Cromford Mills

Cromford Mills rebrand – unifying heritage brands with a refreshed visual identity and improved digital experience.

The Cromford Mills rebrand pitch aimed to modernise the brand while maintaining its historical integrity. The project covered Cromford Mills, Cromford Creative, and the Arkwright Society, bringing consistency across the brands and redesigning the website for a more intuitive user experience.

The challenge lay in the fragmented brand structure – each entity had a separate identity with outdated and inconsistently applied design elements. The website, having evolved without a strategic framework, was cluttered and difficult to navigate.

Rather than a complete overhaul, we proposed a thoughtful refresh, preserving recognisable design features while creating cohesion. By adapting the curved element from the existing Cromford Creative logo, we developed a system of individual icons for each brand, using their initials to maintain distinctiveness while reinforcing their connection.

The typography and colour palette were subtly updated for a contemporary yet historically respectful feel.

For the website, we streamlined the design and improved UX, ensuring clearer navigation and accessibility across all aspects of the Arkwright Society. The revised structure allowed users to engage with the brand’s heritage, business services, and conservation efforts with ease.

Although we didn’t win the pitch, the process reinforced our expertise in heritage branding and digital design, adding valuable work to our portfolio and deepening our appreciation for the Industrial Revolution’s impact on modern industry.

  • Brand Revision
    By using the existing brand elements  –  font style, typographic layout and colour – we ensure a synergy across the brands.
  • Brand Evolution
    We introduced the ‘learning curve’ to each logo
    . By modifying the curve design from the existing Cromford Creative logo we developed an individual icon for each brand based on its initials.
  • The new brand elements are used to create a strong visual identity across all touchpoints.
  • The new brand elements, combined with both the existing colour palette and style guide, are used to develop a more exciting, engaging and user-friendly website.
  • New branding works with existing photography and videography.
ClientThe Arkwright Society
Appointed byForgaard Agency
RollCollaborated with Forgaard Marketing Agency as their design studio
ServicesBrand creation, branding, website design

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