Creative Director · Co-Founder
Blackletter has the right attitude, but we didn’t want it to feel overly decorative or nostalgic.
Using a serif for a nightclub felt like a deliberate shift.
They absolutely nailed it. It feels more like street photography than a render.
There’s a quiet irony in that restraint.
The brief was to connect with new audiences without alienating the core.
The new wordmark is more distinctive and carries an attitude that can live up to the strategy.
There’s a timeless quality to the typefaces that’s extremely important for a product that’s going to exist in people’s homes for decades.
The Institute sees philosophy as a force for good – a way to help people think more deeply about life and the world around them.
We explored hundreds of ideas, but kept coming back to this one. It felt effortless – simple, elegant and distinctive.
A well-chosen type pairing does a lot of heavy lifting. We needed something that could shift tone – academic but not stuffy, warm but not informal.
Manchester-based studio Only developed a new identity for London night-time venue Palais, reinterpreting blackletter typography through a geometric, contemporary lens. The system draws from the building’s architecture and uses flexible monochrome applications supported by 3D renders from Culte Commun and photography by Shaun Peckham. The result balances heritage with modern energy, reflecting Palais’ dual role as a cultural and nightlife destination.
Manchester-based studio Only has rebranded Cambridge Audio, balancing the brand’s British hi-fi heritage with a more culturally relevant, contemporary identity. The new system, anchored by the idea ‘Made by Music,’ features a refined typographic approach using Söhne and Tiempos, a restrained color palette with burnt orange accents, and flexible use of the circular marque and logotype. Collaborations included nform studio for 3D, Jake Richardson for motion, and photographers Percy Dean and Joshua Halling.
Manchester-based studio Only rebranded the Royal Institute of Philosophy with a concept centred on 'Question Everything.' The new identity balances academic credibility with accessibility, featuring a circular marque of interlocking question marks and a refined typographic pairing of F37 Caslon and F37 Blanka. Illustrations by Beth Walrond and flexible design elements help the Institute engage both scholarly and public audiences.
Manchester-based studio Only developed a poised new identity for the British International Research Institute (BIRI), balancing heritage and modernity through a Doric-inspired wordmark and a refined typographic system. The identity uses Tobias and Neue Haas Grotesk to convey confidence and clarity, supported by a flexible color palette that adapts to BIRI’s global presence.
The Brand Identity interviews Only’s Creative Director Matthew Tweddle and DR-Foundry’s Daniel Reed about their three-day modular type workshop at Sheffield Hallam University. The workshop guided design students through creating their own modular typefaces using hands-on methods and culminated in a pop-up exhibition. The discussion highlights the value of experimentation, critique, and collaboration in design education.
The Brand Identity interviews Only, a Leeds-based strategy and design consultancy founded by Matthew Tweddle and Dan in 2014. Tweddle discusses the studio’s philosophy, small-team approach, and several key branding projects including University of Suffolk, Helbers, Design for Europe, and Printworks. The conversation highlights Only’s focus on digital-first branding, research-driven strategy, and their move from Leeds to Manchester.