Open for new projects for Autumn 2026 Studio in Nuneaton, Warwickshire
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Keeping Our Process Simple

Every Saint Nicolas project runs through the same four short phases — Discover, Direction, Develop, Deliver. You see real work and make a real decision at the end of every one. Scope, deliverables and timeline all agreed in writing before we start.

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1Phase one

Discover.

Before any pixels move, we learn the business — what you sell, who you sell to, what success looks like and the brands you don't want to look like.
2Phase two

Direction.

Two distinct design routes, each shown in the contexts the work will actually live in. We pick one together, then refine.
3Phase three

Develop.

The chosen direction is built out properly — variants, edge cases, the small decisions that separate a good design from a polished one.
4Phase four

Deliver.

Final files, usage guidelines, asset library and launch checklist — handed over so the work is easy to keep using long after we've moved on.
1Phase one

Discover.

What happens in this phase

A short kickoff call, a structured questionnaire and a written read of the brief. We surface assumptions, name constraints, and put a date-pinned plan in writing before anyone draws anything.

Kickoff call

60-minute call covering business, audience and the brands you don't want to look like.

Discovery questionnaire

Structured prompts you answer in your own time — usually under an hour.

Competitor & reference scan

A short visual audit of where you sit and where the empty space is.

Written project read

A 2–3 page summary you can share internally — assumptions named, plan pinned.

2Phase two

Direction.

What happens in this phase

Two genuinely different design routes, not three variations of one idea. Each is shown in the real contexts the work will live in: favicon, signage, social, dieline, page templates. You see how it behaves before you commit.

Two design routes

Distinct directions: different visual logic, different bets, not safe variants of one.

In real context

Each shown at every scale the work will actually need, favicon to billboard.

Presentation walkthrough

A 45-minute call to walk through the thinking, not just the visuals.

Written rationale

Why each route, what it's optimising for, what it's quietly betting against.

3Phase three

Develop.

What happens in this phase

Pixels get pushed into place. Optical adjustments at small sizes, edge-case treatments, monochrome and reversed variants, system rules. Two structured revision rounds — focused on specific decisions, not endless tweaks.

Final design build

Optical adjustments, edge cases, every scale and surface considered.

Variants & lockups

Mono, reversed, stacked, horizontal — every working form built and tested.

Two revision rounds

Structured, focused, scoped to specific decisions. Additional rounds quoted per hour.

System rules captured

The decisions written down so the work survives the team that uses it.

4Phase four

Deliver.

What happens in this phase

Final files in every format your team will need. A short usage guide that's actually short. Asset library structure your team can navigate. A 30-day post-launch window for questions — because that's when the small things tend to come up.

Master files

SVG, PNG, EPS, PDF — every format you'll need, properly organised.

Usage guidelines

A short PDF with the rules and the examples, not a 60-page brand bible.

Asset library handover

Folder structure, naming, where to put new assets when they're made.

30-day support window

Questions, small tweaks, last-mile rendering issues — covered after launch.

What stays the same

The standards we bring to every project.

Different projects need different solutions, but the way we approach the work stays consistent.

Thought before design

We don't jump straight into making things look good. The thinking comes first — understanding what the work needs to achieve and making design decisions for a reason.

Ideas with a point of view

We'll explore, question and recommend rather than simply presenting every possible option. You're hiring us for our judgement as much as our ability to design.

Work that earns its place

Every element should have a job to do. We avoid decoration for decoration's sake and focus on creating work that is clear, distinctive and useful.

Detail matters

The small things rarely feel small when they're wrong. Spacing, typography, interactions, file preparation and all the less glamorous details receive the same attention as the big idea.

Feedback with purpose

We make room for discussion and refinement throughout the project. Feedback is considered against the brief and the objectives, so revisions move the work forward rather than simply making it different.

A proper handover

The project doesn't end with a folder of unexplained files. We make sure you have what you need, understand how to use it and can get the best from the work once it leaves our studio.

Typical timelines

How long it usually takes.

Indicative ranges across the four phases. Every project gets a date-pinned timeline as part of the written estimate before work begins.

Service Typical timeline Notes
Logo Design 3-5 days Add 1–2 weeks if photography or naming is also in scope.
Brand Identity (full) 2–3 weeks Logo, type, colour, guidelines and core collateral.
Website Design & Build 2–4 weeks Depends on content readiness and CMS choice.
Packaging Design 1–2 weeks Varies with print complexity, dieline review, variant count.
Brochure / Report 1–2 weeks Varies with page count and photography needs.
Stationery Suite 1–2 weeks Card, letterhead, comp slip, signature as standard.
Flyer Design 3–5 days Print + digital variant from the same brief.
Book / Album Cover 3–5 days Includes spine, back, variants and ebook / streaming files.
Instagram Post Set 1–2 weeks Templates handed over for your team to keep using.
All ranges assume responsive feedback from the client side. If you need it faster, ask.
Great Work yet again
peterwalker101 United Kingdom

Ready to start a project?

Phase one begins with a short discovery call. We come back within one working day with a written response.

Start a project or call 07356 264414