Oya: Make Waves by The Clerkenwell Brothers

Oya is an investment fund run by two female founders on a mission to invest in powerful leaders that change their industries for the better. They approached The Clerkenwell Brothers to create a new brand identity which would portray trust, accountability and warmth, while complimenting their fluid approach to their investing and nurturing of companies and leaders.

Alice Dobbie, Design Lead at The Clerkenwell Brothers, says, “We loved the challenge of creating a fresh, modern brand for the two female founders of an investment fund. We were presented with a challenge to convey a sense of trust and transparency, while at the same time highlighting the warmth and accessibility of OYA's approach”.

She continued, “We created the final effect using a traditional Japanese marbling technique (Suminagashi), with the founders themselves making the core patterns. The marbling represents OYA acting as a catalyst for organic growth of small businesses”.

“The carefully orchestrated marbling process begins with one precise drop of ink which is then repeated, creating a pattern that evolves fluidly and organically, and is completely unique each time. No two prints are the same, in the same way that no journey as a small business follows the same path. Each experiences dips and waves and OYA is able to cater to that. All the marbling patterns remain encased by an outer ink ring created from the initial brush point of ink; OYA acts as this protective surround, meanwhile enabling organic growth and evolution”.