Territory

Mark wanted something different: a brand that balanced form and function, while also making the process creative, collaborative, and enjoyable. The challenge was to position Territory as a trusted partner rather than a supplier, and to shape an identity that felt bold, positive, and quietly confident.

The Brief

Collection of branding, packaging, and marketing materials for 'Territory' with logo designs, product tags, color palette, typography, and product photography on a green background.

Our early workshops explored wide ranging themes: mythology, the colour and culture of hip hop, and the outdoors. The outdoors resonated most, not only with the values of sustainability and craft, but also with Mark’s personal taste and personality. North American national parks, mid century typography, and outdoor workwear brands became key references. At this stage, Mark was still unsure about the name Territory, concerned about its possible negative connotations. The opportunity was to reframe the word as something more romantic, approachable, and symbolic of belonging.

The Discovery

Sketches of logos and designs for 'TERRITORY,' including text styles, symbols, and icons, with notes about typography and design ideas.
A page from a sketchbook titled "TERRITORY SYNTAX" with handwritten lists of words, including habitat, outpost, camp, base, nest, and others. The page contains various pencil sketches of symbols, emblems, and objects such as shields, flags, trees, a hat, a house, and other abstract shapes.
Thumbnail sketches of different logo ideas for a business named 'Terror' that include a tree, a mushroom, a skull, and a flag with the word 'Terror' on it, drawn in pencil.
A notebook page with handwritten notes and sketches about the theme of territory. The notes highlight creativity, enthusiasm, minimalism, solo work, hip-hop, outdoor activities, and marking territory. There are various hand-drawn designs of maps, arrows, and signs, including words like "TERRITORY," "TY," and a person sitting on a chair wearing a hat.
Sketches of a bear in various poses, some with a fishing pole, one in line art style
Sketches of various stylized tree drawings on paper, arranged in three rows.
Sketches of rocks, stones, and geometric shapes, including unpolished rocks and stacked stone formations, with some handwritten notes and labels

We approached the name by asking: how do people mark their territory in a meaningful way? The answer came through universal human gestures such as carving initials into a tree, locking a padlock on a bridge, leaving a sticker, or stacking stones on a cairn. The cairn became central to the logo: three rocks forming a T, a lasting marker of presence and identity.

Other early concepts drew on the idea of initials carved into a tree, explored through a minimal tree shape with a “T” or “TY” at its centre. These options carried a sense of intimacy and personal mark making, and while Mark liked their simplicity, they ultimately felt a little too minimal for the ambition of the brand. The cairn struck the right balance between symbol and story, giving Territory a recognisable mark with conceptual weight.

The wordmark, inspired by mid century hand crafted typography and national park aesthetics, is bold yet softened, striking a balance between daring and approachable.

The Concept

A green package labeled 'Territory' with a tree graphic and a red arrow pointing left, indicating materials guide inside.
Close-up of a laptop with a sticker that says 'TERRITORY' and has a drawing of a mushroom on it, placed on a wooden surface.
Person holding a green tote bag with the words "Territory" and a logo, standing in front of a metal roller shutter.
A dark green card with the word "TERRITORY" and small tree icons, partially tucked into a denim jacket's chest pocket.

We expanded the identity around these ideas of nature, heritage, and personal marks. A woodland inspired colour palette grounds the brand in earthy greens and browns, with names drawn from woods, finishes, and treatments. A vibrant enamel red serves as a striking accent, recalling the painted details of mid century tools and packaging. Textures, close up imagery, and illustration reinforce the tangibility and trustworthiness of the brand. Even an unused logo concept, a bear marking a tree, remains part of the illustration style, celebrating the playful and romantic notion of territory.

Typography was carefully chosen to carry this mid century outdoor feel into the written brand, with handmade inspired display fonts supported by accessible system fonts for practical use. The tagline “Exploratory Curations” distilled the brand promise: taking clients on a journey, balancing curiosity with expertise.

Deliverables included a full set of brand guidelines, a website, Canva templates for decks and social content, and social ready assets. These ensured Territory could scale its communications consistently, while leaving space for playful imagery and case study photography in future.

The Process

A black-and-white drawing of a monkey holding a banana
Design with a textured brown background, featuring white graphic of an abstract landscape or object, the word 'TERRITORY' in large letters, and small text reading 'B.L D N 2013'.
A graphic design of a road sign with the word 'TERRITORY' on top and a stylized tree symbol beneath, on a beige background.
Person wearing a beige T-shirt with the word 'TERRITORY' printed on it in brown letters and a brown collar, with a light brown jacket draped over their shoulders.

The final brand identity for Territory is quietly confident but not passive, bold but not intimidating. It positions the business as a creativity first partner that helps clients mark their space in a way that feels personal, memorable, and sustainable. The cairn logo, versatile lockups, earthy palette, and tactile design language come together to build trust and recognisability.

Mark has embraced the brand wholeheartedly, praising the process and direction, and is already using the tools provided to build visibility. Future plans include extending the visual language with project photography and bespoke imagery, deepening the storytelling of Territory as it grows.

The Outcome

Two tags hanging from strings, one green with the word 'Treepriory' and black designs, the other beige with a mushroom icon and small text.
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