The Surface Studio
Crafting a premium identity for a leader in architectural surfaces
Our services
Merchandise
Whether you need a small run for an event, a full internal merch range or something you can sell online, we can help shape the idea, design the assets and prepare everything properly for production.
Branded things people actually want.
Merchandise can be more than putting a logo on something and hoping for the best. Done well, it can turn your brand into something people wear, use, share and remember. From T-shirts, tote bags and stickers to prints, stationery, staff merch, event giveaways and limited product drops, we design merchandise that feels considered, ownable and genuinely connected to your brand.
Give your brand that tangible edge.
We can work with your existing identity or help develop the look, feel, tone and visual system behind your merchandise. That might include typography, slogans, logo use, colour, packaging, product naming, campaign ideas and the overall creative direction. The aim is to create merchandise that feels like a natural extension of your brand, not a generic item with your logo dropped onto it.
Our work
Illustration and character-led merch
Illustration is brilliant for merchandise because it gives your brand more personality. We can create mascots, character designs, illustrated slogans, icon sets, patterns, T-shirt graphics, sticker sheets, tote bag artwork and playful campaign visuals that people actually want to own. Whether you want something cute, clever, bold, strange or deeply unnecessary in the best possible way, we can create illustrated assets that give your merchandise more charm and recognition.
Sell it online
If you want to sell merchandise online, we can help build the e-commerce side too. From Shopify stores and WooCommerce shops to product pages, checkout journeys, product photography, fulfilment setup and dropshipping or print-on-demand integrations, we can create a simple, branded way to sell your products. That means your merchandise does not just exist as a nice idea. It can become a working online store, campaign tool or extra revenue stream.
Merchandise FAQs
Are you a digital agency, creative agency or design agency?
We are a digital and creative agency, which means we combine brand thinking, design craft and technical development. We can support the whole journey, from brand strategy and visual identity to websites, digital platforms, campaigns and production assets.
What is brand and digital?
Brand and digital is the process of building the brand and the digital experience together. It connects strategy, identity, tone of voice, UX, content, web design and development so your website does not feel separate from the brand.
Why should branding and web design be done together?
Your website is often the most important place people experience your brand. By building branding and web design together, we make sure your identity, content, tone of voice, UX and digital platform all work as one joined-up system.
Do we need a full rebrand or just a brand refresh?
A brand refresh is usually right when your existing brand still has value, but needs to feel sharper, more consistent or more current. A full rebrand is better when the strategy, name, positioning, messaging or identity no longer reflect the organisation.
What is the difference between brand identity and visual identity?
Visual identity is the visible part of your brand: logo, colour, typography, imagery, graphics, illustration and layout style. Brand identity is broader and includes positioning, messaging, tone of voice, audience strategy and the wider system that guides how the brand behaves.
Can you help with naming?
Yes. We can help name businesses, products, campaigns, services and sub-brands. Naming works best when it connects back to the wider brand strategy, tone of voice and visual direction.
Can you design a logo?
Yes. We design logos and logo systems for startups, small businesses and established organisations. A logo might include a primary mark, wordmark, icon, monogram, secondary lockup, social avatar or responsive versions for digital and print.
What makes a good website?
A good website helps people understand who you are, find what they need and take action with confidence. It needs clear structure, strong messaging, considered UX, responsive design, good performance, SEO foundations and a CMS your team can actually use.
Can you design a website if we already have developers?
Yes. We can provide UX, wireframes, interface design, prototypes and development-ready design systems for your own developers to build from. This is useful if you have an in-house team but need stronger design thinking or a more polished interface.
Is Laravel better than WordPress?
Laravel is not automatically better than WordPress. It depends on what the website needs to do. WordPress is great for many content-led websites. Laravel is usually better for larger, more complex, functionality-led platforms that need bespoke features, integrations or stronger scalability.