Brief
A short questionnaire: what the business is, who it serves, and what the identity must do. Scope agreed in writing.
Identities with the bearing of an old house. We design logos and visual identities for companies in Nairobi, across Africa and abroad, and present each one with the care of a heritage firm.
I · The House
The studio
Marlin & Slate draws marks for companies that intend to last. We work the way the old houses did: one designer, a written brief, a measured idea, and a reveal that is argued, not decorated.
- Presenting
- By video call, anywhere
- Studio
- Online, worldwide
- Time zone
- East Africa Time, UTC+3
- Quotes
- KES or USD
II · The Commission
What a commission includes
ILogo & identityA primary mark and the family around it, drawn for how your business actually appears.
- Primary logo, secondary marks and monogram
- Variations named by their use
- Full-colour, reversed and one-colour versions
IIThe presentationA structured reveal, so decision makers see the reasoning before they judge the result.
- Brief, research and the central idea
- The reveal and its rationale
- Your mark applied to real touchpoints
IIIBrand guidelinesA handover document that protects the identity once it leaves the studio.
- Clear space and minimum sizes
- Colour values for print and screen
- Typography and the rules of use
IVApplicationsSee the identity on signage, stationery, packaging and screens before anything is printed.
- Stationery and business cards
- Signage, packaging and retail
- Website, social and app icons
III · The Method
Six stages, in this order
Research
Your sector, your competitors and the references you love. We decide what to keep and what to leave behind.
Concept
One central idea, developed from sketch to drawn mark. Your own early sketches are welcome.
Presentation
The reveal: brief, idea, logo, rationale and applications, presented to you and your team.
Refinement
Your feedback worked into the chosen direction over an agreed number of rounds.
Handover
Final files in every format you need, with the brand guidelines document.
IV · The Archive
Selected work
V · Near or Far
One working day, three cities
StudioEast Africa Time
LondonOffice hours
New YorkOffice hours
All times shown in East Africa Time. Shaded areas mark shared working hours.
Studio hours run 09:00 to 18:00 East Africa Time, which overlaps the London working afternoon and the New York morning.
Nairobi and across Africa
- Meetings
- Video presentations, scheduled in your working day
- Invoicing
- KES or USD
- Payment
- Bank transfer or M-Pesa
Europe and North America
- Meetings
- Video presentations inside the shared hours above
- Invoicing
- USD
- Payment
- Bank wire or Wise
VI · Enquiries
Begin a commission
Hours
Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 18:00 East Africa Time