Brand Design Agency – London & New York
Standing out in a crowd of college students can be challenging, and it becomes even more difficult among experienced designers. When I spoke with Rory, a designer at Pearlfisher, he emphasized the importance of narrative. What truly matters is the insight behind the idea, the key problem being tackled, and how effectively it’s being addressed. Even with the most polished execution, it’s the strength of the concept that captures attention, not just technical skills.
I also learned the significance of illustrating the user journey—demonstrating how a concept seamlessly integrates across different touchpoints. A great example of this was Pearlfisher’s Recollagen project. The concept of collagen was thoughtfully woven into every brand interaction. From the tactile packaging that mimicked collagen’s effect on the skin to the way the products were animated—floating and bouncing—to reflect collagen’s flexibility, every detail reinforced the core idea. Their approach underlined a key takeaway: every application of a concept should emphasize what the brand stands for.
When I visited Pearlfisher, I got a real sense of what they’re all about—finding the gem in every brand. Their process is built around three key stages: Immerse, Explore, Create. They walked us through their approach, sharing case studies and insights into their work, which really brought their philosophy to life.
Pearlfishers Core Values:
Be bold – curious & experimental
Lucid – simple, succinct and clear ideas
Be unexpected – doing something that no one dares
Teams at Pearfisher:
- Client management – Help draft a clear brief by collaborating closely with both the client and Pearlfisher.
- Futurists – Experts in trend forecasting, identifying emerging opportunities across various categories. They typically work independently, mapping out future possibilities.
- Strategists – Focus on understanding both consumer behavior and category market & distill the brief into a simple insight.
- Designers – Specialize in branding, packaging, experiential design, bringing ideas to life through visual storytelling.
- Visualizers – A specialised subset of designers, these CGI experts craft hyper-realistic imagery, eliminating the need for traditional photoshoots by creating immersive digital worlds.
- Realisers – Experts in production and manufacturing, ensuring that designs maintain their integrity and impact across all print and physical formats.
- Business Team – The backbone of operations, ensuring seamless execution and alignment across all departments.
Key Takeaway:
What really stuck with me was the importance of networking. Georgia and Rory, the designers at Pearlfisher who spoke with us, shared their journeys to the studio. Even though their paths were quite different—one got in through an internship, while the other won a D&AD Pencil—the common thread was networking.
Action points:
Tailor my portfolio to each studio, stay on the lookout for events, reach out to studios directly, and share my work with professionals on LinkedIn – a lot of them are open to giving advice, and submit my work for Pearlfishers “Fresh Pearls” brief.