A Human Agency Gets a Hand-Made Brand Look

A Human Agency represents illustrators, so its own identity needs a careful balance. It must have character without drawing attention away from their artwork. For its new look, designer Davy Denduyver avoided using illustration. The agency represents 14 artists, and another illustration style could compete with them. Instead, he created letters and a symbol by hand.

The result uses a soft cream-and-black colour palette and a stamp-like appearance. Some serif letters lean to make the design feel less perfect. A serif is a small line at the end of a letter. The agency's message appears on items including cards, bags, clothing and packing tape. Together, these details give the brand a handmade feeling while supporting the artists' work.

Founder Ryan Claydon chose the name A Human Agency in 2020. He wanted to support illustrators for their thinking and view of the world. Their final artwork mattered, but it was not the whole story. He now also sees the name as a response to low-quality AI content. He wants to connect with clients who value human creators and their individual voices.

Ryan found Davy through Creative Boom's Instagram series Ten Under 10K. The series features 10 creatives with fewer than 10,000 followers. Ryan liked Davy's combination of hand-drawn elements and typography. Their first conversation also revealed a shared sense of humour. This helped them build a working relationship before developing the new identity.

Ryan gave Davy a clear brief but left space for creative choices. The project needed only two minor changes, according to Ryan. Davy says he does not use AI in his practice. He values trying ideas, talking with people and accepting imperfect details. For this project, those choices helped make an identity that expresses the agency's purpose.