19 : 08 : 22 : Weekly Debrief

Tapping into the revival of the vinyl music market, storage company Symbol has updated its branding to broaden the appeal of its home products. The company has hired creative studio High Tide to develop a brand identity that reflects the timeless, hand-crafted quality of its vinyl storage solutions, positioning these items as alternatives to ‘fast furniture’.

To create the visual identity, High Tide looked to heirlooms – items that are passed down from one generation to the next. The rebranding takes inspiration from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s while avoiding the obvious design tropes associated with any one of these eras – aiming to prevent looking overly nostalgic. The result is a visual identity that combines bold graphics and striking imagery to create an appearance that conjures feelings of both nostalgia and forward thinking.

Ushering the vinyl market into a new era, Symbol is offering an alternative to disposable furniture design by using its visual identity to communicate a sense of longevity and heritage. In the Avant Abodes section of the Innovation Debrief, we explore how design companies are attracting younger consumers with visual rebrands.

Mexico – Seventy years after coming to the US to establish margaritas as the nation’s favourite cocktail, Jose Cuervo is bringing its signature spirit to the digital frontier with the launch of the first-ever metaverse distillery. Opening on the 3D virtual world platform Decentraland, the ‘metadistillery’ will play host to virtual experiences for over-21s, be a source for education on all things tequila, and act as a platform for limited edition product launches and entertainment activations.

Designed by Mexico-based Rojkind Arquitectos, the structure of the virtual building is based on the roots of the agave plant – the central ingredient of tequila. Jose Cuervo also worked alongside agency partners Ache and Tangible, as well as multi-sensory experience designers Bompas & Parr, to shape the aesthetic of the virtual world and the visitor experience. Each zone invites visitors to take part in tequila-based games that illustrate a different part of the process of making tequila.

With consumers increasingly interested in interacting with brands in this emerging digital world, we're seeing the rise of Metaverse Architecture, as a growing number of brands and institutions tap prestigious design and architecture firms to help elevate their virtual presence.