Let’s be real for a second; design is easy when it stays on a computer screen. You pick a pretty font, find a cool color, and it looks perfect, but at GP by CG, we don’t just live on screens; we live in the world of high-heat lasers, industrial printers, and raw materials like wood, leather, and acrylic.
I’m finally sharing our new 26-page brand deck, and honestly, it’s much more than just a look book. It’s the story of how we grew from a small creative lab into a full-blown production studio that’s obsessed with precision.
The “Why” Behind the Change
You might notice the new monogram on Page 1; we didn’t change it just to look “cool”. We changed it because our old look couldn’t keep up with our machines. When you’re using an xTool CO2 laser to etch a logo into leather, every tiny line matters. If a design is too cluttered, the laser scorches it; if a font is too thin, it disappears.
On Page 5, I dive into our “Redesign Rationale,” where we stripped the brand down to its core so that no matter how small we print it, or what material we etch it into, it stays sharp. This is what I call Theory to Reality on Page 7; it’s about making sure the vision in my head actually works when it hits the heat press.
Beyond Pretty Colors
Most people think branding is just picking a color you like; for us, it’s a science. On Pages 8 and 9, you’ll see our typography and color systems. We chose Montserrat and Open Sans because they are clean, modern, and, most importantly, they are readable even when they’re embroidered or engraved.
We also laid out exactly how we use these elements on everything from business cards on Page 10, to our actual production signature on the gear we make on Page 14.
What Makes Us Different?
There are a lot of big retail giants out there, like Vistaprint or Custom Ink; they’re great for mass-market stuff, but they don’t offer the GP Edge. On Pages 15-17, I break down the competition. Our advantage is simple: we are a design-led manufacturing studio. That means the person designing your logo is the same person running the laser. We don’t just order your vision, we build it.
The Future is Digital (and Physical)
The last section of the deck shows where we’re headed. We’ve designed a new “Digital Hub” with mockups for our services and projects on Pages 21-25. Whether you’re looking at a newsletter on your phone or holding a custom-engraved piece in your hand, it should feel like it all came from the same place.
Take a Look
This deck is a promise that we’re going to keep pushing what’s possible in our studio. We aren’t just making stuff; we’re building high-tech, personal art.
Flip through the deck, scan the QR codes, and let me know what you think. Welcome to the new era of GP by CG.
GP BY CG Brand Guidelines DECK 0526
