
Folkestone Sea Sauna will be one of the first of its kind in the UK. There are a number of sea swimmers
in the Folkestone area and this new facility will not only help them to recover faster, particularly during the winter months but will provide a place to congregate and socialise. It is hoped that, as a natural consequence, the sea swimming community will grow as people begin to understand the health and social benefits.
Project founder, Peter Blach, heads a committee who are driving fundraising efforts and sourcing local investment to convert a shipping container, or equivalent, into the sauna itself. Realia became the first in-kind sponsor of the sauna providing branding expertise; from concept development through to the execution of the finished logo.
With some clear ideas and influences, Peter briefed the Realia team. The Realia team then devised moodboards, compiling initial thoughts around the use of colour, styles, imagery, textures and typography. Used at this stage, moodboards can help to streamline the creative process and provide clients with a visual representation of our thinking to help define direction. Key elements for consideration included the combination of the sea/sun/sauna elements of the offer, simplicity and a feeling of space and freedom,
and being non-specific to location so the brand could be transferable to other saunas in the future.
Concepts were presented and together Peter and the Realia team agreed on a route. The final logo is simple in its style and representative of the product through colourways and illustration. Typography is clear, inviting and legible for all uses; from small swim badges and social media, through to the large scale graphics that will appear on the sauna itself.
“Working with the designers at Realia was a real pleasure.
After our initial meeting, the team brought some great ideas to the table. At every stage of the design process, they were quick to take on our notes and handled the project in a top professional manner. I wish every creative process was this smooth!”
PETER BLACH
Project Founder, Folkestone Sea Sauna
“With the client’s passion and energy for the project we couldn’t help but get excited about working on it. The brief was open but had some clearly defined ideas, which gave us the freedom to develop a range of routes for the brand. The final logo is a true collaboration between us and the client.”
TOM HOMEWOOD
Art Director, Realia