News, views and general musings from the well-worn Joneses soapbox.
Sovereign Capital have turned 25!
To celebrate their silver anniversary we designed a graphic language based on hallmarks – something that can be easily adapted for use on invitations, social media and merchandise.
Sterling work.
Continuing our work with Tiffin School’s Music Department, our latest poster design was for their performance of Bach’s St Matthew Passion.
The design takes its cue from the story’s powerful symbolism, using a modernised crown of thorns as the focal point and a purple palette as a nod to Lent and the colours of liturgical robes.
A thorny problem, solved with passion.
On what would have been Alfred Brendel’s 95th birthday, stars of the classical music world gathered to pay tribute at London’s Barbican Centre.
We designed the memorial programme.
A five-star review!
Sir Simon Rattle photo © Christopher Christodoulou
“There were so many lovely comments about your beautiful programme – thank you!”
Thomas Hull – Maestro Arts
Sovereign Capital’s ESG approach is rooted in action and long-term value. Our challenge was to design a report that reflected that – not just through data, but through refreshing clarity and engaging narrative.
Working closely with the team, we transformed complex ESG information into a coherent, readable story: one that makes progress visible and supports Sovereign’s belief that responsible investment drives better businesses.
The result is an ESG report designed to do what it should do best – inform, engage and make impact measurable.
Verdant thinking, not greenwashing.
For Tiffin School’s Music Department’s Messiah concert, we thought a classic fine-art approach to the subject matter would help convey the spiritual weight of this traditional Christmas work.
Occasionally, all we like sheep have gone astray — but we’re confident we stayed on the right path this time.
Hopefully, that keeps us off the naughty list this year!
We’ve been working with Tiffin School’s Music Department to develop a fresh, striking style for their concert posters.
The first design in the series features Elgar’s The Kingdom, which tells the story of the apostles at Pentecost – when the Holy Spirit descends in “tongues of fire.”
The poster draws on the music’s sense of awe and revelation, using a photograph of fire to symbolise its crackling energy. Strong, confident typography echoes the grandeur and emotional depth of Elgar’s writing, creating a design that feels both modern and spiritually charged.
We hope it’ll set the stage alight.
For only the second time ever, a Sumo tournament will step outside Japan – and this time, the mighty Makuuchi, Sumo’s elite wrestlers, are heading to London’s Royal Albert Hall. A venue more used to tenors and tuxedos will soon echo with the thunder of the dohyō.
Sovereign Capital Partners tasked us with creating a keepsake to mark the occasion, and we weighed in with a design inspired by Japan’s own visual powerhouse: Manga. Its graphic energy, expressive motion, and sense of drama felt tailor-made to capture the spirit of the Sumo ring – after all, Sumo wrestlers are basically superheroes, but in slightly skimpier costumes.
Our comic-book concept celebrates these larger-than-life athletes in all their dynamic, dramatic glory – part sporting spectacle, part mythic showdown. And Manga’s bold style gave us a way to mix reverence with a wink: ancient ritual meets pop-culture punch.
Wrestling with tradition? We’d call it a winning bout.
“I’ve just seen the comic – it looks great! Thanks for all your work on it!”
Tom Allchorne – Head of Marketing & Communications – Sovereign Capital Partners
Earlier this year, we gave Boulton, a coaching business specialising in performance running a fresh new look. Fast forward a few months, and we’ve just launched their brand-new website.
Built around the brand strategy of “personal best coaching”, the site is designed to capture everything Boulton stands for: focus, motivation and expertise. A bold running-related colour palette, uplifting imagery and a clear, confident tone of voice all help bring the brand to life online.
Of course, it’s not just about looks – the site had to be easy to use too. With clear navigation and simple, intuitive interactions, it’s designed to help visitors find what they need quickly and feel inspired to take the next step in their training.
A strong start and built to go the distance.
“David not only delivered outstanding design, but his strategic insight and brand guidance were equally impressive. I couldn’t be happier!”
Clive Boulton – Founder
We’ve recently been working with new publishing house Kingston Bridge on a couple of exciting projects – one of which was developing their brand identity.
The logo solution cleverly weaves together the letter ‘K’ for Kingston, a book icon and a bridge – capturing their mission to connect readers and writers through great stories.
Call it our own little Booker prize.
“Great and very clever as usual.”
Peter Wedderburn – Founder
The PenCarrie Foundation is an independent grantmaking foundation dedicated to helping disadvantaged children and young people in Devon overcome challenges and reach their full potential.
We were tasked with creating a website that not only communicated the Foundation’s powerful mission but also stood out from the philanthropy crowd.
The result? A striking digital platform brought to life through impactful graphics, bold typography, and a clear, intuitive user experience. Content is easy to navigate, accessible, and designed to inform and inspire – all while staying true to the Foundation’s purpose-driven values.
Click. Give. Repeat.
“The Joneses really understood our mission and translated it into a design that feels both professional and full of heart. It’s clear, bold, and makes it so much easier for people to understand what we do — and why it matters.”
The PenCarrie Foundation
