We always knew there should be an illustrated component to the system, and that a hand-done touch was incredibly important.
We definitely didn’t want to imitate vintage tropes or make this feel overtly old-fashioned.
In the end, we could not push that direction far enough to feel truly ownable or flexible at a full system level.
It feels like a living, breathing presence, almost like the emotional heart of the company.
Creating something intentionally disruptive simply for the sake of being different would not have been the right solution here.
Rad Work for Rad People™ might sound like a fun tagline, but it's much more than that, it's a belief.
We're not experts, we're explorers.
Each year, PRINT comes to us with the beginnings of an idea they'd like us to develop.
Plants symbolise creativity, while our rocky alcove represents the rigid grid from which it breaks free.
I think we did a nice job here of creating an identity system that feels celebratory and exciting without relying on any of those elements.
The Collected Works created a hand-drawn brand identity for Sooki Sesame Oil, a Korean sesame oil brand founded by Joseph and Hannah Choi. The design centers on a character illustration of 'Sooki' and a playful cast of food icons, paired with a tactile label and a red, white, and blue palette referencing both Korean and American heritage. The identity balances warmth and modernity through illustration, typography, and material choices.
The Collected Works developed a flexible, system-based brand identity for AI and communications platform Agora. Centered on a 3D generative concept called the 'Aura,' the design uses procedural tools in Blender to create endlessly variable, iridescent visuals that represent Agora’s layered technology stack. The project balances expressive motion and color with functional adaptability across digital environments.
The Brand Identity interviews The Collected Works co-founders Justin Colt and Jose Fresneda ahead of The Design Conference 2025. They discuss their studio’s evolution from SVA classmates to a bi-coastal hybrid practice, their philosophy of 'Rad Work for Rad People™,' and their embrace of generative, expressive design. The conversation highlights their collaborative process, flexible structure, and notable projects like the 'Day of the Dead' record packaging.
The Collected Works partnered with PRINT Magazine to create a new identity for the PRINT Awards 2025, inspired by organic growth and biophilia. Using generative design and procedural animation in Houdini, the team developed a dynamic system featuring vines, flowers, and sculptural rocks. The project redefines traditional award branding with a digital-first, flexible, and celebratory visual language.
The Collected Works created a dynamic brand identity for blockchain platform Holograph, blending 3D artworks, motion, and a refined monochrome aesthetic. The design emphasizes Holograph’s cross-chain capabilities through animated logos and layered visuals, while Lausanne by WELTKERN® provides typographic consistency. The result bridges technology with art and fashion sensibilities.