Branding Octave
Octave came to us needing more than a logo. A business built on clear, confident advice needed a brand that sounded as sharp as its thinking.
We started, as we always do, by getting under the skin of the business: what Octave does differently, who it’s for, and how it wants to be heard in a crowded market. That thinking shaped a new wordmark: clean, lowercase, unfussy, designed to read as calm and assured rather than shouting for attention.
Alongside the logo we produced a full set of brand guidelines, covering colours, typography, imagery styles and graphic devices, so that whoever picks up the Octave brand next, whether that’s marketing, HR or a third-party supplier, keeps it consistent.
We then turned to the website, designing wireframes for every page to establish structure, hierarchy and user journey before a line of code was written. Octave’s own web development team took those wireframes and built the live site, working closely with us to keep the finished pages true to the design.
The result is a brand that finally matches the confidence of the business behind it, coherent across every touchpoint, from the logo down to the smallest piece of stationery.
Rebranding Octave
Reimagining insurance distribution
Ambac came to us with a clear ambition: to redefine insurance distribution, attract new shareholders and become a destination for top talent.
To achieve that, they needed a brand that reflected where the business was going, rather than where it had been.
We worked with Ambac to reimagine the business from the ground up, starting with its name.
A name with meaning
We developed Octave – a name inspired by the harmonic combination of notes, where each part strengthens the whole.
It reflects the ideas at the heart of the business: balance, impact and collaboration. More importantly, it gave the team a distinctive and expressive platform from which to build its future.
A new identity
We created a confident new logo and visual identity, supported by a flexible graphic and photographic system designed to give the brand greater presence and impact.
The result is a visual language that feels considered, contemporary and distinctive, while retaining the expertise and experience that underpin the business.
Designed for what’s next
The new identity is designed to work across every aspect of the business – from attracting investors and engaging clients to empowering its people and helping attract the next generation of talent.
The same expertise. The same ambition. A completely new expression.
Our work has given Octave the confidence, flexibility and personality to move into its next chapter – and a brand built to grow with it.