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In conjunction with the brand and packaging development for training formula Potent-T, Studio Constantine took on the creation of the brand’s online presence. This included desktop and mobile brochure sites, e-commerce portal and EDM launch campaign.

Our goal throughout was to keep all the digital platforms focussed and concise. The website contains background information and usage direction for personal trainers, customers and potential customers, meaning structure and navigation needed to be clear and straightforward, and content front and centre. The visual language simply supports and expands on that introduced through the packaging, keeping focus on the product.

The EDM templates also hero the pack and were simply styled, conveying the honest, professional and premium tone of the brand. Flexibility and functionality also heavily influenced the paired back, modular construction.

The e-commerce functionality is conducted through a customised Shopify store. This was an ideal fit, being suitably flexible for a new product, but offering room for growth with apps and extended functionality.

The result is a simple, cohesive online presence that draws a direct link between the physical product and the broader brand. Above all, each channel has been designed to grow with the Potent-T brand. View the site live at potent-t.com.au.

Read the full Potent-T brand story…

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Format. 90mm x 54mm
Method. Offset + Foil Stamp
Colours. Pantone 573
Stock. Conqueror Ultra White Wove, 300gsm

In our latest work for Andrew Schweitzer Foto, Studio Constantine applied the identity that we developed in 2012 in conjunction with andrewschweitzerfoto.com, onto business cards.

Conqueror 300gsm Ultra White Wove was covered with a thick hit of Pantone 573, then stamped front and back with a gloss black foil. The result was a great contrast of textures, and a celebration of the variations of a mechanical process.

We used Schulbuch Bayern for the supporting info and contact details as we felt its idiosyncratic proportions had a natural affinity with the ASF monogram, particularly the pronounced ascenders.

Why the milk?

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Formats. Various
Method. Rubber Stamps & Found Stationery
Colours. Artline Black
Stock. Various

In conjunction with our design and development of jamesmoney.com.au, Studio Constantine has been working with artist James Money, on the development of a personal brand marque and suite of identity materials.

The marque needed to be sufficiently robust to work across a number of formats and media; from the screen, to exhibition signage and collateral, to catalogues and stationery. It was vital that the marque relate directly to James’ existing seal of ownership and authenticity over his work, his signature. The application to identity suite needed to be equally utilitarian, making use of cost effective and readily available materials.

We started by singling out ‘Money’, as a device to reference, rather than replicate James’ original signature. Placing the signature on a rule grounded the form and created a bridge between the main elements of the design. The formal name and title were set in Neal Fletcher‘s Elega typeface, both geometric and contemporary. Our primary focus was to maintain the sense of a singular weight, unifying contrasting elements.

It became clear early in discussions that a high volume of traditionally printed stationery was not going to be economical or practical for James. It occurred to us that rubber stamps would offer the flexibility to not only create low volume and constantly evolving stationery, but also to label wrapped artworks, materials and anything that circumstance may demand, in an extremely cost-effective manner. Further, each article would be subtly unique.

We did not want these to be just any rubber stamps, they had to be both functional and beautiful. Studio Constantine worked with Joe Chester from Treehorn Design, who crafted the wooden stamp mounts with love and care; each getting its own coat of citrus scented wax.

The stationery items were all sourced from an office supplies store, economical and available in small quantities. The oversize business cards are in fact ‘flash cards’ originally intended for classroom use.  These ultra-saturated, textured beauties are toned back by a more sober grey letterhead.

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Format. 180 x 230mm, hardcover
Extent. 384pp
ISBN. 9781584235057
Published. February 2013
RRP. A$60.00 / US$40.00

Absolute Stationery Design: Identity and Promotion

For most companies, there are many opportunities to reinforce their brand from business cards and letterhead, to websites, applications and promotional material. While the design of these artifacts of branding usually merit focused volumes of their own, the projects presented in Absolute Stationery Design represent campaigns that are so strong and cohesive that none of the individual parts need be removed. Read more…

Our work for Millar | Merrigan, Land Development Consultants made it into this book from Sandu Cultural Media and Gingko Press.

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Potent-T came to Studio Constantine with a product name and formula for a new, all organic tea-based training and recovery supplement. Over recent months Studio Constantine have been working to develop brand marque, visual identity, packaging and sales materials.

The process began with a visual analysis of performance supplements. We found a market flooded with cliched type and images, from the hyper masculine to flaccid organic, split very definitely along gender divides. Hierarchy was lacking in the most part, both in terms of messaging and design.

We very deliberately employed a monochrome scheme, placing the product in the premium end of the market, establishing a clear and direct tone of voice. Sweaty abs were banished in preference to images that capture body mechanics more subtly and naturally. We also wanted Potent-T to be gender neutral, something unique to the supplement genre.

Colophon foundry’s Relative 10 Pitch was used for the two logotype lockups, supported quietly by DIN, with just a hint of letterspacing. Read more about the Potent-T project…

Product Photography. Ari Photography
Art Direction. Studio Constantine

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Formats. 12pp, 289 x 380 mm (Tabloid)
Method. Digital
Colours. 4 colour
Stock. 55gsm Newsprint (FSC certified)

Studio Constantine is proud to announce the release of it’s first studio publication. Aimed at those interested or working in the Property and Development market, Studio Paper No 1: Estate; features a trend report and commentary on the importance of ‘placemaking’. The aim; to inspire and inform property developers, architects, estate agents, engineers, land developers as to the importance of graphic communication for their business.

The studio has been privileged to collaborate with some global creative talents to draw the publication together. These include Parisian design student Clara Lott, London based writer B.T.S., Andrew Schweitzer Foto, Sader Photography, and has been lucky enough to experiment with the alpha version of ‘Inscripta’ from Milan type designer, Mattia Bonanomi.

The Estate Paper looks at development in an increasingly urban reality. What are the demands and opportunities of modern urban living; how do you create authentic long-lasting identities forplaces and spaces; and how does this manifest in real-world outcomes.

Contact Studio Constantine today to request a copy or read The Estate Paper on ISSUU.

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1. We work with you. As a boutique design house, we are able to foster creative, collaborative relationships with our clients. You know your market better than we do; together we can deliver impactful results through intelligent communication. We always ask questions before giving answers.

2. We look for difference. We look for what you do differently and communicate it with originality and wit. We are not about following the crowd.

3. We’re experts. We combine knowledge of design and the mechanics of production to take projects from planning to delivery. We have established links with specialists in Australia and Europe, that we are able to draw upon according to the specific needs of any project. This team includes copywriters, illustrators, photographers, developers and printers.

4. We’ve done it before. Our team bring a wealth of experience from the global stage of design, advertising, innovation, marketing and publishing.

5. We’re good! We pursue excellence in every job, regardless of scale or budget. Both our principals are individually awarded and published, and our work can be seen on a number of internet design journals. That kind of exposure is good for us, but it’s also great for our clients.

We’re always looking for like minded people to collaborate with. If you’d like to discuss opportunities of how we can work together, email us at studio@manualelectric.com or call us on +61 (0)3 9818 3262.

Studio Constantine worked with award-winning Melbourne Artist and Archibald Finalist James Money, on the development of his new website, jamesmoney.com.au.

From the outset there was a clear imperative to take a different direction to the standard (and oft-templated) approach to artists’ websites. We were particularly keen to push beyond the ‘white wall’ mentality that has transferred from gallery to the online space, and present finished work and studio processes side by side.

Studio Constantine worked with friend and regular collaborator Andrew Schweitzer Foto to document a selection of recent works in James’ studio and private collections, and also produce a photographic essay of the artist at work, his space and his process.

We created the website as a single plane. Users can explore in different directions, aided by a static navigation panel, following individual threads of horizontal content or jumping from one thing to the next. The result; a self contained snapshot of the artists’ history, works and process, a virtual shopfront for new works, and an interface for receiving commissioners or curators.

Thanks to James Money for allowing us to tell his story and Andrew Schweitzer Foto for the documentary images.

Read more about the brand development for James Money.

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After succesfully working with land development consultants Millar | Merrigan, on refreshing their communications materials, Studio Constantine were delighted to work with the company again in the design and development of a new website.

Studio Constantine held a series of workshops with an in-house working group, making sense of the previous website user data and trends, and establishing strategic direction and goals for the new site. We were faced with the task of refocussing content and a structure that had outgrown it’s original architecture; designing more deliberate user journeys and creating flexibility with room for growth.

Our primary aim in designing the new interface was simplicity. Rationalising the typography and grid; producing styles that could be implemented across a number of pages with vastly differing content, yet still routed within the existing brand programme and personality. The interface was implemented as a series of custom templates for an open source back-end.

The result brings together rigorous analysis and strategy with a formal, yet contemporary aesthetic. It also provides Millar | Merrigan with a web presence that truly reflects their experience and professionalism.

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