Designing a new website for Flourish has been exciting, challenging and exhausting for the whole team but we’re all sooooo happy with the result.
However, the website was only one (admittedly rather big) part of our brand journey. We spent a very long time working on icons and illustrations that we felt best captured our Flourish tone and it’s elements like these that really pull a brand together; giving us devices that can carry across other important marketing collateral like proposals and scopes.
So with the much-loved concept of nature and growth in hand, we went to work on our ideas.
There were animals, there were landmarks, there were plants and flowers, there were even beautiful flourishing trees but something just didn’t quite feel right about them.
When we discovered our ‘Brand Stylists’ strapline everything started to fall into place and we decided we wanted to explore illustrations of hats. It was a fun idea that leant itself well to communicating different personalities through styling, which taps into what we do as a design agency perfectly.
And so the epic hat illustration journey began and today I want to share with you a quick snippet of some of the contenders. Some made it through. A majority didn’t even make it into the quarter finals (!) but the journey they took us on has been integral towards discovering what is right for Flourish.
After brainstorming British hats we started with a very simple illustration style that would act as a base from which we could build on.
We knew they needed a Flourish edge so we worked at adding texture and a quirkiness that we’re so well known for. Despite all loving the style, they lacked energy, passion and that little touch of femininity. The block of colour wasn’t working as it hid the character of the hat.
So we tried some more…
…and more…
…until finally, we cracked it!
Our final drawings perfectly capture our creativeness with a sketch-like spontaneity that seems so obvious now 
Hello!
I am writing because I want to use your drawings for educational purposes. We are designing a handbook for teachers and I need to use 6 different types of hats for an activity. Is it possible to use yours? There are just so perfect! (of course we will give you all the credits by the end of the worksheet)… please let me know!
Thank you!
Hi Bea,
It’s great that you have found our blog and we are delighted that you love the images of the hats. I would have to ask that you do not use the images of the hats as these make up part of our brand and devices that we work very hard to develop and are keen to protect. I hope that you continue to enjoy the blog and find it both inspiring and inspirational.
Thank you for your reply! Don´t worry then, I understand completely. I hope you have an amazing sucess with your illustrations, they are just wonderful!