Helen Lucas Architects

Approachable architects who take every detail seriously

Refined, bespoke design helps a business to flourish.
Branding, identity, digital

A meeting of minds led to a new visual identity and website for this highly regarded Edinburgh practice.

In 2013 we strengthened Helen Lucas Architects’ messaging through understated and precise detailing—from use of colour to the wording of website navigation.

Close-up of Helen Lucas Architects yellow ochre postcard with white and grey logo.
Gail Turpin and her team have absolutely tuned into the timeless quality we seek in our work and wanted for our website and graphic content, her attention to detail was crucial to us and what drew us to her.
Helen Lucas
Director, Helen Lucas Architects
Mood board for Helen Lucas Architects showing colour palette and layout of images on home page.

Digital Graphic design

Less a professional portfolio website, more a magazine.

We approached the website with magazines in mind. Many of the practice’s clients have never before commissioned an architect: the website needed to replicate the welcoming and professional atmosphere of the HLA studio in a format that spoke to its main audience.

Utilising existing assets

Making the most of photography.

Helen Lucas Architects had always taken the documentation of projects seriously. The new website was built to make the most of this important asset.

In addition to providing beautiful and detailed illustration of projects, photography gives a means of visual navigation.

Visual of Helen Lucas website on mobile.

Communicating through Digital design

Colour and information architecture work together to give a sense of how this practice works.

The website is softened by use of yellow ochre and a controlled palette.

Site visitors are introduced to the work of the firm in various ways. The dedicated area for materials and detailing is an example of the gentle, explanatory content strategy. Useful to those who are not construction professionals, to fellow-architects this is also a marker of how seriously the practice takes detailing.

Visual of Helen Lucas Architects website showing 'Work spaces' pages.
Visual of Helen Lucas Architects website showing 'Materials & detailing' pages.
Our website still feels timeless and attracts a lot of compliments, the fact that it is still working so well for us 8 years on is testament to Gail’s timeless design skills and fantastic colour knowledge.
Helen Lucas
Director, Helen Lucas Architects

Logo design

In addition to elegant typography, the logo is given interest with a linear boundary.

Space is created within the logo. The logotype is not centred: it is contained but not hemmed in. It makes its own space.

The logo itself displays well at a small size (important on drawings and other professional stationery).

Close-up of Helen Lucas Architects business card.
Photo of Helen Lucas Architects exterior metal sign with logo.

Visual identity

Extending from the logo for coherent detailing.

A small, linear motif is used as an icon and the boundary line travels through the website, stationery and signage—and across exterior paintwork at the HLA studios.

Visuals showing designs for Helen Lucas Architects Christmas cards with illustrations.

Stationery

Consistent design can be light-touch.

In the right place playfulness can be injected into a professional visual identity; Christmas cards have become a considered piece of print design.

Front and back of Helen Lucas Christmas card.

The result

Since launching in 2013, the identity and website have proven to be enormously successful.

The website has brought countless high-quality enquiries and continues to attract well-qualified prospective staff.

We are often approached by prospective clients who would like ‘something simple, like the Helen Lucas website’. This is such a compliment. To those who use it, a website containing complexity and detail feels remarkably straightforward.

Team

Branding and graphic design Gail Turpin Design
Brand strategy, information architecture, development Ast & Red
Photography Angus Bremner & Brendan MacNeill
Copywriting Helen Lucas Architects