organisations to use design to innovate and grow. In close partnership with brands, we identify new ways for them to connect with people. We help clients to articulate their vision and design the products, services and experiences that bring them to life.

Our approach to design takes inspiration from real people and has its ultimate goal in the clarification of purpose and meaning. By better understanding who we are designing for, we create experiences of real value."

Notes from the talk

You don't actually need to know how to code - you produce/pitch an idea for the external developer to build the brief based on your mockups

Digital Design is a primary way of consuming a brand nowadays 
- it's interactive
- here to stay, print vs digital
- constantly evolving

Their design process
1. Research
2. Wire-framing (Testing) - can either be a quick/easily accessible tester or they use proper external services for the big briefs (they suggested a website called Invision for website prototyping, but they use the expensive program Azure)
3. Design (the visual aspects)
4. Front End (working with developers) - work with an array of external developer specialists - they bring various partners in for the different jobs - it is Only's job to create crude mockups on after effects or any other way they can best communicate their message visually/fundamentally
















Grids are still fundamentally involved in the design on-screen. They approach it in a way of sorting largest platform layouts first, work down to mobile size. So from a 28 column grid down to a 2 column grid.

They don't always rate creating an app, just for the sake of it. A website is just as accessible - only if appropriate.

Upon creating the guidelines for a branding project, they discuss how they keep it all online on a sharing account to ensure it is all accessible and constantly up to date and strict. Includes guidelines for type, colour, logos, image, etc, to work with.

Lost Village Branding

Brief - Set in a remote Lincolnshire woodland, Lost Village Festival combines immersive live theatre with an eclectic music line-up to deliver an experience like no other. Only have worked with organisers on all aspects of the festival's brand since its inception in 2014. In this fiercely competitive landscape, the challenge has been carving out a truly unique positioning to consistently set Lost Village apart.

Approach - We began by defining a brand story focused on the history of the site, to underpin the creative direction of the new festival. We crafted a visual identity featuring a gestural mark for the festival community to own and adapt. Interpreted across multiple contexts, the brand unites marketing efforts with the live experience, and encourages festival goers to display their connection with the Lost community.

They created a custom typeface to be used across print and digital collateral. Paired with GT Pressura by Grilli Type the typography delivers mystery and adventure in support of the brand narrative. A series of tribal markings inspired by Runes offer additional depth to the brand aesthetic.