Branding London's Otherside

After more than 15 years of representing the local community, Better Bankside’s identity no longer reflected the organisation it had grown to become. While the BID had become an important voice for over 850 local businesses and a visible force within the area, its communications and branding had gradually become dated and inconsistent.

This was also a uniquely complex place to represent. Bankside combines internationally recognised cultural institutions, local businesses, historic infrastructure and rapidly changing development, all within a district with a strong existing character and identity. Any new direction needed to feel authentic to the area while remaining flexible enough to support a broad range of initiatives and audiences.

Rather than imposing a completely new identity, we worked closely with Better Bankside and its stakeholders to understand what already resonated within the community and where greater clarity and visibility were needed. Through consultation, research and immersion in the area itself, it became clear that the project was about evolution rather than revolution.

The resulting identity drew inspiration directly from the fabric of Bankside itself, incorporating references to the area’s arches, paving patterns, lighting installations and infrastructure into a distinctive and flexible visual system. The aim was not simply to modernise the brand, but to create a stronger sense of place that felt recognisable to the community it represented.

Alongside the visual identity, we developed a wider set of brand and communications tools including guidelines, templates, social assets and supporting materials that allowed the organisation to communicate more consistently across its many activities and sub-brands.

Since launch, we have continued to support Better Bankside across a wide range of evolving projects, acting as an ongoing creative and digital partner to the organisation. This has included everything from campaign and digital support through to environmental branding and communications across the district itself, helping the identity remain visible, adaptable and connected to the changing character of the area.

The launch reinvigorated engagement across Better Bankside’s membership, helping the organisation feel more visible, cohesive and confident in representing the area. The identity continues to evolve alongside the organisation and the community it serves.