The client wanted us to grow the Mount Haven brand rather than reinvent it. They had an ethos, an audience and an offering – our goal was to quickly understand the essence of the brand and build an identity around it. We visited the site, spoke to staff and met the interior designers. At the brand’s heart is the idea of the hotel as a haven: simple and soothing yet sleek and stylish. This relaxed, minimalist aesthetic drove our design.

Every touchpoint needed to instil the guest with a sense of the Mount Haven brand. We designed the full range of printed materials, from menus and do-not-disturb signs to key fobs and foil-blocked business cards, all with the hotel’s offer, audience and experience in mind.

Next we applied the brand to the hotel itself. We specced and designed a series of signs that tied the branding, décor, architecture and guest experience together. Made from sustainably sourced oak, powder-coated backlit aluminium lettering and laser-etched ply, the signage and wayfinding materials create a sense of brand space in keeping with the hotel’s character and location.

We translated this experience online by designing and building a new website. The client wanted the site to be simple and easy to use, letting the imagery champion the hotel’s quality and location. It also needed to mirror the website for beachside inn Godolphin Arms, another branch of the St Aubyn Estates family. With a similar page layout and use of illustration, yet different colours and fonts and nuances of styling, the two websites reflect one another while retaining their distinct identities.

We also commissioned illustrations for use both on- and offline, liaising with the illustrator, relaying client feedback and managing budget and schedule. The finished illustrations work alongside photography and text to add depth and texture to the wider brand.