JOURNAL notes.

Ideas and practical advice on brands, websites, design systems and illustration, from the Super 8 studio.

Latest

Branding23 October 2026   ·   5 min read

In 2024 we rebranded GTreasury and redesigned its website, then took the new brand to the busiest conference in corporate treasury. Not long after, Ripple bought the company for $1 billion, and asked us to do it all again.

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New lookLearn about our new brand identity.Two circles, one eight. The idea behind the new Super 8 mark, and the colours, type and rules that go with it.See the brand guidelines

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5 new, 11 in the archive

A wordmark on its own beside the same brand shown as a system of type, colour, pattern and icons
Branding21 October 2026   ·   5 min read

Your logo isn’t doing the heavy lifting

The logo is the bit everyone points at. The system around it is what does the work.

A setting sun and orbiting planets, with line, shape and colour icon studies
Illustration19 October 2026   ·   5 min read

Why custom illustration and icons make brands more memorable

Stock images and free icon sets are everywhere. Custom gives you a look nobody can copy.

Overlapping cyan, magenta and yellow ink circles next to red, green and blue light circles
Branding14 October 2026   ·   6 min read

Why your brand colours change in print

Your orange looks perfect on screen, then arrives on the booth looking tired.

Matt’s 2015 drawing of Dieter Rams next to a speaker grille of black dots
Design23 Sep 2015, updated 2026   ·   5 min read

The ten commandments of good design

Dieter Rams’ ten principles, with our illustrations, and what they mean for brands today.

From the shop.

Mugs and tees from the studio, and a few of Matt’s own designs.

Super Threads

Our own merch shop: Super 8 mugs, tees and hoodies.

Visit Super Threads

Cotton Bureau

Matt’s designs on tees, mugs and more, printed in Pittsburgh.

Visit Cotton Bureau

From the archive.

Talks, interviews and studio notes since 2012