Thomas Coombes
Publisher, Founder, Designer, Creative Director
In their own words
The benefit of being more than one is that projects are a conversation.
I don’t think there are many people who do their best work after 5.
We wanted there to be some reflection of water in the design somewhere, but didn’t want this to be too forced.
This was done deliberately without a grid, placing words or sentences intuitively to reach compositions that felt satisfying but organic and free form.
The result is one of genuine collaboration, and it ended up quite a long way from where it started, which I love.
make a clear distinction and contrast between the bold strength of the logotype and the chiselled but elegant Crika
colour was ultimately determined by flavour, with lighter pastel shades forming the background with punchier bolder tones acting as highlights
Articles & interviews4
- Mawmaw captures grandmothers raising grandchildren in tender West Virginia portraits
The article profiles photographer Anthony Wilson’s photobook 'Mawmaw', which documents West Virginian grandmothers raising their grandchildren. Published by Pomegranate Press and Guest Editions, the project captures the emotional and social realities of 'grandfamilies' through tender, analogue portraiture. Wilson’s five-year project blends empathy, storytelling, and darkroom craft to portray Appalachian life with depth and dignity.
- Studio Thomas on settling into new spaces, working flexibly and their side project Guest Editions
The Brand Identity interviews Studio Thomas founders Thomas Coombes and Thomas Austin about their evolving practice, new studio spaces in Cornwall and London, and their publishing imprint Guest Editions. They discuss flexible working, balancing creativity with business management, and recent branding projects for clients like Fieldwork and Yoni. The conversation highlights their collaborative approach, small-studio agility, and commitment to sustainable work-life balance.