Revenant’s collaboration with Form Digital represents a fusion of two creative Scottish powerhouses. While Revenant brings to the table top-tier VFX, animation, and real-time visuals, Studio Form enhances this partnership with their award-winning design expertise, specialising in crafting meaningful brands through innovative identity, print, and digital experiences. This partnership embodies the synergy between visual effects and strategic design, setting new benchmarks in creative excellence.
In discussion with Form we spoke about various aspects of the new website and did a deep dive on the process behind the project.
Collaborating with another creative agency to redefine their brand was an absolute dream project, especially with the Revenant team. We have admired their work for some time, showcasing Scotland’s prowess in creative VFX, animation, MGFX, and real-time visuals.
Revenant brought fantastic ideas to the table, and our journey with them navigating through a series of workshops, allowed us to truly understand their team dynamics and deliver something that authentically represents their studio.
Right from the start, it was evident that the Revenant team not only dedicate themselves to their work but also inject a sense of joy into the creative process, all while maintaining a keen eye for the finer details. This realisation led us to ensure that the new brand strikes a perfect balance between professionalism and fun. We devised a system that allows them to amplify the playfulness of the brand as needed, empowering them to tailor the narrative for their customers.
Highlighting one aspect we’re particularly excited about is a tough call between the website itself and the playful charm of ‘Harry,’ their XX brand marque, a nod to the legendary Ray Harryhausen, a pioneer in stop-motion animation.
Interestingly, the XX marque took shape as the initial element during one of our early workshops, delving into the meaning behind Revenant’s name and their foray into the gaming sector, exemplified by projects like Valorant for Riot Games.
The creativity extended to playful business cards, where we crafted a system allowing customisation of the card’s back. This unique touch transforms the XX into a distinct character based on recent conversations, adding a memorable talking point for the sales team navigating a competitive landscape.
The website served as a canvas for showcasing our creative front-end process while ensuring practical considerations were met. Collaborating closely with the Revenant team, we explored various layouts to present their work in visually captivating and unexpected ways. The final result is a site that impeccably balances content and subtle details, echoing Revenant’s ‘devils in the detail’ approach to their craft.
In approaching any rebranding endeavour, our initial consideration is whether to pursue an evolutionary or revolutionary transformation of the existing brand. In the case of Revenant and following an extensive brand workshop, we presented the team with a range of options to gauge the extent to which they desired to reshape their brand.
After engaging in in-depth discussions and exploring various routes, it became evident that a revolutionary approach resonated most with the team. Delving into the new markets Revenant were venturing into, we identified an aesthetic that not only aligned seamlessly with their future marketing plans but also had the potential for sustained growth alongside their evolving trajectory.
Our preliminary research led us to delve into the meaning behind the name ‘Revenant’ – “one that returns after death or a long absence.” This exploration inspired the development of a grid structure around the number of death (8) and a distinctive typography pairing, deliberately contrasting in style. This approach symbolises the fusion of traditional storytelling with cutting-edge technologies.
The brand identity draws significant inspiration from sci-fi and gaming nostalgia, drawing parallels to iconic games like Space Invaders and films such as 2001: A Space Odyssey. In collaboration with the Scottish type foundry Polytype, we crafted a bespoke wordmark based on a geometric grid. This custom creation achieves a delicate balance, evoking both nostalgic and futuristic elements in its letter forms.
With the ever-evolving landscape of web technologies, the possibilities for the website were virtually limitless. Recognising that imagery and video would be central to the user journey, we aimed to strike a harmonious balance by integrating animated elements. The goal was to captivate users without overwhelming them, maintaining a focused and concise journey.
During the initial phases of ideation for the website, we explored numerous creative concepts. However, our focus was on distilling these ideas to ensure that the embellishments wouldn’t overshadow the primary purpose of the site – showcasing the work and process to the customer.
Both Revenant and our team are thrilled with the achieved balance. We take pride in managing this equilibrium, and there are already plans in motion to further develop specific sections of the site, incorporating some of the initial ideas that didn’t make it into the first phase. This flexibility is one of the inherent beauties of web design, allowing for continuous evolution in tandem with the business itself.
Selecting the right colour palette for a brand involves various considerations, encompassing colour psychology, market dynamics, and competitor analysis. Following a thorough examination of our competitors, we identified prevailing colour trends within the sector while steering clear of hues that could lead to brand confusion. Our aim was to make a significant impact in a competitive marketplace.
In crafting the palette, our goal was to strike a balance between flexibility and complementarity with the exceptional work produced by Revenant. Given the diverse range of projects undertaken by the team, we chose a neutral palette comprising shades of blue/black and off-white. This ensured a seamless complement to the work, regardless of its content, preventing any direct colour clashes in both print and digital promotions.
Despite the neutral base, we incorporated a touch of vibrancy and playfulness into the palette. This added element serves primarily as an accent colour for interactive elements, call-to-action features, or when the team wishes to make a bold statement with typography. The introduction of ‘tentacle’ purple, inspired by the 1993 computer game ‘Day of the Tentacle’, adds a nostalgic and vibrant contrast to both the darker and lighter base palette colours. This hue not only pays homage to a childhood favourite but also infuses a sense of sci-fi nostalgia, enhancing the overall visual appeal of the brand.
