The Edit: five projects including the powerful, moving website, The Lasting Petals of Palestine — The Brand Identity – Home of the Greatest in Graphic & Brand Design
Each and every day, we’re lucky to discover dozens of interesting and inspiring projects from around the world. From global identities and campaigns to side projects and independently published books, The Edit is home to five of them; every two weeks.
A continuous field of swaying poppies, The Lasting Petals of Palestine is an immersive memorial in the form of a website that asks viewers to pause and reflect on the many Palestinian lives lost in the genocide. “As a national flower, the poppy honours the people of Palestine,” explains David Fiz, freelance brand and interaction designer. “Each blossom represents a life lost, a reminder of the enduring struggle Palestinians have faced under Israel’s occupation.”
“In the marches here in London, there’s a collective that carries a long scroll with thousands of names of Palestinians killed in the conflict. I found reading the names and seeing the magnitude in that way really powerful. Media is focused on showing numbers, and as important as they are, I find them desensitising. With The Lasting Petals of Palestine, I wanted to present this ignored information in a new form, to generate real feelings and inevitably more action,” he tells us.
Fiz was thinking about the website, and he also had a good relationship with Studio Freight, who collaborated on the project after he “bluntly asked on the Slack channel who would be open to teaming up and doing something about it. Luckily, some of the best people I have worked with wanted to contribute; with Andie Wexler on the naming and writing, Alan Alanis and Yousef Alhaddad on the 3D, and Nic Wands and Clément Roche on the development.”
Reflecting on the project, Fiz says, “Something I realised is that even though design is an extremely political tool, very few use it beyond monetary gain. In our industry, few have an active voice or a social opinion, which sadly happens in many studios. I believe we have an opportunity to use our talent and resources to make a difference.”
Double Entendre, a group exhibition, unites emerging designers from Montreal and Toronto who explore the intersection of design principles with unconventional elements. The central theme challenges traditional notions by embracing imperfections and byproducts as integral features of the creative process. Devised and developed by graphic designer and photographer Audrey Demers, the exhibition’s identity mirrors this theme through the concept of vinyl cutout degradation. Often deemed undesirable due to its ageing nature, vinyl’s obsolete form is reimagined to celebrate the passage of time and the inherent beauty of imperfection. Sticker sheets and vinyl cutouts introduce a dynamic tension between the mechanical grid and the spontaneity of rotated, intertwined elements, while gaps in text blocks become focal points, intentionally highlighted rather than corrected, reinforcing the exhibition’s overarching theme of valuing the unexpected.
Characterised by sweeping ligatures, Emily Jing Sum Chan’s typeface Fleur dances between classical and modern, embodying a blend of Neoclassical rigidity and fluid script nuances. Chan’s attention to detail is evident in every curve and line, as she combines traditional serif elements with natural strokes reminiscent of everyday handwriting, resulting in a typeface that is both grounded and expressive; perfect for those seeking the sophisticated statement of a display typeface.
The HRC by Wine Bureau is a leading beverage supplier in Ukraine, supplying cafes, bars and hotels with top international brands. With hubs in major cities, they ensure exceptional service and aim to make premium beverages accessible to all. As communicated through their modernist-minimal yet undeniably joyous identity by Serhii Shakh – an independent designer based in Kyiv, Ukraine – their mission promotes inclusivity and supports young professionals. Helmed by a logomark made of silhouettes reminiscent of architectural details, food and beverages, accompanied by a mix-and-match troupe of eclectic, playful imagery, the resulting branding is a treat for the eyes.
With the goal to redefine the premium rental apartment space, Shanghai-based design practice Pocca has collaborated with Cohost to craft a clear and expressive visual identity – one that aligns with Cohost’s vision of fostering community and creativity within its spaces.
Leading the look is a customisable logo with seven different weights, allowing Cohost to adapt its identity across various communication platforms. The choice to focus on three weights for the initial launch underscores the brand's strategic intent – a thin version for subtlety, a standard version for business contexts, and a bold version to engage directly with their community.
The brand’s new identity draws from Cohost’s interior design philosophy, which is described as “simple, colourful, and slightly decorative.” The visual system is designed to convey a range of emotions, with a responsive layout system that seamlessly adapts to different media sizes, from vertical displays to social media posts. This approach ensures that the brand maintains its integrity across various platforms – a necessity in today’s digital-first environment.
The decision to use Chinese highlights the brand’s focus on bilingual communication, catering to Shanghai’s young, tech-savvy demographic. Here, they opted for ABC Favorit from Dinamo for the English text and AR UD JingXiHei from Arphic Type for Chinese.
The colour direction was inspired by Cohost’s founder – an Australian living in Shanghai – and his affinity for warm tones reminiscent of the Australian lifestyle. According to Pocca’s Founding Partner Zhihua Duan, the palette embodies “a slight grey tone but very rich colours,” aligning with the brand’s commitment to creating inviting, stylish living spaces.