Neville Brody rebrands his studio after 20 years

February 4, 2015 4:44 PM

World-renowned British graphic designer Neville Brody rebrands his studio "Research Studios" as "Brody Associates" after around 20 years of doing business. Reason? Clients misunderstood the services of the studio under its old name.

In addition to Brody stressing the importance of how the studio name affects how clients perceive its services, the article also describes Brody's studio models and how the various permutations led to the current model, one which declares that "the old model of a boutique agency doing everything is gone."

posted by omar.a (13 comments total)

Well at least he didnt call it Whore House Studios
posted by wheelieman at 4:55 PM on February 4, 2015

Now watch people think its a law firm
posted by wheelieman at 4:57 PM on February 4, 2015 [5 favorites]

Really, it seems more like he just wanted to make sure people knew he was the boss:

The British designer, who announced the rebrand last week, told Dezeen that the move was initiated to avoid clients' confusion about what services the company provides and about his own role within the organisation.

I mean, the change only fixes one of those issues, and literally the only information the new name conveys is that it's his company and there are other people there who work for him. It's still anyone's guess what the company does (and, yeah, they'll probably guess law firm); if that's the big problem, why not put "graphic design" somewhere in there? Duh?
posted by Sys Rq at 5:33 PM on February 4, 2015 [1 favorite]

I suppose it might not be about him making sure people knew he was the boss, but making sure that it was easy for potential clients to find him and his company, since his name is fairly well-known (well, I'm assuming he's still fairly well known). But yeah, "associates" certainly doesn't help ease any confusion about what his company does.
posted by jonathanhughes at 5:38 PM on February 4, 2015

So should this thread be in a distressed font or do we save that for David Carson?
posted by Artw at 5:38 PM on February 4, 2015 [2 favorites]

If this were an actual law firm, it would be named "Brody, Brody, Brody, and Johnson".

No one talks about the fourth Brody

especially not Johnson
posted by surazal at 5:53 PM on February 4, 2015 [4 favorites]

"Brody, Brody, Brody, and Johnson"

Morcia, Morcia, Morcia!
posted by Sys Rq at 5:58 PM on February 4, 2015 [2 favorites]

The more I read about naming design agencies, the more I realize there is no general rule. Are clients more attracted to agencies named after people, like ‘Brody Associates’ or those with more ‘creative’ names like "Research Studios"? Who knows...
posted by omar.a at 6:09 PM on February 4, 2015

His Dom Pérignon box looks like a tombstone.
posted by jcrcarter at 8:50 PM on February 4, 2015

But yeah, "associates" certainly doesn't help ease any confusion about what his company does.

I'm assuming if you're in the domain where Neville Brody is one of your options then you'd know who he was.
posted by fullerine at 12:44 AM on February 5, 2015

I think "Neville and Some of His Chums" would be a better name, but that's why I'm not rich and famous I guess.
posted by Grangousier at 1:30 AM on February 5, 2015

Rebrand blue.
posted by infini at 2:21 AM on February 5, 2015

> If this were an actual law firm, it would be named "Brody, Brody, Brody, and Johnson".

I think you meant Brody, Wilks, Brotchie, Crawford, Littleton, Dundas, Patrick, Tardelli & Hobbs.

Also, this thread needs moar hairbands, tennis skirts, and is best viewed through a Canon 300/2.8 on cross-processed RVP because you can't find your reading glasses dammit.
posted by scruss at 3:47 AM on February 5, 2015 [1 favorite]