A small refresh, a quiet shift (and why it matters)
You might’ve noticed things moving around here lately. A few tweaks.
A few colour shifts. A slightly different feel.
Studio Off Kilter has had a bit of a freshen up.
Should I have done it? Maybe.
Was there something else I could’ve been doing? Probably.
Is it finished? Not a chance.
Does it look good? Yeah. I’m happy with it.
Like most things in freelance life, it didn’t start with a grand plan. It started with a small idea. A “let’s just see how this looks” moment. One change led to another, and before I knew it, I was halfway down the road pulling threads and following them wherever they went.
That’s often how running a small business actually works. You don’t always get the space for big, dramatic rebrands. More often, it’s slow, incremental evolution. Small improvements made in motion, rather than big leaps made all at once.
As a freelance graphic designer based in Stirling, I see this with clients all the time. Businesses grow and shift, but their branding and website stay frozen at an earlier version of themselves. Not through neglect, but because there’s never quite a “right” moment to stop everything and start again.
Off Kilter has always had a darker, grittier edge, and that hasn’t gone anywhere. But brands aren’t static. They’re reflections of the people behind them. Sometimes they need a bit more colour. A bit more warmth. A bit more space to breathe. Not because something was wrong before, but because growth rarely follows a straight line.
This isn’t a full rebrand. There’s no big reveal or neat before-and-after. It’s me refining as I go. Simplifying where things had become overworked. Sharpening what still feels right. Letting go of elements that no longer reflect the work I’m doing now (you can see examples over on my portfolio.
Freelancing, especially in branding and graphic design, is a constant rewrite. You learn what works. You notice what no longer fits. You adapt. Studio Off Kilter is evolving because I am, and the brand needs to move with that rather than lag behind it.
From a practical point of view, this website refresh is also about clarity. Making it easier to understand what I do, who I work with, and how I can help. Whether that’s brand identity design, website design or ongoing graphic design support for small and growing businesses across Stirling, Scotland, and beyond.
If you’re running a business and your brand or website hasn’t shifted in years, this is your nudge. You don’t need to burn everything down and start again. Often, the most effective changes are the quieter ones. Thoughtful updates that bring things back into alignment with where your business actually is now, not where it was when you first launched.
If your branding or website is starting to feel out of step, I’d love to chat. Get in touch and we’ll figure out what the next small step should be.
