Studio Kiln: the Falmouth alumni refreshing Vinted’s global identity

Designing for people

A recent collaboration with Channel 4 and the Royal Television Society saw the studio “push the boundaries of what that convention could be,” with a playful typographic identity that made waves across the industry. “It was an idea that just kept on giving,” Charlie reflects. “We created these big letters that burst out from every page or wall.”

Studio Kiln now creates brands, narratives and digital experiences that are grounded in meaning and built for the real world. “Good design for us revolves around people,” says Charlie. “It’s not just about the output, but about how that work makes people feel.”

Despite their international reach, Studio Kiln remain committed to their Cornish roots. “It was key that we could offer jobs in Cornwall that matched anything people might expect in London,” Nathan explains. The studio regularly welcomes interns from Falmouth University and has hired graduates from the Graphic Design course.

Falmouth has a strong ethos around concept-driven design. That variety and depth of thinking is something we really value in our team. We like the variety that comes out of the course, and also, they tend to be nice people. When we're recruiting we are looking for someone with a real fire in their belly.

Meg Mardon joined the company in June last year shortly before graduating from the Graphic Design course.

“It’s crazy that I’ve gone from uni straight to working on such well-known brands,” she says. “Falmouth played a huge role in that, and the Graphic Design course is truly amazing. The tutors are all like your best friends, it’s so good.”

She credits the course’s industry-focused approach with helping her feel prepared for professional life. “In second year, we had this module all about where you want to work in industry, what kind of studios you want to go to,” she explains. “That’s the best thing about Falmouth; it’s not a scary jump coming out of it. It just feels natural.”

Technology meets design

At Studio Kiln, the boundaries between design and technology are intentionally blurred. “Historically it’s been seen that conceptual thinking and the tools you use to make that work are quite separate,” Nathan explains. “We think these are one and the same.” From motion graphics to code, the team believes that today’s designers need to be fluent across platforms: “You’ve got to be able to jump into After Effects or Cinema 4D, understand how to host a website, and choose the best platform for each client. There’s no such thing as just setting some type anymore. You need to know how it all fits together.”

When Nathan and Charlie first launched Studio Kiln in Cornwall, rather than in cities like London, Bristol or Manchester, they were not sure how clients would respond. “We were a little nervous about how to communicate the fact that we’re down here,” Charlie says. “But once people knew we were based in Cornwall, they loved it.” Their success has helped challenge assumptions about where creative excellence can happen.

“Sometimes Cornwall gets overlooked” he adds. “We want to show the world what’s possible from here.”

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