Harland & Wolff

A unified visual identity and design system for one of the world’s most storied shipbuilders, founded in 1861 — brought to life through brochures, annual reports, exhibitions, uniforms, vehicles and bid materials.

Harland & Wolff

Shipbuilder

Founded in 1861, Harland & Wolff is one of the world’s most recognisable shipbuilding names. Its brand, however, had become dated, fragmented and neglected. Our brief was to honour its extraordinary engineering heritage while creating an identity that reflected the business’s capabilities and ambitions.

Built around the idea of engineering the next chapter, we developed a visual language rooted in precision, scale and industrial confidence. Disciplined typography, supporting graphics and a signature black-and-yellow palette created a coherent system across communications, annual reports, signage, uniforms, vehicles and digital platforms.

The work gave Harland & Wolff a confident, consistent presence and extended into bespoke pitch assets supporting its £250m UK National Flagship bid. During the same period, the business formed part of Team Resolute, awarded the £1.6 billion Fleet Solid Support contract in January 2023.

Client

Infrastrata plc /
Harland & Wolff

Sector

Maritime
Engineering
Defence
Manufacturing & Industrials

Disciplines

Brand Identity
Corporate Communications
Editorial Design
Exhibition Design
Signage & Wayfinding
Motion Graphics & Film

Colophon

Print — Gavin Martin
Anniversary film — Engage

From Titanic to Tomorrow: To mark Harland & Wolff’s 160th anniversary, colleagues at Engage created this exceptional film producing a powerful narrative that pays homage to the shipbuilder’s rich heritage while firmly looking to the future. It also acts as a celebration of the brand identity we crafted: highly adaptable and cohesive across digital, print, and beyond.

Harland & Wolff archive image showing Titanic docked in Belfast

Founded in 1861, Harland & Wolff is one of the world’s oldest and most iconic shipbuilding brands. A system built for scale, brought to life through brochures, annual reports, exhibitions, uniforms, vehicles and bid materials.

Harland & Wolff archive image showing exterior buildings in the late 1800, early 1900s with ship in background

Harland & Wolff archive image showing exterior of ship being built in the late 1800, early 1900s

Harland & Wolff archive image showing ships under construction in the docks

Harland & Wolff archive image showing exterior buildings in the late 1800, early 1900s with railway line in foreground

Harland & Wolff workers and apprentices wearing PPE and showing yellow H&W monogram

Harland & Wolff shipyard dock in Scotland looking out to sea with a wind turbine in the picture

The new identity informed a suite of bespoke, high-end pitch assets supporting a £250 million UK National Flagship bid, as well as a £1.6 billion UK MOD contract as part of Team Resolute.

Harland & Wolff National Flagship bid design - Render by SMC

For the £250m UK National Flagship competition, we designed and oversaw the production of a very high specification bid presentation pack incorporating a large (A3 landscape) book, design schematics, boards and a custom-engineered hard case, applying the identity with the same care and authority as the ships themselves. Tactile, detail-focussed, and luxurious.