A world of beautifully designed, human-centred products
With an eye firmly on the future, BLUNT has launched its new look ‘brand world’ encompassing a new identity, positioning, packaging and website.
As the company prepares to expand into products beyond the umbrella, the new modern brand encompasses the past 20 years while setting the company up for future growth.
Led by founder Greig Brebner, the rebrand comes at a pivotal time, “after decades of reimagining the umbrella we are excited to embark on new and exciting developments, outside of the humble umbrella.”
Where we started
The idea for BLUNT was born whilst navigating the streets of London nearly twenty years ago, seeing poorly made umbrellas break, dangerous tips protruding, blowing inside out and ending up in the landfill. There had to be a better way.
Twenty years on, BLUNT now has a team of humans around the globe growing the brand, sharing the joy that is a BLUNT umbrella and providing ongoing repairs long after an umbrella is sold.
“After decades of reimagining the umbrella we are excited to embark on new and exciting developments, outside of the humble umbrella”
Quote by|Greig Brebner
“To compliment this growth, we’ve spent the last 14 months doing a deep dive back into the why. Why we started, why we exist and what we are striving towards – our purpose. The process has helped us to unearth our vision, our mission, our values and our purpose, all truly authentic and ownable to BLUNT and will help set us up for the future.”
What this looks like shows up in the world as the new BLUNT wordmark and B icon. The curves of the B reflect the curves of the umbrella canopy which house the patented technology and is carried through to the development of a bespoke typeface.
Brebner adds, “This refreshed identity will begin to rollout out through every touchpoint, from product parts, new packaging and new in-store display units. We’re incredibly proud of this journey we’ve been on and are looking forward to seeing our new brand identity show up in the world.”
The branding agency
BLUNT also engaged the skills of Kiwi branding agency, Milk to help bring this to life. Managing Director Ben Reid adds, “The sensorial experience that Greig talks about when describing the BLUNT umbrella, the sound of rain on the high-tensioned canopy, the feel of the umbrella popping open, the visually pleasing canopies adorned with stunning works of art, coupled with the passion and dedication to solving vulnerable moments is something special.”
“Working with the team at BLUNT we have been able to fully immerse ourselves in understanding the brand and building the very special ‘Us story’, the brand story of Greig's journey.”
Once the story was defined, the brand purpose, vision and values quickly followed and the BLUNT world of beautifully designed, human-centred products was born.
“Engineering Joy is our barometer and our superpower and underpins everything we do as a team, a business and a brand”
Quote by|Fee Cortis
“Our refreshed brand positioning is Engineering Joy,” says Fee Cortis, Head of Marketing at BLUNT. “This positioning beautifully bridges the engineering and patented innovation that has gone into the design of a BLUNT umbrella with the consumer experience, which is joyful.”
Traditionally umbrellas have been a source of frustration due to mass production, poor design, breakages and failures. A BLUNT umbrella removes all those failings so that all that is left is a product that will provide confidence, reliability and joy during life’s vulnerable moments.
Cortis also adds, “Engineering Joy is our barometer and our superpower and underpins everything we do as a team, a business and a brand – from customer service to collaborations, to packaging and instore furniture, right through to our new brand identity and brand campaigns.”
The bold new direction from BLUNT reinforces that BLUNT is more than a product manufacturer, it is a design company focused on solving human problems.
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