Newly opened in Brighton, with the help and expertise of architect and interior designer Tobie Anderson, Africa House is a celebration of all things African and a blend of interconnected enterprises that support at-risk ecosystems and communities in Africa and Brighton. They believe they can make a difference in their community and beyond by exchanging knowledge and education through social and environmental enterprise, alongside sustainable trade solutions. By providing a sanctuary where people can connect and share ideas over a delicious cup of sustainably sourced coffee, they aim to foster relationships within their community, while engaging with people about their adventures in Africa.

We worked with Journeys by Design and Wild Philanthropy to create a vibrant brand identity and exterior shop design for their Brighton location, to compliment the stunning murals commissioned to Brighton Think Big – the Brighton based mural arts company. The identity and visual language was inspired by African motifs, drawn from traditional African arts, crafts and architecture, looking to weaving and textiles for interesting graphic treatments.

Africa House, ‘trading for people and planet, comprises of a coffee shop and working space for the public, with a library of books on display for visitors to read, dedicated to African conservation and exploration, as well as two floors above, home to Journeys by Design and Wild Philanthropy both of whom we had the pleasure of creating brand identities for. On the first floor, Wild Philanthropy is a conservation foundation established to identify, invest in, and help manage at-risk ecosystems. It is their response to the unprecedented challenges faced by natural environments and traditional cultures in the African countries they operate in. And on the second floor, Journeys by Design is a classic ‘for profit’ safari company. Established in 1999, they use only the finest camps, parks and guides in east and southern African to explore the lesser-known frontiers of this vast safari continent. They know that for tourism to work it must be sustainable, and that every adventure depends on healthy ecosystems.

With the challenge of creating an identity for Africa House that compliments both Journeys by Design and Wild Philanthropy’s branding, we aimed to give their audience a clear picture of who they are and what they do by creating a simple solution that celebrates Africa. The logo mark taking the graphic form of an abstracted map of Africa was developed to act as a mask with the ability to reveal key imagery in an engaging way.

“One Darnley Road never cease to bring fresh ideas to the table. Their creativity and lateral thinking has been inspirational, and working together a real joy!”

Will Jones
Journeys By Design