Flora In Contemporary Art & Culture

We had a fantastic time celebrating our CEO Lavinia Culverhouse’s birthday with a visit to the FLOWERS – FLORA IN CONTEMPORARY ART & CULTURE exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery in Sloane Square 🌸

Featuring over 500 artworks from Roots and In Bloom to Flowers & Fashion – the exhibition offered a vibrant exploration of nature, form and creativity.

It was a perfect day to reconnect, reflect and get inspired, topped off with some beautiful sun ☀️

How to create feelings, frame by frame

Ever wondered how animated characters can evoke such deep and genuine connections with us?

The magic lies in an animator’s ability to breathe life and personality into not just characters, but even lines and shapes, transforming inanimate drawings, making them feel real and relatable. This skill is even more important in today’s digital and AI-driven world.

Disney’s 12 Principles of Animation illustrate this best.

From the elasticity of squash-and-stretch movements to the tension built through anticipation, these subtle techniques create strong, visceral connections with the audience. When executed successfully, animation becomes a powerful tool for storytelling and your brand.

A telling stat from Raw Pictures outlines that viewers retain 95% of a message when received through a piece of video content, compared to 10% when reading a communication.

A substantial 71% of consumers are more likely to recommend a brand if they feel an emotional connection to it, emphasising the role of emotions in fostering brand loyalty.

At Designhouse, we often use Disney’s 12 Principles of Animation to create captivating, emotionally driven content that connects with audiences.

In this article, we wanted to spotlight the following three principles:

  • Squash & Stretch

  • The Arc

  • Anticipation

By mastering these principles, our team crafts animations that do not just move – they resonate. From brand stories with a core heart to dynamic explainer videos communicating a mission, we create work that leaves a lasting impression and a strong identity.

Together with our client partners, we take initial concepts, brief in core values and purpose and deliver emotionally driven motion content that serves a greater purpose:

Squash & Stretch

The Squash & Stretch principle is a technique used to add movement, energy and character to motion.

This principle can be subtle whilst delivering a unique expression, giving text and visuals a sense of weight, flexibility and impact. The more natural and organic a movement feels, the more a brand can benefit from becoming more relatable and emotionally connected.

What feeling does this communicate?

Fluid, expressive motion enhances storytelling, allowing audiences to connect and relate to action and reaction. Whether it’s a squashed bouncing ball or a stretched font style, the Squash & Stretch principle can breathe life into a brand.

The Arc

Designhouse uses The Arc principle to ensure every movement feels fluid, natural and emotionally engaging. In real life, motion follows curved paths – not stiff, straight lines. By applying arcs to character actions, gestures and objects, we bring a sense of realism and flow to every frame.

How does this drive the narrative?

Animations feel lifelike, helping audiences connect emotionally with the story. From a subtle head tilt to a sweeping hand gesture, arcs add personality, believability and depth – turning movement into emotion.

Anticipation

At Designhouse, we use the Anticipation principle to construct stakes and a sense of immediacy and engagement in our motion work.

By building tension, the Anticipation technique keeps an audience hyper-focused and hanging on for the next movement, delivering impact and landing a message with gravitas.

What impact does this leave?

Anticipation goes beyond simply smoothing out motion – it builds excitement, tension and emotion, pulling audiences deeper into the narrative. It transforms basic movement into meaningful storytelling.

Don’t just move, connect

Together with Designhouse, create animations that don’t just move – they connect, allowing your brand identity to thrive and your mission to resonate.

Turn your ideas into motion that matters by contacting our team today.

View all 12 Disney’s Principles of Animation

Transform Awards Europe 2025

What a thrilling night to be a brand and design agency!

We’re incredibly proud to have taken home five awards at the Transform Awards Europe 2025:
🏆 Silver | Bring Energy and Designhouse – Best Implementation of a Brand Development Project
🏆 Silver | Bring Energy and Designhouse – Best Naming Strategy (New Name)
🏆 Bronze | Loan Market Association (LMA) and Designhouse – Horizons Quarterly Publication – Best Brand Experience
🏆 Bronze | SRE Ltd and Designhouse – Best Visual Identity from the Property, Construction & Facilities Management Sector
🏆 Highly Commended | Bring Energy and Designhouse – Best Visual Identity from the Energy & Utilities Sector

Creativepool Editorial for TalentMapper

Not to be missed, in Creativepool‘s latest editorial, our Design Director Matt Gillman offers insight into the collaborative journey that led to this uniquely human and connected identity > https://lnkd.in/e_CHR5sa

Designhouse evolving TalentMapper to become a HR Brand Without Bias, defined by its commitment to fairness, inclusivity and innovation.

TalentMapper: A Brand Without Bias

We loved working with TalentMapper, crafting a brand identity that puts people at the heart of talent management. Discover the new brand today here.

Our goal was to support their vision for a fairer world at work. We wanted to help them speak directly to the HR professionals who would benefit from management software that connects you with the right person with the right skills, without bias, when they are needed most.

Vogue: Inventing the Runway

Last Thursday, we treated ourselves to a journey through the evolution of the fashion show at Vogue: Inventing the Runway, exhibiting at the Lightroom.

Narrated by Cate Blanchett, the short film was the centrepiece and celebrated top fashion brands throughout the years.

Its dynamic immersive visuals changed for each brand, capturing their energy and personality. The venue elevated the experience, allowing us to absorb each brand’s essence.

Learning about Patrick Kelly was a team favourite, his style and influence crossing cultures.

Funds Congress Conference

Yesterday we visited the QEII Centre to witness our new visual identity for Carne Group, PwC & Dechert LLP brought to life at the Funds Congress Conference.

This concept was designed to reflect connectivity and positivity, through the use of a gradient wave device and a simple typographic logo.

With over 1000 attendees and 30 expert speakers, it was great to see the conference was such a success.

Six Nations Celebration

It was a spectacular first Six Nations Rugby weekend, with the French putting on a masterclass in Paris, Ireland drawing first blood at the Aviva and Scotland just holding off a late surge from the Italians.

Beyond the on-field drama, we couldn’t keep our eyes of the bold and brilliant branding on show, with each set of supports wearing their nations colours with pride 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇫🇷 🇮🇪 🇮🇹 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

There can only be one winner. Who’s your pick for the big prize this year? We’ll be following closely with yet another team sweepstake 🏆

Design Week Internship Spotlight

A recent artifcle from Clare Dowdy at Design Week featured our CEO, Lavinia Culverhouse, on what design leaders are seeking when employing young talent, helping to deliver invaluable industry experience, impart knowledge to the next creative generation and benefit from fresh perspectives and diverse backgrounds.

Have a read

 

Meet Jonti Davies

Jonti Davies has been an invaluable member of our Designhouse team for almost a decade.

As Client Director, Jonti is integral in taking on board the needs and ambitions of our clients to help craft impactful brand and marketing solutions that deliver results to elevate their businesses.

Congrats on continuing to exemplify DH’s brilliance, Jonti.

Designhouse shortlisted for Transform Awards 2025

Designhouse has been shortlisted in 5 categories at the Transform Europe Brand Awards 2025.

Our nominations include:
🏠 Best Brand Experience for the Loan Market Association (LMA) Horizons Quarterly Sustainable Finance Publication
🖌️ Best Visual Identity for evolving SRE Ltd’s core identity
🖋️ Best Brand Development, Best Naming Strategy and Best Visual Identity for our work on Bring Energy

We are also incredibly proud to celebrate our Strategy Director, Marina Guirey, who has been nominated for Brand Strategist of the Year.

2024 Review

What a year 2024 was at Designhouse, from brand refreshes to crafting bold, new identities, we’ve been proud to see our clients develop and achieve their goals. Here are just some of our highlights…

A strong brand identity isn’t just a logo and colour palette – it’s the foundation that frames your mission and drives your growth.

As we look ahead to 2025, we’re excited to continue helping businesses like yours stand out above the rest, connecting within your industry and thriving in competitive markets.

Zines creative chat

In our latest CreativeChat, designer Victoria H, curated an exhibition exploring the history of zines.

Zines often promote diversity and serve as catalysts for change, amplifying the voices of underrepresented and marginalised groups to bring fresh ideas into focus.

Inspired by this history, each member of the team crafted their own double page spread which were combined to become a Designhouse zine.

How do you use design to tell your story?

Trip to Euston Food Bank

Today, we popped across to the Euston Foodbank to drop off some much-needed supplies for those who might go without this holiday season.

Our Designhouse team have been loading food items into our collection box this week as a small favour to help local people in crisis, hoping to provide some form of comfort this Christmas.

We also collected clothing items that seemed better passed to those battling the harsh conditions of winter.

A huge thank you to all the volunteers we interacted with today. You are nothing short of exceptional in your tireless work to better the circumstances of those who are struggling.

Learn how you can donate to the Euston Foodbank here > https://lnkd.in/ejsycfMj

Discover Foodbanks near you > https://lnkd.in/eWz75tDt

Meet Our Director Matt

Matt Gillman has been at the heart of Designhouse for 10 years, helping steer our agency’s design and branding approach to achieve success for our clients.

He recently led the Cruxy rebrand, driving the creative solution for the tech specialists’ unique positioning. Check out our case study here.

Cheers to a decade of Designhouse brilliance, Matty!

X marks the spot for Cruxy’s rebrand

Cruxy has been a behind-the-scenes force, helping B2B tech companies unlock their growth potential and achieve lasting success.

With a bold new visual identity developed by our team at Designhouse, Cruxy is stepping into the spotlight. Their refreshed branding – striking acidic green and electric blue – captures the clarity and precision they bring to every engagement, cutting through complexity to deliver measurable impact.

Discover more in our Cruxy case study here > https://designhouse.co.uk/project/cruxy-brand-refresh

Check out Cruxy‘s new website here > https://cruxy.co.uk

Creative chat: Manhole Covers of the World

“Art (Design) is not what you see, but what others make you see.”
Edgar Degas

Huge thanks to Björn Altmann, graphic designer, illustrator and typographer, who visited our Designhouse studio this morning to give a hashtagCreativeChat on his latest work!

Björn spoke about his design publication, in collaboration with Niggli AG, Manhole Covers of the World. It details manhole cover designs from over 80 countries, showcasing 170 white-on-black illustrations.

The team were truly inspired by this labour of love and the due diligence to drive a creative journey from concept to delivery over a 20-year period.

Discover how Designhouse have brought award-winning creativity to brands, from creating an identity to implementing designs within our case study work here.

Visit Björn‘s website to learn more here.

Designhouse embracing AI

At Designhouse, we believe artificial intelligence to be a powerful creative tool.

AI-generated images offer a flexible and unique alternative that sits between stock imagery and traditional photoshoots. Visuals can be carefully crafted to fit your brand’s needs more closely than stock options, while still providing many of the creative advantages of a photoshoot.

Check out our case study to learn more.

Design Agency of the Year 2024 Winners

Designhouse are delighted to announce that we were awarded Design Agency of the Year last night at the Financial Promoter Awards in London.

We were also awarded Highly Commended for Content Campaign of the Year for our quarterly online publication, Horizons, for the Loan Market Association (LMA), offering thought-provoking commentary on sustainable finance > https://horizons.lma.eu.com/march2024/

We could not have won these awards without the dedicated support of our clients who make it all possible and of course, without the hugely talented team we have here at Designhouse. Together we build brilliant brands and drive success for our clients across multiple sectors.

Cruxy Brand Refresh

With a refreshed visual identity, Cruxy can now demonstrate how they operate, cutting through the noise to deliver real impact for B2B tech enterprises, with acidic green and electric blue colours to provide a striking and incisive visual experience.

Keep an eye out for our next update to discover how we approached the brand refresh to reflect Cruxy‘s positioning as growth intelligence specialists. Whilst you wait, discover their re-energised website > https://cruxy.co.uk/

TypeTogether creative chat

At Designhouse, we recognise the key role typography plays in graphic design and by collaborating with leading type designers and foundries, we ensure we keep abreast of latest developments and inspire our team to think creatively about type.

Last Friday, Stuart Brown from TypeTogether generously shared his time and expertise to showcase their incredible work. It was a brilliant opportunity to deepen our understanding of typography and appreciate the beautiful typefaces they’ve crafted.

Loan Market Association (LMA) annual conference in London

We are pleased to share our latest conference branding work for the Loan Market Association (LMA), which recently featured in their annual conference in London, the biggest of its kind in Europe.

This year, over 800 in-person & 500 virtual delegates had the opportunity to engage and network with industry-leading speakers and draw insights on the current & future projections of the Loan Market.

The goal was to create a concept that positioned The LMA as ‘Representing All The Loan Markets’.

The creative execution brought the vastness of the cosmos to life with a visually striking and all-encompassing design featuring a vibrant colour palette and dynamic graphic device.

The tagline “Further Together”, reinforced the industry’s collaborative, ever-expansive nature and positioned the LMA as a leading advocate for the collective growth of its partners.

It was amazing seeing the identity across various digital, animated and printed mediums within the QEII Centre and online through their streaming platform.

 

Building a sustainable future for the SRE brand

Designhouse conceived and created a revitalised brand identity to help portray SRE Ltd’s vision within the build environment consulting sector, reimagining their visual devices and communication to help “Build a Sustainable Future.” See here > https://www.sre.co.uk/

The new brand rollout included a modernised website, engaging social media content, eye-catching event banners, branded merchandise and professional PowerPoint templates.

See our case study here > https://designhouse.co.uk/project/sre

Financial Promoter Awards Shortlist

We are delighted to share that we have been shortlisted for not one but two Financial Promoter Awards for Design Agency of the Year and Content Campaign of the Year 👏 > https://financialpromoter.co.uk/fp-awards-shortlists/

Nominations included our work for the Loan Market Association (LMA) including their Horizons ESG publication > https://horizons.lma.eu.com/march2024/

AMPYR Solar Europe

Designhouse is excited to unveil AMPYR Solar Europe‘s new look identity and website, a dynamic and radiant depiction of their alternative energy solutions > https://lnkd.in/erRTKNhT

Our brief was to reflect AMPYR Solar Europe’s conscious effort to support landowners and farming communities by offering sustainable power solutions for their land. We hope you agree that the bright and warm palette, coupled with the radiant animated visual device, conveys growth and vitality…

Westminster City Council spotlight

It’s great to see Westminster City Council getting recognition for their efforts in Central London to protect the vulnerable here.

Designhouse devised the name and identity ‘Night Stars’ to represent the idea of stars guiding the vulnerable back home at night. The dynamic neon pink identity ensured visibility and individuality…

Recognising Paris 2024 Olympic Games

As the Paris 2024 Olympic Games come to a close, we wanted to share some Designhouse Olympic history.

In 2005, the then President of the IOC, Jacques Rogge, announced that London would host the Games for a third time.

To commemorate the greatest sporting spectacle on earth returning to the capital, we were delighted to collaborate with Nick Knight on a range of Royal Mail stamps.

These designs demonstrate how creativity and athleticism can come together to showcase something beautiful and inspirational, not to mention the power that branding has to represent elite sportsmen and women and frame record-breaking triumphs…

DH summer party at Denbies Wine Estate

The Designhouse gang enjoyed a brilliant summer party on Friday at Denbies Wine Estate Limited in Dorking 🍷🍾🥂🌞

The rain held off as we experienced a fantastic tour of the vineyard grounds and factory, tasting the delicious selection of wines on offer and learning about the history of the grounds, local wine regions and the fermentation process.

We played bowls on the lawn, quizzed, drew our Euros Sweepstake and had lots of laughs.

Football Shirt Friday! ⚽

In honour of Real Madrid C.F. winning the UEFA Champions League Final, the guys and girls at Designhouse decided to highlight the power of creativity and branding in elite-level sport with our very own Football Shirt Friday ⚽

Branding has the power to transcend culture, with our favourite teams’ logo and colour identity recognisable all over the globe!

Bring Energy Creativepool Editorial

We were delighted to have been featured in Creativepool’s recent editorial, on our work on the Bring Energy brand! Check it out here.

Our Design Director, Richard Debenham, spoke to creating a new brand name and visual identity for Bring Energy, developing the strategy, naming & positioning of the creative concepts and championing them through delivery, reflecting Bring Energy’s commitment to pioneering low-carbon heating and cooling solutions for cities across the UK.

Bring Energy Launch

We are all delighted to celebrate the launch of Bring Energy, a visionary brand dedicated to transforming the energy sector in the UK > https://bringenergy.com/

Through our brand strategy, naming & positioning to the creative concepts and delivery, every detail has been meticulously designed to reflect Bring Energy’s commitment to pioneering low-carbon heating and cooling solutions for cities across the UK.

Bold, colourful iconography forms the backbone of the design language, providing the brand with real differentiation within the sector. The multi-coloured palette reflects the diverse communities both residential and commercial that Bring Energy serves.

Luxury Green Brands

Congrats to ROLEX and their agency for their new campaign celebrating colour and the intrinsic part it has played in defining their brand.

Their iconic green seal, established in 2015, characterises watchmaking excellence and the precision, durability and reliability of their craftsmanship.

Never underestimate the power of colour as a core component of your brand, delivering cut-through in a sea of messages and images.

 

LMA Horizons Publication

We are excited to showcase our latest work on the first issue of the LMA Horizons ESG for Spring 2024, to which you can now subscribe below:
https://lnkd.in/eE4FPaa7

Our team drew inspiration from the shifting tides of sustainable lending, wanting to incorporate elemental imagery and a flowing brand device which presents the natural beauty in vast landscapes and terrain, driving home the importance of large-scale change to help protect it.

In a sea of protocols and a rapidly evolving regulatory ecosystem, we are helping the Loan Market Association (LMA) communicate the bigger picture to their members by delivering a brand story worthy of its conservation mission.

 

Financial Promoter

We attended Rhotic Media‘s Finance Promoter Live as a proud event sponsor. A huge thank you to the Rhotic Media team for organising such an engaging day, bringing together forward-thinking financial marketers.

With our sector experience, we recognise the importance of storytelling in building a strong brand narrative that cuts through crowded marketing communications.

Vertree website has gone live!

Check out Vertree’s new website – https://vertree.earth!

Part of Hartree Partners, Vertree provide companies with high-impact solutions to achieve net zero emissions.

A fantastic collaboration with Lucy Haines MSc PIEMA, Perla Hilario Almonte and team on an optimised user experience, design and build that engages visitors with a simple way to discover more information about their services.

BGB and CBS Global reports are now live!

We’re excited to share the British Gas Business and Centrica Business Solutions global reports which have now gone live!

These reports address important issues businesses should be acting on to meet their net zero and sustainability goals. With increasing pressure from all stakeholders, now is a more important time than ever to invest in your sustainability.

Read the reports below to learn more:

BGB 👉 https://lnkd.in/eErWCSAf

CBS 👉 https://lnkd.in/eRHkH985

LMA Syndicated Loans Conference 2023

Check out our work for the Loan Market Association (LMA) Syndicated Loans Conference that took place at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre in London yesterday!

Every year, the team at LMA host their annual conference with over 800 delegates, the event offers a platform for discussing industry challenges and collaboratively pinpointing solutions as well as determining the best path forward.

We created a suite of deliverables including the conference theme, event stands, banners, merchandise, lunch and cocktail menus and signage.

If you would like to know more about how we can help elevate your event, do reach out to us at dh@designhouse.co.uk

 

Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto

This week we’re excited to share the ‘Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto’ exhibition.

This exhibition pays tribute to Gabrielle Chanel’s profound influence on fashion. Highlighting an array of significant Chanel pieces, including an early surviving garment from 1916, ensembles tailored for Hollywood luminaries Lauren Bacall and Marlene Dietrich, an early groundbreaking evening trouser ensemble by Chanel, and selections from Chanel’s final collection in 1971.

Delving into the designer’s trajectory from the launch of her inaugural millinery boutique in 1910 to her ultimate collection in 1971, the exhibition will dissect how Chanel’s own individual style informed her creations, consequently revolutionizing women’s attire forever. While the era was characterized by corsets and voluminous skirts, epitomized by Christian Dior’s ‘New Look’, Chanel drew inspiration from menswear, particularly the attire worn by the British upper class during their sporting weekends in the countryside. She seamlessly integrated many of these menswear elements into her designs, employing tweed and wool, and popularizing trousers and knitwear for women.

Head over to the Victoria and Albert Museum this weekend to check out the first UK retrospective of Chanel’s work!

 

Colors Festival: A Symphony of Hues exhibition

This week, we’re thrilled to share the “Colors Festival: A Symphony of Hues” exhibition!

Immerse yourself in a vibrant world curated with the brilliance of colors, all brought to life by a diverse array of artists and creators.

From breathtaking installations to interactive workshops, this exhibition promises an unforgettable journey through the spectrum of human expression.

Whether you’re an art enthusiast, a culture seeker, or simply looking for a day filled with creativity and inspiration, the Colors Festival caters to all! 🌟

Head over to Camden this weekend to experience it for yourself!

 

Oncosil Annual Report 2023

We are thrilled to unveil the newly released OncoSil Medical 2023 annual report! 🎉

A great collaboration with Caner Turay – we are delighted with the result.

Dive into the full report here – https://lnkd.in/dE2nWb_v

If you would like to know more about how we can help elevate your annual report, do reach out to us at dh@designhouse.co.uk.

 

A world in common

This week we’re excited to share a Tate Modern exhibition on contemporary African photography!

‘A world in common’ is in London to celebrate Africa’s diverse culture and history, portrayed in photography, audio and film! The exibition explores how images travel through time, creating a beautiful mixture of historic elements weaved in contemporary art.

The exhibition is open to visitors from 6 July 2023 until 14 January 2024, at the Tate Modern Gallery in Banskide London.

 

We’ve decorated our office in honour of the upcoming coronation!

As the country gears up for the coronation of King Charles III, our office is also taking the time to celebrate. King Charles III will become the 40th Sovereign to be crowned at Westminster Abbey. To mark the occasion, we’ve decorated the office with colourful bunting and commemorative mugs.

As the festivities continue this weekend, we’re excited to be part of this historic moment!

#longlivetheking

 

 

Action, Gesture, Paint: Women Artists and Global Abstraction 1940-70 exhibition

In honour of Women’s History Month coming to an end, we wanted to share the ‘Action, Gesture, Paint: Women Artists and Global Abstraction 1940-70’ exhibition.

This exhibition showcases 81 unsung international female artists. Showcasing art created between 1940 and 1970 from all over the world, recognising these women’s overlooked contribution to the Abstract Expressionist movement.

Head over to the Whitechapel gallery this weekend to check out the works that inspired the likes of Pollock and Rothko.

Picture credits: Miriam Schapiro’s Idyll II (1956)

EG at MIPIM

Spotted!! The EG stand at the Leading Property Market event, MIPIMWorld in Cannes.

We collaborated with the EG team to visualise the event message of ‘Connecting UK real estate to drive growth and prosperity.’ To visually represent the UK real estate market, our design showcases a skyline of UK landmarks and uses negative space to incorporate the names of various UK cities. The colours chosen draw on EG’s signature purple, which ties in the MIPIM collateral with the overarching brand.

We wish the EG team success at the event!

If you would like to know more about how we help our clients such as LexisNexis Risk Solutions elevate their event assets, do contact us at dh@designhouse.co.uk.