Opportunity

Kingsly has been barbering for several years, and has amassed a loyal customer base that will follow him across town whenever he moves to a new barbershop. In order to leverage this success, he wanted to develop a personal brand that both new and devout customers would resonate with, which could eventually expand to his own storefront.

As a queer business owner, he wanted the final brand to feel inherently queer and inclusive without relying on rainbows, but also far from the masculine tropes of barber poles, beards, wood and stone that saturate the hypermasculine barbering market.

Outcome

This design solution combines his green thumb and love for Australian native flowers, using gardening as a metaphor for a haircut. To get ‘pruned’ by Kingsly is a form of self-care that lets his customers flourish. The brand is still clear, but steers away from cliché.

The treatment was inspired by two-colour risograph prints and comic panels, giving a handmade, nostalgic feel, featuring an original illustration of a waratah and barber scissors.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the concept, design and art direction.
• Developed a suite of logos to be used across web, print, signage and merchandise.
• Created original digital illustrations.