A new look for an Architect's journal
Bates Smart is a multidisciplinary design firm delivering architecture, interior design, urban design and strategic services across Australia, with a staff of over 300 across Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane studios. Founded in 1853 by Joseph Reed, it is one of Australia’s oldest architectural firms.
A brand refresh was the stimulus for redesigning Journal, Bates Smart’s key promotional publication. The consistency and rigour applied to Journal for over a decade had created substantial brand equity – we recognised that changes to the design and format could reinforce or diminish this accumulated value. With this in mind, we maintained some distinctive elements (including the striking, abstract cover imagery) and introduced refinements including Swiss binding and sewn sections. The layouts are clean and typographically restrained, with an emphasis on Bates Smart’s bold project documentation.
Having designed the launch issue, we then developed a set of publication guidelines and template files for ongoing implementation by the in-house design team.