Claudia Costa
Brand Designer / Creative Director / Founder of Freckle Design
London, UK
Q What do you do?
“I’m a brand designer, web designer, copywriter and creative director.”
I recently founded a boutique branding studio called Freckle Design that acts as a creative one-stop-shop for young, food, and lifestyle brands. We offer a range of creative services from brand identity design to packaging, photography, web design, and more!
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
I’ve worn a lot of different hats for a lot of different brands over the years. I started my career in marketing before deciding to retrain in design and give in to my craving for a more creative role. Having freelanced for the past 5 years as a graphic designer, copywriter, and creative director I decided to set up Freckle, a boutique branding studio that brings together all the different expertise I’ve acquired under one roof, providing a creative one-stop-shop for young brands in the food and lifestyle space.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
Freckle is a boutique studio, made up of me (Claudia) and a network of creatives to bring each project to life. Our streamlined approach enables us to offer the best of both worlds, providing the affordability and flexibility of a freelancer and the reliability, capacity, and creative excellence of an agency. We pride ourselves on our efficiency, fast turnaround times, and high quality of work.
We are really passionate about demystifying the branding process and making it a straightforward and enjoyable process. We go above and beyond to equip young businesses with all the tools they need to launch and scale their brands with confidence. We have experience working for growing brands, particularly in the food and consumer goods industries so we are flexible to the needs of young companies and understand the different priorities and pressures within a business.
Q What are you working on right now?
Right now we’ve just finished a packaging project for a sustainable food brand called ChicP. who wanted to refresh their packaging ahead of a big retailer launch to increase stand-out on shelves and to realign with their new commercial strategy. They are really thrilled with the result and we can't wait to see the products hit the shelves!
Q What’s your style?
Whilst we make sure our designs reflect the client’s brand strategy and creative vision, rather than having a trademark in-house style, we do make sure our designs are contemporary and don't rely on passing trends. We gravitate to a certain playfulness and love to include engaging copy for a really standout creative, and are always looking to create that all-important emotional connection between the brand and their customer.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
I would love to have the opportunity to create more high-end brand identities in the beauty space. Getting the chance to design and print luxury packaging is always such a dream.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
Alongside client work, it’s hard to prioritize reaching out to potential clients and marketing the studio.
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
Good question! I would get them to make sure our website is up to date with new client work. Oh and give me foot rubs? Is that allowed?
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
I wish I could go back in time, squash the self-doubt monster and tell myself to lean into my ambition and trust my gut more!
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
I always enjoy talking to printers who have a really deep understanding of the different print processes and can advise on how to achieve the look, feel and finish you're looking for. I always learn so much even from just a short phone call!
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
We really want to connect with young businesses that are looking for a creative partner to level up their brand. We provide brand strategy, brand identity, packaging, copywriting, web design, and development alongside day-to-day design support.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
We love working with people who are on a mission to create positive change and have a purpose beyond profit. We find the best collaborations are ones where the client has a clear vision of where they want to take the brand and an understanding of how good design will help them achieve their goals. We want to work for clients who are at the stage where they’re ready to invest, not just financially but also through dedicating time to the branding process, and are looking for a creative partner to guide them rather than just a pixel pusher.
Q: What is your rate?
Our branding packages start at £2400 and branding and web packages start at £5800. We always try to be as flexible as possible to help you bring your project to life! We can also work on one-off projects or monthly retainers if you need continual support. Get in touch and we can create a bespoke quote.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
Head to our website to take a look at our range of services and packages and see if we could be a good fit. Then fill out the form on our contact page and we’ll be in touch to schedule a no-pressure Discovery call.
Q Who is a creative you admire?
I love Kati Forner who specializes in minimal, luxury brand identities and packaging. I haven't ever worked with her personally but just perv from a distance on Insta! instagram @KatiForner
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
DIY projects around the house. And baths!
This member profile was originally published in April 2022.