Creative Director · Design Director · Designer
We got paid in bags of meat, effectively.
We have this sort of mantra that we want to work with people who really care about design.
We really didn't want to mess with the logo.
Clients don't necessarily know the best way to write a brief.
I actually get the most joy out of doing projects that don't necessarily pay as much as the ones that do pay a lot of money.
Ventura Foreman really bought into the idea of championing their location and placing more emphasis on the ‘Where?’ rather than ‘Who?’
The shape that was created when the full wordmark is typeset felt beautiful and a little bit wrong, which was great.
We wanted to retain the human process throughout the identity.
Make it a brand guideline for dummies.
I thought I knew it all, I quickly started to realise that I didn’t.
Creative Boom interviews Mark Jones, creative director at Studio Blackburn, about his philosophy of restraint in design and the importance of knowing when not to change things. He discusses projects for Brompton, So Energy, and Ellis Butchers, illustrating how the studio balances consistency, sector vernacular, and playful precision. The conversation highlights Studio Blackburn’s practical, human approach to branding across clients large and small.
Studio Blackburn developed a distinctive brand identity for fashion and workwear studio Ventura Foreman, emphasizing the brand’s Woolwich roots and handcrafted ethos. The identity uses ABC Marfa Medium by Dinamo and embraces a deliberately off-kilter typographic system. Handmade production details and raw materials reinforce the authenticity and craftsmanship of Ventura Foreman’s work.
The Brand Identity’s interview, presented by Brandpad, explores how leading studios Pentagram, How&How, and Studio Blackburn approach the systemisation of brand identities. Designers Luke Powell, Luke Scott, and Mark Jones discuss strategies for building consistent, scalable, and user-friendly brand systems that balance creativity with practicality. The conversation highlights the importance of usability, flexibility, and long-term thinking in brand guideline creation.
The Brand Identity interviews Studio Blackburn’s Design Director Mark Jones about freelancing, creative growth, and the studio’s new website. He discusses lessons learned from freelancing in London, his transition to a leadership role, and his appreciation for 'graphic imperfection' in design. The conversation also touches on Studio Blackburn’s projects for Pinter and a live poster event for Shoreditch Design Triangle.
Studio Blackburn developed a dynamic and adaptable new identity for trend forecasting agency TrendBible. The rebrand features a flexible typographic system using Inter and a directional arrow logo symbolising the evolving nature of trends. The colour palette is intentionally fluid, allowing TrendBible to adapt hues seasonally based on their own visual expertise.
Studio Blackburn created the brand identity for The Greater Good Fresh Brewing Co. and its innovative home-brewing product, the Pinter. The modular identity centers around a keg-inspired exclamation mark and uses FF Bau for its bold, legible typography. A fresh, versatile color palette and adaptable design system support the brand’s sustainable and modern positioning.