A brand that goes ‘bang 💥’ for Horizon Fireworks

Remember, remember… it’s Bonfire Night! And I can’t think of a better excuse to talk about a brand that feels right at home in the night sky.

When Alex, director of Horizon Fireworks, first got in touch, it was clear he had more than a logo in mind. Horizon needed a presence. Something you’d recognise on a website, on the side of a van or at the edge of a field full of people looking up and going “Ooooh”.

The fireworks industry is a crowded old place, and an awful lot of the branding blurs together. Lots of stars, lots of sparkly gradients, lots of the same. Alex wanted Horizon to stand out, and honestly, that’s my favourite kind of brief.

The bit I’m proudest of is the mark. I wanted Horizon to have a symbol people could recognise on its own. Think of the golden arches or the Nike swoosh. For me, the clue was right there in the name. That ‘Z’ was crying out to be a lightning bolt. I lifted it out of the lettering and gave it enough weight to stand on its own. It’s still unmistakably a ‘Z’, but now there’s a bit of Alex in it too. He’s made quite a rise in the industry, and that bolt has the same energy.

Then came the colour. Black, white and pink. I love the way the pink cuts through the black, just like a firework against the night sky. It’s a bit confrontational, in the best possible way, and I’ll admit there’s something very satisfying about a palette that doesn’t sit quietly in the corner.

We designed and built a bespoke WordPress website with a custom CMS, immersive video and plenty of interactive bits. We also carried the identity across to Horizon’s sister brand, Horizon Lasers. That little bolt holds up nicely whether you see it on a phone, a van door or a big screen at an event.

Alex put it rather nicely. “I cannot praise Paul enough! His design work has played a huge part in my company’s growth and continues to do so. He’s incredibly talented, reliable and a genuinely great guy to work with.” I’m going a bit pink myself reading that back, which I suppose is very on brand.

If you fancy a proper poke around the project, you’ll find the Horizon Fireworks case study on our site, along with the rest of our selected work. And if your brand could do with a bit more bang, give us a shout.

Here’s to bold little bolts and bright colours in dark skies. If you’re heading out to watch a display tonight, enjoy the “Ooooh”s and stay safe.

Bye for now,

Paul 🤖