[a] design agency
We deliver design-led work to help you make clear decisions and act with confidence.
[a] design agency is a lean business, built around one lead and a trusted network of specialists. We work with clients across the UK from our home in Scotland.
What are you working towards?
We work with organisations to clarify their position, launch new ideas, refresh established brands, and communicate complex ideas succinctly.
What we do
[a] provides: planning, creative consultancy and facilitation for design-led projects.
The what: Art direction, branding, consultancy and design.
The how: Through conversation, collaboration and delivery.
We're on your side. An [a] team becomes part of your team.
We turn audiences into advocates.
How do you want to be seen?
We help brands become clearer, more distinctive and easier to understand—so when people have a choice, you're the obvious one.
Selected projects—
Product launch for Cepac Ltd.
Flutepac is a paper-based, recyclable packaging range for direct food contact. Designed and manufactured under one roof by Cepac in the UK, it offers a practical alternative to plastic packaging.
The team at [a] led the launch of the Flutepac brand, developing its marketing microsite alongside advertising campaigns, marketing materials and supporting communications. Our work included creative direction, image compositing, copywriting, trademark support, web development, and graphic design across digital and print.
Flutepac is Future Friendly®.
It's corrugated, naturally.
Start-up brand identity for Fieldworks.
David Crozier (Forest & Wye) is an independent Architect based in the Wye Valley, UK. Fieldworks was established to help AEC firms make practice perfect through integrated software solutions backed by expert consultancy.
While Fieldworks could walk the walk, [a] helped it talk the talk from day one. We developed the start-up brand identity, created investment and sales presentations, and designed the marketing website.
Alongside the creative work, we advised on brand perception, messaging, sales strategy and visual identity. In architecture, how something looks isn't just important—it's a bar to entry.
In good company
This simply wouldn’t be an agency website without a grid of client logos.
Selected clients—
Fieldworks - Brand launch, graphic identity, copywriting and consultancy.
Isle of Barra - Retail activations, print management and graphic design.
Ramblers Scotland - Design for, marketing, membership and advocacy materials.
Historic Environment Scotland - Exhibitions and event support.
Cepac Limited - Brand management, marketing, product launches and web consultancy.
The Herald (Glasgow) - Retail and income generation consultancy.
University of Glasgow - Printed matter, internal comms, advertising and retail materials.
Scottish Mountain Rescue - Rebrand, graphic identity and design consultancy.
The Hunterian - Printed matter, retail materials, exhibition advertising.
Dubh Mor - Brand launch, graphic design, web consultancy and social media training.
Note: They’re not ‘our clients’ or ‘our partners’. We believe in collaboration, not exclusivity.
What we’ve been working on:
Brand launch for Fieldworks,
Retail activation for Barra Distillers Co,
Marketing and brand development for Cepac,
Building [a] salon.
How would you like to work?
We are flexible, scalable and are available on an ad hoc basis.
Stewart Ainslie is [a] brand consultant.
Stew is the first point of contact for every project. He runs a design-led consultancy from his home in Scotland. [Currently that’s Glasgow.]
Stew leads the associates. Different disciplines bring different perspectives. Different perspectives create distinction.
No fixed teams. No off-the-shelf process. Every project starts with a conversation, a clear brief and a proper cup of tea.
Ambitious briefs preferred.
Stew likes to think…
Occasional thoughts on branding, design leadership and creative practice.
Where to start
Every project begins with [a] conversation. Ideally over a brew.
Tell me what you're thinking about. We’ll take it from there.
