The Problem
Coldharbour Mill Museum is a 200 year old woollen mill with original machinery still powered by both water and steam. In 2015 they were going through the process of improving the mill’s facilities, transforming the site into a professional museum and tourist attraction. I was asked to create a new brand that would allow Coldharbour Mill to position itself as a genuine tourist attraction and site of interest to potential visitors—whilst still being simple enough that the museum’s staff and volunteers could easily make use of it.
The Solution
Using the mill’s original burgundy paintwork as inspiration I created a colour palette consisting of traditional heritage colours, with bold modern counterparts – communicating the history and energy of the mill itself. The simple logo makes use of the mill’s iconic chimney; a prominent local landmark. Finally the use of Gill Sans as a typeface harks back to Britain’s industrial heyday. It is also preinstalled on Windows and Mac, meaning the mill’s staff and volunteers already have access to it.
With these elements working together, Coldharbour Mill now has a strong brand image that pays homage to the past, whilst looking toward a bright future.
