Explore Bold Concepts: Early Designs for Energy Central ProjectExplore Bold Concepts: Early Designs for Energy Central Project
The network for creativity
Join 1.25M professional creatives like you
Connect with clients, get discovered, and run your business 100% commission-free
Creatives on Contra have earned over $150M and we are just getting started
Most of the work I share early in a project is meant to feel a little uncomfortable. Not bad, just bold. Pushed further than the brief asked, into territory the client didn’t quite realise they were ready for. I never go too safe early on. It’s easier to pull things back than it is to start from something that feels soulless. Here’s a glimpse of some early concepts from the Energy Central project. Some bold, some more editorial, all exploratory. A lot of this won’t make it into the final brand, but that’s the point. It’s not wasted work – it’s what leads to a stronger result. The kind you wouldn’t arrive at if you played it safe from the start. This is how a team learns what they’re actually ready to stand behind. The directions you reject are often the ones that lead you to the one you commit to.
Post image
Post image
Post image
Post image
Oussama's avatar
looks awesome
kolawole's avatar
This shows a high level of skill and attention to detail. It’s not something most people can pull off this way. What key principle or technique do you think made the biggest impact here?
Nagaraj's avatar
Snapzoom logo
Looking great man
sriparna's avatar
‘This might be too much’ is usually the best starting point.
Alex's avatar
Oluwatobi's avatar
This is the first time i will be hearing about this strategy
And it really is a sound one, there is so much pros in it and i cant think of a con yet
Beautiful work by the way. The energy is visible, not just in name only
Akinkunmi's avatar
looking clean
sidi 's avatar
Looks nice
Bamidele's avatar
Love this approach 🔥 pushing beyond the brief often leads to the strongest brand direction.
Nabeel's avatar
Create Souls logo
Safe first rounds usually hide the real direction. Pushing early gives the client something sharper to react to.
kolawole's avatar
This shows a high level of skill and attention to detail. It’s not something most people can pull off this way. What key principle or technique do you think made the biggest impact here?
Nileshkumar's avatar
Awesome work
Nicolette's avatar
this outlook is so inspiring, especially considering other disciplines i've set it to work in–– not only are these designs all super unique & eye-catching, but you've reminded me of a key pillar to remaining consistent in my aspirations towards achievement. great stuff!
Stanley's avatar
This approach is so refreshing. I like the idea of starting uncomfortable and refining it down. @Alex Aperios 🙌
I am curious, though: when you're initially pushing boundaries that hard, how do you frame that presentation to the client so they feel excited about the 'boldness' rather than immediately anxious about the 'discomfort'?
Alex's avatar
You can never stop a client feeling anxious in any scenario, it's their business you are in the hands of but I just explain to them I am going to present 2 or 3 options and one is a little bit experimental.
Lortist's avatar
Jordan's avatar
I love the EC in the bottom left. Such a cool combination of colors
Révolté's avatar
So coool! Love it! I will surely take inspiration by them!
FTC's avatar
Love it!!
Subash's avatar
Seative-digital logo
looks awesome
Atolani's avatar
It’s much more effective to dial back a bold idea than it is to try and breathe life into a boring one. Those rejected "editorial" or "raw" directions for Energy Central aren't just drafts; they’re the guardrails that define the final vision. If you aren't pushing a client to...
Vyudu's avatar
The line about rejected directions leading you to the committed one is the part most case studies bury. Showing the bold misses publicly takes guts. Clients trust designers who walked them through the discomfort, because the final mark earns its weight from everything it had to outrun.
Back to feed
The network for creativity
Join 1.25M professional creatives like you
Connect with clients, get discovered, and run your business 100% commission-free
Creatives on Contra have earned over $150M and we are just getting started