Building a Brand for Future Aspirations

Building a Brand for Future Aspirations

In 2019, Stitch Fix found itself at a crossroads. The company had experienced explosive growth over the past eight years, but its brand had remained largely anchored in the original system that had served it well from the start. With ambitious goals on the horizon and a rapidly expanding market, it was time for a bold reimagining of the brand—something that could carry Stitch Fix into the future while shaking off any remnants of its past.

In 2019, Stitch Fix found itself at a crossroads. The company had experienced explosive growth over the past eight years, but its brand had remained largely anchored in the original system that had served it well from the start. With ambitious goals on the horizon and a rapidly expanding market, it was time for a bold reimagining of the brand—something that could carry Stitch Fix into the future while shaking off any remnants of its past.

employer

stitch fix

employer

stitch fix

employer

stitch fix

location

san francisco, ca

location

san francisco, ca

location

san francisco, ca

year

2019

year

2019

year

2019

Under the creative guidance of VP Greg Johnson, we embarked on a mission to revolutionize the Stitch Fix brand. This wasn’t just a refresh; it was a full-on rebrand, designed to push boundaries and redefine what Stitch Fix could be. To kick off this transformation, I led a small but mighty “tiger team” of in-house creatives and external consultants tasked with creating three distinct “brand territories,” each representing a different vision for Stitch Fix’s future. The challenge? Sell one of these bold new directions to the C-suite.

territory 1: mirror

The first territory, Mirror, was the most modest of the three—a gentle evolution that leaned into Stitch Fix’s strength in reflecting each client’s true style. It kept much of the existing design system intact, with subtle updates to keep things feeling fresh. This approach was all about familiarity, ensuring that the brand remained recognizable while embracing a modern edge.

the team

creative director

aaron brown

creative director

aaron brown

creative director

aaron brown

art director

morgan sterns

art director

morgan sterns

art director

morgan sterns

embedded creative consultant

marc shillum

embedded creative consultant

marc shillum

embedded creative consultant

marc shillum

TERRITORY 2: PATH

The second territory, Path, took inspiration from the journeys of our clients. Many had described their style evolution as a personal journey, and we tapped into that sentiment with a visual metaphor of an unwinding road. This direction played with clever motion design to illustrate the ongoing, never-ending exploration of one’s unique style. It was a concept rooted in progress and discovery, perfectly aligning with the stories our clients were already telling us.

the team

creative director

aaron brown

creative director

aaron brown

creative director

aaron brown

art director

madi barbier

art director

madi barbier

art director

madi barbier

embedded creative consultant

marc shillum

embedded creative consultant

marc shillum

embedded creative consultant

marc shillum

territory 3: magnetism

Then came the final direction, Magnetism—the most daring of them all. This was the territory that dared to take Stitch Fix into uncharted waters. It revolved around the idea of dynamic personalization, symbolized by magnetic poles that attract what suits you and repel what doesn’t. This wasn’t just about style; it was about building connections, about “stitching” together a broader personalization platform that could expand far beyond fashion. Magnetism wasn’t just a rebrand; it was the foundation for a whole new business initiative, aptly named “Stitch.”

the team

creative director

aaron brown

creative director

aaron brown

creative director

aaron brown

embedded creative consultant

marc shillum

embedded creative consultant

marc shillum

embedded creative consultant

marc shillum

designer

morgan sterns

designer

morgan sterns

designer

morgan sterns

patrick nelson

patrick nelson

patrick nelson

travelling fo(u)rth

In the end, Magnetism won the day. It wasn’t just the boldness of the concept that captivated the C-suite; it was how seamlessly it aligned with the company’s strategic goals for expansion. What followed was a year-long rollout that saw the Stitch Fix of “today” transformed through the lens of Magnetism. My team and I delivered a completely new brand system—everything from visual identity and content strategy to voice, tone, and even the motion and packaging systems. Over 12 months, we redefined Stitch Fix, crafting a brand identity that was not only robust and comprehensive but also fearless and forward-looking, earning approval and accolades from the highest levels of the company.

the team

creative director

aaron brown

creative director

aaron brown

creative director

aaron brown

embedded creative consultant

marc shillum

embedded creative consultant

marc shillum

embedded creative consultant

marc shillum

art director

victoria montero

art director

victoria montero

art director

victoria montero

madi barbier

madi barbier

madi barbier

designer

patrick nelson

designer

patrick nelson

designer

patrick nelson

vp of brand

greg johnson

vp of brand

greg johnson

vp of brand

greg johnson

Unfortunately, fate had other plans. Just one week before the launch of our bold new rebrand, Stitch Fix hired a new President, and with that change in leadership, the project was put on hold indefinitely. Despite all the creativity, strategy, and countless hours poured into the initiative, the rebrand never saw the light of day. While it was a tough pill to swallow, the experience remains a testament to the power of creative vision and the resilience of a team that dared to push the boundaries, even if the world didn’t get to see the it.

  • open to work

    open to work

  • open to work

    open to work

  • open to work

    open to work