Sunflower Journal is an eco-friendly, independently published print magazine focused on living harmoniously with nature and the seasons. Published in Scotland, UK, and sold internationally, it is released in accordance with seasonal events and solar festivals on the Northern Hemisphere's 'Wheel of the Year'. Sunflower Journal combines witchy and pagan themes with natural living, recipes and inspiring stories.
They wanted to create a fresh, modern brand and avoid the typical dark and ancient witchy themes.
Brand Identity Design
Logo Design
Editorial Design
Illustration
Website
Location:
Glasgow, UK
Year:
2021
Client Instagram:
@sunflowerjournalmag
During the initial discovery and planning stages, we positioned Sunflower as a brand that embodies thoughtfulness, calmness, authenticity, simplicity, and memorability—all encapsulated in the tagline: The Magic of Nature and Seasonal Living.
This ethos was brought to life through a bespoke wordmark that balances refinement and modernity. The font was carefully modified to include subtle symbolic elements, such as budding sunflowers and the Wheel of the Year, ensuring the logotype is distinctive and powerful without needing an additional symbol.
The colour palette was designed to reflect Sunflower's core themes: foraging, wellness, natural skincare, floristry, and seasonal rituals. It features a harmonious blend of calming green clay, grounding natural off-black, vibrant sunflower yellow, and fresh yet organic off-white.
The outcome of our branding project for Sunflower Journal is a clean, modern and warm brand identity that reflects the magazine's focus on natural living and seasonal harmony. By avoiding traditional dark witchy themes, we created a visual identity that aligns with the magazine's ethos. The subtle sunflower and Wheel of the Year symbols add a unique touch, making the brand simple but memorable. This approach has helped Sunflower Journal connect with its readers and stand out as a well-loved publication.
“Working with Zoe was an absolute pleasure, from the initial brief to the final result. She listened carefully to what I was looking for and delivered a result which was beyond my expectations. Her astuteness, attention to detail and thoughtful nature was evident in all of the clever, meaningful little details in her designs. You can be assured that she will take all of your inspiration, ideas, wants and needs into consideration when designing your branding. On a personal level, she is warm, empathic and helpful. I initially didn't really know what to expect of the process (having never done something like this before), but she made it very easy for me and filled me with confidence that things were being handled in a highly professional manner.”
