The Grand Press

Inspired by its past and designed for what’s next, the Printworks building has shaped London’s cultural landscape for decades. from printing the Daily Mail and Evening Standard, to becoming an iconic events venue. Now, in partnership with British Land, we’ve created a brand that honours its legacy as The Grand Press while redefining it for a bold, future-facing chapter.

The visual contrast of the pure forms, graphic shapes and crisp linework fused with distressed concrete and years of layered paint and texture, became the basis for The Grand Press design system. The utilitarian wayfinding throughout the original building had a functional beauty and no-nonsense graphic quality that made it a rich source of inspiration; the logo is based on the original signage. It’s an emblematic mark that’s confident, elegant and timeless, doubling as a graphic device that holds imagery, text and colour.

A suite of image treatments pay homage to both the building’s printing and musical histories. The treatments are born from raw visual references, from distressed concrete floors to ink splatters and long-forgotten stickers. Halftone, a traditional printing technique, features heavily as a nod to the former printing press.

We visited the building countless times, capturing hundreds of photos. long, labyrinthine corridors, towering concrete columns splattered with paint, and intricate networks of overlapping pipework. It was a journey into the past, uncovering the layers of story etched into the space. The contrast of materials, the weathered textures, and the sheer industrial scale were both humbling and deeply inspiring.

GT Cinetype is bold, graphic, and utilitarian, echoing the found signage and architectural angles of the building’s façade. At scale, its faceted details bring striking visual drama; at smaller sizes, it delivers clarity and character. The colour palette is drawn directly from the space; iron, concrete, and stone textures reimagined. Grand Green nods to the original cladding, while Press Orange marks the building’s next chapter.

The brand guidelines were crafted as a printed book; part technical document, part story of the building. It captures the past, present, and future of The Grand Press in one volume. We also helped bring the brand to life in the Press Hall, revealing a poetic, non-linear brand film in partnership with Greenaway & Greenaway. Scored with an original soundtrack, it was made specifically for the 12x4 ft screen at the heart of the space.