L’Histoire Ancienne
Fin’s founders first met when then-LWT executive producer Tim Graham (dressed bizarrely in full cricket whites) tried to brief leading freelance Flame artiste Darian Weir on an animated titles sequence - by showing him a retro kitsch coffee mug from Heal’s. The bemused graphics whizz nevertheless humoured the crazed veteran enough to cement a working relationship that would last to this day.
After further ludicrous adventures, Daz, Tim, Roger and Dan struck the Fin partnership deal in just 10 minutes on the back on a napkin in a south London curry-house, incorporating as Fin London Ltd on 9th November 2004.
200 broadcast projects on from that outlandish creative meeting in the bowels of London Weekend Television, Fin stay proudly true to their original founding style and ethos.
Le Nom De La Fin & Brand Story
Our central aim has remained since launching - to always ensure a hassle-free end delivery of stylish, memorable productions: Hence our company name, philosophy and brand design all being inspired by the simple classic cinematic motif ending vintage French films, fin. Our choice of a non-English name also represents our international outlook and client profile.
Our initial brand aims were to visually mix the best 1960’s soul and 70’s punk record labels looks with the discreet classic luxury of European perfumes! Both these influences are aspirational and enticing, but to very different markets both of which interested – and we hope represented – what we want Fin to be: The first is friendly, exciting and fun. The second cool and chic. We felt too many of our potential competitors or previous media employers really didn’t have an image, or even understand its point. In a visual communication industry, we still think this is crazy.
So, we created the Fin brand look to represent our mix of classic and contemporary stylistic influences and multi-disciplined services. For example, music and design are reflected by fin’s umbrella-handle curved ‘f’, adapted from iconic 60’s record label Fontana, and our subsequent creation of an exclusive fin font.
The lime-green full stop ending our logo was also the symbolic launch point for Fin’s brand roll-out and HQ design: colour-coded ‘target’ tables and signage, the devilish skull-figure Mr Party Hat, Bar Fiz and our coveted badge collection.
We feel strongly too that in order to develop the long term relationships we enjoy with the great brands we work with, Fin’s own brand story must demonstrate integrity, passion, distinctiveness and a creative understanding of brand evolution!