The Challenge: DEFINE A BRAND THAT TELLS A STORY
Ripe Publishing, an independent Black-owned publishing company, was ready for a visual refresh. While the original brand served its purpose, it felt too subdued and didn’t fully capture the vibrancy of its authors and the richness of their stories.
The goals were clear:
Keep the brand simple and streamlined
Introduce stronger, more expressive color
Create a look that felt literary yet approachable
Ensure everything remained budget-conscious
Without an in-house design team, the biggest challenge was building a system that could be easily templatized, something flexible, intuitive, and sustainable without adding complexity or cost.
The Solution
I led visual direction and developed a refreshed identity rooted in clarity, vibrancy, and usability. The approach focused on:
Introducing a bolder, more expressive color palette to reflect the energy of the authors and their stories
Simplifying brand elements to maintain a clean, confident presence
Creating a flexible, user-friendly design system
Developing ready-to-use templates that work seamlessly across digital and print platforms
The Results
A system that balanced creativity with practicality, expressive but easy to maintain.
A cleaner, more confident visual identity
A vibrant color system that feels dynamic and culturally resonant
A cohesive, literary-forward brand presence
A sustainable design toolkit tailored for a small, growing team
