How to create irresistible brand identities for the future of interior design and architecture
The importance of branding in the fashion industry cannot be overstated. In an increasingly attention-oriented economy, metrics such as awareness, recall, interest and differentiation have become the qualities by which we measure the strength of brands, however in an industry such as interiors and architecture—which has traditionally trailed behind other more fast moving consumer sectors—how do you build a brand that drives meaningful engagement, finds the right clientele and creates meaning for a broader demographic of your audience? Explore the processes, challenges and strategies involved in creating future-proofed interior architecture brands fit for today’s accelerated, brand-first landscape.
While we specialise in branding, content, and web design services for the fashion industry, we have also earned a strong reputation for creating exceptional portfolio websites in the interior design sector. We have developed both portfolio and e-commerce websites for some of the most influential interior designers.
MBDS - Brand identity & portfolio website
THE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS THAT MAKE A rebrand or WEBSITE SUCCESSFUL FOR INTERIOR DESIGNERS and architects
Interior design essentially revolves around visuals, living spaces, and evoking emotions, making a strong online presence pretty much essential.
We explore the importance of specialised web design for interior designers, and how a well-crafted website can showcase your unique style, attract new clients, and stand out in a competitive market.
Effective web design combines aesthetics with functionality, helping you to create a site that is not only beautiful but also user-friendly. From showcasing your portfolio to integrating e-commerce features, we’ll cover the essential elements that make a website successful for interior designers.
Whether you're starting fresh or looking to improve your current site, understanding these key principles is vital for building an online space that truly represents your brand.
PORTFOLIO WEB DESIGN
When developing a portfolio design for interior designers, a creative agency can greatly enhance the presentation of design projects through thoughtful visual storytelling. This involves creating narratives around each project that illustrate the journey from concept to completion, highlighting creative challenges and solutions along the way.
To capture the true essence of interior design, it's essential to use high-quality imagery. Professional photos should showcase the intricate details, textures, colours, and the overall spatial arrangement, from wide shots to close-ups. Adding interactive features like video walkthroughs can make the portfolio more engaging, allowing potential clients to immerse themselves in the designs.
The user interface of the portfolio website should also mirror the style and ethos of the interior design brand, offering a smooth and intuitive navigation experience. This design should be easy to update and scale as new projects are added, ensuring that the portfolio remains current and reflective of the designer’s growing body of work.
By focusing on these aspects, a creative agency can help interior designers build a compelling and visually appealing online portfolio that effectively showcases their skills and attracts potential clients.
E-COMMERCE FOR INTERIOR DESIGN
Building on our expertise in portfolio web design, Not Studio extends our services to include e-commerce solutions, specifically tailored for interior designers through Shopify. This approach allows designers to expand beyond traditional services by offering curated products directly to clients, enhancing both the customer experience and revenue opportunities.
With a Shopify platform, interior designers can easily sell bespoke furniture, unique or limited edition art, exclusive home accessories, and more, all presented in an interface that mirrors their own brand style.
Not Studio equips interior designers with the tools to grow their brand and sales through contemporary e-commerce websites.
BRAND IDENTITY AND REBRANDING FOR INTERIOR DESIGNERS AND ARCHITECTs
A strong brand identity is crucial for interior designers and architects. It’s more than just how things look; it’s about what you stand for and how you present your vision. Rebranding or building a solid identity can transform your business, helping to connect with clients and stand out in a competitive sector.
Start by defining your story. What do your designs say? What feelings do you want to evoke? Clearly articulating your message sets the foundation for your brand. This story should shine through everywhere—from your website to social media and marketing materials.
Visual elements like your logo, colours, fonts, and imagery style are key. They should reflect your aesthetic and the type of services you provide. For example, if you focus on minimalist, modern designs, you might choose a clean, monochromatic colour scheme with sleek fonts.
A solid and professional online presence is essential today. Your website should be the heart of your digital identity, reflecting your brand’s values and style. Use social media to showcase your work, share behind-the-scenes content, and engage with your audience. Consistency across platforms builds trust and recognition. A modern brand identity should be a toolkit that works across all of your company’s touch-points.
Your brand identity should be adaptable. As your business grows and trends change, your brand should evolve too. Regularly reviewing and refreshing your brand elements to keep them relevant and engaging.
At Not Studio, we help interior designers and architects create and refine their brand identities. We understand visual storytelling and the design industry deeply. Our goal is to make your brand look exceptional and communicate your unique vision effectively. Whether rebranding or building a new brand, our bespoke solutions are designed to elevate your business and captivate your audience.
Case Study
A NEW CHAPTER FOR MARTIN BRUDNIZKI DESIGN STUDIO
The project involved a comprehensive rebranding for Martin Brudnizki Design Studio (MBDS), which included refreshing their brand identity and redesigning their website to better represent their luxury interior design services. Not Studio crafted a new brand identity that was both contemporary and timeless, aligning all branded materials like stationery and business documents with these new guidelines.
We also created a campaign film that highlighted MBDS’s core design principles, enhancing the studio’s presentation to the luxury lifestyle interiors market.
For a full overview of the rebranding and web design project you can see the MBDS case study here.
MBDS - Portfolio Website
CASE STUDY
CRAFTING A NEW DIGITAL IDENTITY FOR INTERIOR BRAND ‘AND OBJECTS’
The design project for "And Objects" involved a full rebranding and the creation of a new e-commerce platform. Not Studio updated the brand identity with a modern, sophisticated logo and chose complementary typefaces to enhance visual communication.
We designed an immersive website that combined editorial styling with functionality, emphasising the craftsmanship of And Objects’ products. Additionally, we produced short films to dynamically showcase the products, enriching the user experience and strengthening the brand's global appeal.
For a full overview of the branding and interior web design project you can see the case study here.
AND OBJECTS - BRAND IDENTITY & E-COMMERCE WEBSITE
CASE STUDY
ALBION NORD WERE KEEN TO PLACE GREATER EMPHASIS ON THEIR ECOMMERCE
Albion Nord has established itself as one of London’s premier spatial design practices, excelling in residential, development, and hospitality interior architecture. With an ever-expanding in-house collection of furniture and interior objects, their influence continues to grow.
Spaces designed by Albion Nord are meant to be admired, enjoyed, and lived in. Whether it's a large townhouse or a small table, they put exceptional care into every detail, believing that great craftsmanship never goes out of style.
For a full overview of the e-commerce web design project you can see the case study here.
ALBION NORD - E-COMMERCE WEBSITE
Case Study
Cúpla approached Not Studio to elevate their identity into a vibrant interiors lifestyle brand
With some existing brand elements and a simple portfolio site, Cúpla approached Not Studio to elevate their identity into a vibrant interiors lifestyle brand. As they prepared to launch their Murano glass lighting collection, Caramella, they needed an engaging campaign film and a refreshed site with e-commerce functionality.
We migrated their site to Shopify, utilising its powerful e-commerce features and flexible content sections to showcase their projects and evergreen content. The new site includes the CGI launch film for Caramella and a shoppable, content-rich landing page, aligning with the updated brand visuals and creative direction.
For a full overview of the brand identity, creative content and e-commerce web design project you can see the case study here.
Cúpla - branding, creative & e-commerce
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Interior designers generally need a website that showcases their work and get's across their unique style and services. A visually appealing portfolio website tends to be an important part of this story, showcasing past projects, that can help build credibility and trust. For companies with an international client base, it's important to give information about services and locations globally.
If the designer also sells furniture, soft furnishings, lighting, and other household items, a contemporary e-commerce store that aligns with the portfolio site is important. This involves integrating an online store within the website, allowing clients to browse and purchase items easily. Key features should include secure payment options, detailed product descriptions, and high-resolution images to create a premium experience.
At Not Studio, we design and build both beautiful portfolio websites and comprehensive e-commerce platforms.
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Developing a brand strategy for an architecture or interior design company begins with a deep understanding of the firm's unique qualities and the landscape in which it operates. This involves analyzing competitors and market trends, identifying the distinctive style and ethos of the company, and defining a value proposition that sets it apart. Through stakeholder interviews and market research, we gain insights into the target audience's preferences and expectations, which guide the development of a tailored brand narrative.
The second phase focuses on crafting a compelling visual identity and consistent brand voice that resonate with the company's aesthetic values and appeal to its clients. This includes designing a logo, selecting a colour scheme, and choosing typography that reflects the company’s style, whether it’s minimalist, technically proficient, or luxury. The brand voice is developed to communicate effectively across all platforms, ensuring that every element, from the website to marketing materials, embodies the brand’s core values and speaks directly to the desired audience.
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Ensuring consistency in brand identity across all platforms and materials involves establishing a comprehensive set of brand guidelines that detail the use of visual elements and tone of voice. These guidelines should include specific instructions on logo usage, colour palettes, typography, imagery, and the overall aesthetic that should be maintained across all mediums. Additionally, it's crucial to outline how the brand's voice should be adapted for different types of content, from formal proposals to social media posts, ensuring it consistently reflects the brand’s personality and values.
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Incorporating storytelling into the branding process involves extracting the unique elements of a brand’s history, mission, and vision to craft a compelling narrative that resonates with audiences. This starts by identifying the foundational stories that illustrate the brand’s origins, its challenges, triumphs, and the values that drive its actions. These stories are then shaped to highlight the brand’s unique aspects and purpose, creating an emotional connection with the audience.
The narrative is woven through all elements of the brand—from the messaging on the website and the tone of social media posts to the storytelling in marketing campaigns and even the design elements used in visual branding. Consistency in this narrative across all platforms ensures that the story remains cohesive, reinforcing the brand identity and deepening the audience's connection to the brand.
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For an architect or interior individual design company, Shopify stands out as an excellent e-commerce platform due to its robust functionality and scalability. It is well-suited for businesses looking to sell services, consultations, and even digital or physical products related to architecture and design. Shopify offers a vast array of customisable templates, which are ideal for showcasing high-quality images of architectural works and designs. The platform also provides comprehensive tools for inventory management, secure payment processing, and integration with various marketing channels, making it a top choice for businesses aiming to grow and manage their online presence efficiently.
For companies focusing primarily on portfolio displays and less on e-commerce, Squarespace is another ideal platform. It is renowned for its sleek design options and intuitive user interface, making it perfect for architects and designers who want to create visually stunning websites with minimal fuss. Squarespace also includes e-commerce capabilities, though they are more basic compared to Shopify. It’s particularly effective for businesses that prioritise aesthetics and simplicity, offering seamless templates that highlight visual content and enhance the overall brand experience.
