Deep Dive: If We Designed a Fish Market Brand

Ahoy mates! Every so often we love to get creative and design just for the fun of it. We’re not totally sure why we landed on creating a shipwreck brand for a fresh seafood spot, but here we ARRRRRGH! (it’s okay, we’ll see ourselves out).

Earlier this year on LinkedIn, I was feeling like the world was going crazy, and that the only thing that made sense was color. So I started a weekly color post where I create a new color palette (usually 4-5 colors) and invite others to discuss how it might be used and how it makes people feel. When I’m looking to creatively explore beyond our client projects, I pull a color palette from this series and go to town. That’s right! This project started with a color palette.

The Creative Process

The biggest rule for this challenge is to not let it take up too much time. I stay under 5-6 hours tops from start to finish. It’s so easy to get lost in a side project and go deep. That’s why I set a time boundary. We do have other projects we’re working on, after all.

My creative process for this included going with the first idea that popped into my mind and running with it. This is a lesson that I learned through my experience with improv comedy theater. It means saying yes to the first idea, of getting out of our heads and into the present moment, and of enjoying the moment of play that comes with this work. I love doing this because sometimes navigating client projects can come with their own barriers and boundaries (and rightfully so!). But personal projects come with their own air of freedom.

For some reason, I had my mind set on a fish market stall. It might be because we frequently work with Baltimore Public Markets (see our write-up for the Hollins Market reopening). I’m always going to love a small business claiming their stake in the world. My own background lends to this sense of pride I have for people who are carving their own way.

Working With Challenges

The challenge in this case was that the color palette I chose to work with didn’t exactly scream “fish market!” Do you really want a bold red color to be part of a fish market brand? I love a good challenge though so I went with it. You’ll see from the images below, that we were very intentional about dominant and accent colors for this brand. ShipWreck just seemed like a great name for a fish market. I would totally order some fresh fish from a place called ShipWreck. There’s so much opportunity to incorporate clever phrases and taglines into the brand. Don’t believe me? Walk the plank!

I’ve always had ideas along the lines of “oh I wish I could use this design element in a brand.” This is the way my mind works. I’ll never tell you how many browser tabs I have open, or how many folders I have filled with inspiration from all the cool designs that are out there. Seriously, humans are talented! Likewise, I’ve always wanted to work line drawing illustrations into a brand. This is the time to do it. Working with a set of stock illustrations I was able to create a nice pattern of marine life to bring the ShipWreck Fish Market brand to life. See below for how everything turned out. I love the challenge of adapting this unique color palette to a fish market brand.

Incorporating Play Into Our Work

Incorporating play into your work life as a creative professional is vital because it enhances creativity, reduces stress, and fosters a more collaborative and innovative mindset. Here’s why play matters:

Sparks Creativity

Playful activities help break rigid thought patterns and allow your mind to explore ideas without judgment or pressure. This is essential for problem-solving and generating fresh, out-of-the-box solutions.

Reduces Stress

Engaging in playful activities can release tension, refresh your perspective, and improve mental clarity. This helps avoid burnout and keeps you motivated.

Encourages Risk-Taking

Play creates a safe environment to experiment and take risks without fear of failure, which is often where the best creative breakthroughs occur.

Boosts Collaboration

Group play fosters team bonding and breaks down hierarchical barriers. It can lead to better communication and a stronger sense of trust within teams.

Improves Problem-Solving

Play activates divergent thinking, which is crucial for generating multiple solutions to a single challenge, a core aspect of creative work.

Enhances Resilience

It nurtures a positive mindset and builds your ability to adapt and bounce back from setbacks, which is crucial in the fast-paced world of creative services.

Incorporating play doesn’t have to mean elaborate activities; it can be as simple as brainstorming games, quick sketching challenges, or even storytelling exercises. For someone like you at Points North, where storytelling and design are core to your work, infusing play can inspire more impactful and meaningful creations.

In Conclusion

Hey, if you liked this deep dive, you might also like some of our other design challenge write-ups. Here are some of our other fun design challenge adventures:

• Deep Dive: If We Branded an Improv Comedy Team
• Deep Dive: If We Designed a Landing Page for Baltimore
• Deep Dive: If We Designed a Boutique Sparking Water Brand
• Deep Dive: If We Designed a Mobile App for Weather

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