Home > Blog > GEM Design Studio > Logo Design Case Studies > Pretty Little Melts - Logo Design Case Study
Pretty Little Melts - Logo Design Case Study
Elle became my client as part of the pilot phase when I launched my new services in June/July 2019 and I recently designed the logo design and brand identity for her business, Pretty Little Melts.
Pretty Little Melts offer handmade luxury home fragrance that is affordable and made from 100% soy wax so they're vegan friendly too, yay! We could all take more time and TLC and Elle's mission is to bring you luxury home fragrance that encourages you to take that time to look after yourself and benefits your health and well being.
We had our first consultation and Elle sent her brand workbook over to me, filled out and doodled in so much detail and bursting with inspiration for Pretty Little Melts logo design concepts. During our first conversation, I asked Elle if she had chance to create any kind of inspiration mood board and she sent over a few images - it was at this point I knew I was going to really enjoy this project, I had saved most of the same or very similar images myself. Knowing you're on the same page as a client is a feeling that NEVER gets old.
Through our conversations and the brand workbook, we established some key issues with the previous brand identity for Pretty Little Melts:
Pretty Little Melts needed a logo design that addressed these key points and also brings together the core values and personality of the brand.
I gathered inspiration and began sketching ideas before bringing the developed concepts into Adobe Illustrator to finalise them. You can learn more about my logo design process here.
From the issues identified, I knew that I would create one singular logo design that would be strong across all of the variations of the luxury home fragrance products and the whole brand name, Pretty Little Melts, needed to be visible on all of these too. I had the sizes of the different stickers from Elle so I knew what I was working with and kept this in mind at all times.
I presented two logo design concepts to Elle, both with sticker mockups so the designs could be visualised in a real life setting. The final design is one that, with a few tweaks, we brought together by taking pieces from each concept - seen below.
The logo is sleek, modern and professional yet still communicates so many feelings about the Pretty Little Melts brand.
The colours convey Elle's openness and honesty, while still being close to blues that can be found in nature, just like the quality natural ingredients customers can expect to be found in their luxury home fragrance products. The boldness of Pretty Little Melts is confident and strong while the plm in the background is a nod to the previous logos and the signature handmade products. The tagline 'luxury home fragrance' is positioned so that it can work across any of the sticker variations and in the main logo, the curved aspect represents Pretty Little Melts 110% customer satisfaction (seriously, check out Elle's reviews) - it's almost a smile, in a minimal kind of way.
Here's what Elle had to say on the logo design process...
A. Yes! And much, much more, Gemma was incredible throughout the whole process and I love my new logo and design.
A. Only one answer for this question! It has to be 10/10.
A. I honestly can’t think of anything else that could have made it better, I’m so thankful for all the hard work Gemma has put into my brand.
A. Yes very simple bank transfer.
A. Extremely likely, Gemma will be my first point of contact if I need anything doing.
A. Yes we had a great chat over the phone for our consultation and I felt Gemma was really trying to get to know myself and my brand ethics.
A. When I saw the finalised designs, I felt so proud of my brand and what it has achieved and Gemma gave me the professional look I had always been after.
A. How friendly Gemma was, throughout the whole process nothing was too much to ask. She was always so helpful.
A. Just a massive thank you! You have really exceeded my expectations of a logo! You’ve really brought my brand together
Do you have a logo design project in mind? GEM Design Studio can help!
Home > Blog > GEM Design Studio > Logo Design Case Studies > Pilates with Claire - Logo Design Case Study
Pilates with Claire - Logo Design Case Study
Claire became my client as part of the pilot phase when I launched my new services in June/July 2019 and is a fully qualified and experienced Pilates Instructor specialising in Movement Rehabilitation, particularly focusing on Fascial Health. Claire believes how a person moves, is a good indicator of both physical and mental well being.
When I launched the pilot phase, I asked applicants why they thought this service was a good fit for their business. The moment I saw Claire's response, I typed up an email that said "LET'S WORK TOGETHER" or something a bit wordier but along those lines. It was instantly clear to me just how passionate Claire is about her work and as her personality, enthusiasm and expert knowledge (through 21years of experience) stand at the forefront of her classes and business, I wanted to create a logo design that embodied this.
Through the brand workbook and our first consultation together, we established that Claire has a loyal group of clients who love her classes, however Pilates with Claire wasn't readily visible to a wider audience of possible pilates newbies looking for weekly classes and corporates looking for an in-house solution. With the corporate market in mind, Pilates with Claire also needed a professional identity yet one that still resonated with Claire's values and the individuals looking for weekly classes with a personable teacher.
From our first conversation, ideas were jumping around my mind about how I could give Pilates with Claire a logo design and identity that shines with personality and hits home Claire's core values: professionalism, sincerity and care.
I gathered inspiration and began sketching ideas before bringing the developed concepts into Adobe Illustrator to finalise them. You can learn more about my logo design process here.
Below are the concepts I presented to Claire initially.
Claire responded that she loved the energy of the first geometric concept and how it looked on a vest, so we played around with some colour variations. The decision was made to keep the energy from the initial colour scheme and then the logo was finalised by adding "barre pilates • personal training • body conditioning" as a tagline and I delivered the final files to Claire.
I also created a Canva account for Pilates with Claire and filled it with the colour scheme, pattern and logo variations. Below is the final result:
I have to add that Pilates with Claire has been one of my favourite projects to work on to date. I loved our first consultation and Claire's brand workbook was inspiring to read, plus there’s the fact that I love the logo we have created together, it really suits Pilates with Claire and achieves the goals we set out to achieve.
Firstly, like some great banana I started to tear up when I saw the logo and all the different sizes and formats you have designed for me and now having used Canva for the first time properly to create a facebook ad I was stunned with the immediate (3mins) response it got from people! I really have been amazed with how it's propelled me into thinking more professionally and feeling that I actually have a brand and it stands for something.
The look is great, modern, business-like, sophisticated and vibrant. How you put together all the information and ramblings from the marketing workbook and came out with the (I want to put 'our') logo is truly remarkable. Possibly magic! I felt you never raised an eyebrow at my ineptitude with technology and gently pushed me along, which is what I have always struggled with...I don't know how or what to do to start...honestly I can say now I think I'm going to be ok at this!
A. GEM Design Studio has totally exceeded my expectations! I didn't realise you would help me so much and give me so much extra information about branding and marketing that was great.
A. If I had to rate my experience with Gem Design Studio I would definitely say I couldn't have asked for anything better and for anybody better.
A. I am really thinking hard about how to make the experience better and I think the only thing I could think of is if I could have a look at your studio and how you work, this is purely because I am nosey. Maybe a virtual tour!
A. It was an incredibly easy process to purchase your services as you supplied all the software for signing in etc and banking so it was quick and easy! Also I felt I could approach you with any idea or suggestion and when I asked for different colour ways it was done instantly even though I went with the first one!
A. This experience has been a joy and I'm so happy with the end result that I would only use GEM Design Studio. If I needed any other work doing I would always use your service. I have no hesitation in recommending your service to anyone and everyone and given the responses so far I hope I can do this.
A. I felt so comfortable working with Gemma, I felt in safe hands even if I didn't quite know myself what I wanted!
A. The most memorable thing I gained from the whole experience apart from speaking to Gemma was the sitting down and really thinking hard about what I do which bared no resemblance to what I really do! It really focused my mind and has given me direction.
A. Where do I start here, the things I liked most about GEM Design Studio is possibly that you are taken on a journey from the source to the sea. The ease of the process and the step by step gradual build towards the end result.
A. Finally I think this is exactly what I have needed to do for ages and never got round to doing, mainly because I didn't know who, what or where to start. I feel the frustration of not being able to move forward with my business has left me and has been replaced with renewed enthusiasm for what I do.
Do you have a logo design project in mind? GEM Design Studio can help!
Home > Blog > The Ladies Who Trade > News and Updates > COMING SOON - All-female Coworking Space in Manchester
The Ladies Who Trade is a group for service swapping, networking and empowering women who work for themselves and we will soon have our very own all-female coworking space in Ancoats, excited much?!
TLWT champion all things community and our group is a safe place for women working for themselves to make friends and support each other. Our first ever coworking space will be a home for our community spirit and will be a fantastic opportunity for self-employed and freelance ladies to get out of the lonely world that can be working from home and make real connections with like minded people, all without breaking the bank.
Let's go back to 2018, I moved to Manchester and worked from home running GEM Design Studio. I loved my business and my clients from day one and I couldn't be happier to be working for myself but looking back now I was pretty miserable with my physical office setup.
My office was originally in our spare room but this became a pain when having guests stay over and so I moved into the living room. My computer was always there staring at me, willing (guilt tripping) me to do more work and as a result I was working a ridiculous amount of hours a week. I had no social interaction with anyone other than my Amazon delivery driver and my partner Jack and I would literally go days on end without actually going outside.
When I decided that something needed to change, I spent MONTHS looking and looking and looking again for some kind of fixed desk coworking solution in Manchester but the most financially viable option I could find was £250pm. I didn't need an all singing all dancing office with a pool table and showers, I just needed a desk, WiFi and some like minded people. Enter Pollard Yard - the saviour.
I moved into a converted shipping container in June 2019 at Pollard Yard and I haven't looked back since. Surprisingly, once you're inside the containers it feels like you're in any other office and the community here is incredible. I now work 10am - 6pm on weekdays only and when I leave work I switch off completely, yet despite the dramatic drop in my hours, there has been a huge increase in my productivity. I get more done, have signed more new clients than ever, get much more sleep and just generally feel so much happier and I believe there are other women who could and deserve to benefit from this space too.
For the pilot phase, there will be 3 desks available in one container (4 in total as I will be in there too, hi ), with possible expansion in the future. Everything in the office will be included in the membership fee (your desk, chair, storage, WiFi, electric, facilities) and after my research I believe this will be Manchester's first all-female coworking space and Manchester's lowest cost fixed desk coworking solution.
Situated next door to Wellington Mill and Ashton Canal, on Pollard Street East (Manchester), Pollard Yard is a busy hub of creatives and independent businesses, within 10-15 mins walking distance of Manchester City Centre. Converted shipping containers provide the perfect space for studios and offices, The Ladies Who Trade coworking space will be inside one of these containers and fully kitted out for all of your office needs.
Outside the space, Pollard Yard June 2019 - a work in progress
Around 30 containers are located at Pollard Yard currently and the rest of the land has been made available to local event, festival and market organisers in need of outdoor space in central Manchester. We've already had some top secret music video filming going on in the car park, but I didn't tell you that
Later in 2019, another 200 container workspaces will be added, alongside more investment in the site, shared facilities and breakout space. Phase 2 is currently underway as another 65 containers are added.
The plan for Pollard Yard
There isn't a confirmed opening date for The Ladies Who Trade all-female coworking space in Manchester just yet as I'm registering interest at the moment, however I'm aiming for October 2019.
Membership details are still to be 100% confirmed as I'm aiming to gain insight from members about what they would like to ultimately gain from the space however below is a rough overview of how the space is likely to run:
If The Ladies Who Trade all-female coworking space in Manchester sounds like a perfect fit for you, register your interest below and I'll get in touch with updates and availability. Please also feel free to share this with other ladies who might not be in the group yet.
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