MJ Design Studio Branding, portfolios and design thinking from the UK.

MJ Design Studio

Branding, portfolios and design thinking from the UK.

Latest Articles

Brand Strategy

Interrogating the Brief: Ten Questions UK Business Owners Should Settle Before Appointing a Brand Studio

Choosing a studio is the easy part. The harder, more valuable work is settling the brief before anyone is appointed. Here are the ten questions we would want answered at kick-off — covering commercial goals, audience priority, decision rights, accessibility and how success will be judged twelve months on.
When Should a Brand Move? A Purposeful Guide to Animation for UK SMEs
Digital Design

When Should a Brand Move? A Purposeful Guide to Animation for UK SMEs

Animation has quietly become the default setting for brand expression, yet much of it adds decoration rather than understanding. This guide sets out how smaller UK teams can decide where motion earns its place, from logo behaviour and social templates to reduced-motion accessibility and a one-page motion note that keeps everything consistent.
Before You Rebrand: A Compact Brand Health Check for UK Business Owners
Brand Strategy

Before You Rebrand: A Compact Brand Health Check for UK Business Owners

A practical fifteen-minute review for UK SMEs that want to identify brand gaps before commissioning a redesign. The checklist covers logo legibility, first impressions, tone of voice, visual consistency and visible proof, with a simple scoring sheet.
Trust Before the First Call: Design Signals for UK Referral-Led Service Brands
Digital Design

Trust Before the First Call: Design Signals for UK Referral-Led Service Brands

For UK service brands built on word of mouth, design must earn trust before a conversation begins. This opinion-led review considers photography, colour, typography and visible proof, arguing that approachable human design often outperforms corporate polish.
The Shopfront Test: Building UK Place Brands from the Pavement Up
Brand Strategy

The Shopfront Test: Building UK Place Brands from the Pavement Up

Place branding in UK towns often begins with a strategy deck and ends with lamp-post banners, while the independent shops that give a high street its character are left out of the design conversation. This deep dive argues that successful place brands are built from real retail decisions—signage, windows, wayfinding and materials—and offers practical takeaways for market towns and city quarters.
The Living Toolkit: Why Growing UK Firms Need More Than a Signature Mark
Digital Design

The Living Toolkit: Why Growing UK Firms Need More Than a Signature Mark

A standalone logo is often treated as the finish line for a growing UK business, but it is closer to a signature without a language. This article sets out why a lean design system is the more practical commission for SMEs, using a realistic UK scenario to show where the savings appear and what to ask for when briefing a designer.
Portfolios That Work on Any Screen: Rethinking Case Studies for UK Studios in 2026
Digital Design

Portfolios That Work on Any Screen: Rethinking Case Studies for UK Studios in 2026

Static PDF portfolios are increasingly out of step with how UK clients research studios and how public-sector buyers assess accessibility. This trend analysis explains how interactive case-study pages are replacing the download, and what every 2026 portfolio should include.
Beyond the Mark: A 2026 Route to Brand Renewal for UK SMEs
Brand Strategy

Beyond the Mark: A 2026 Route to Brand Renewal for UK SMEs

A logo change can feel decisive, but it rarely addresses the trust and consistency issues that prompt a refresh. This 2026 guide sets out a practical audit sequence for UK SMEs and a checklist for deciding whether to tweak, refresh or rebrand.