The latest news, ideas, projects, missives, and thoughts from Wildfire Studios
(Also known in laymans’ circles as a “blog”)
Kindling 37: Logos, literally
How literal should your logo be?
Kindling 36: Shrinking Moats
Most brand exercises ask where you want to be in twenty years. A better question: what threats will shrink the moat around your brand in that time?
Studio Missive 35: The word is the logo
Why I do stylescapes differently, and how typography becomes the foundation for every brand
Studio Missive 34: Your brand is not your logo
A brand isn’t a logo. It’s a rhetorical device you use to persuade the public to see your organization as who it is.
Studio Missive 33: Falling in love with the process
On embracing the messy middle of the creative process across a client rebrand, a documentary, and my own logo redesign.
Studio Missive 32: The design inspiration behind a stylescape
How I research design references for a stylescape — with links to great brand identity work from zoos, museums, aquariums, and more.
Studio Missive 31: Back to the drawing board
Last week’s strategy got approved, and now it’s stylescape time. Plus: hard drive woes, a rebrand reset, and Don Knuth’s brush with Claude.
Studio Missive 30: Behind the scenes of a complete strategy deck
A look at the work that goes in to making a brand strategy deck, and a quick snapshot at the resulting document.
Studio Missive 29: Behind the scenes of my own rebrand
Sharing the initial designs of the rebranded website for this studio.
Studio Missive 28: Phase 2 of Bruce Mayhew’s website
The second and final phase of Bruce Mayhew’s project is now complete, and other news from the studio.
Studio Missive 27: Rethinking e‑commerce for EHC
This week at the studio, I implemented a new-to-me e‑commerce platform on a nonprofit’s website.
Studio Missive 26: The new website for Bruce Mayhew
Launching the new website for Bruce Mayhew’s business and book.