Hiring a studio should not feel like a leap of faith. Yet most brands sign contracts without knowing what week two will look like. So here is exactly what working with LIRCLE looks like, stage by stage - the same process behind every project in our portfolio.
Stage 1 - The conversation (day 1-3)
It starts with a short note through our contact page - what you are building, your timeline, a rough budget range. We reply with honest first thoughts and, if it looks like a fit, a discovery call. No pitch theatre; just questions about your business, market and goals. (Not sure what to include? Our briefing guide covers it in one page.)
Stage 2 - Brief and scope (week 1)
We turn the conversation into a written brief: the problem, the audience, the deliverables, the schedule and the fixed price. You approve it before anything begins - so there are no surprise invoices and no scope drift later. This document becomes the measuring stick for every design decision that follows.
Stage 3 - Direction (weeks 1-2)
Before polished design, we align on direction: positioning, references, the strategic idea the identity will be built around. Agreeing on direction first is why our revision rounds refine instead of restart - the most expensive mistake in creative projects is designing before deciding.
Stage 4 - Design and refinement (weeks 2-5)
Now the system takes shape: identity, packaging, content templates, digital - whatever the scope defines. You see real applications, not abstract logo boards; a label on a shelf, a post in a feed, a box in a hand. Feedback happens in structured rounds (typically two per stage), async-first since we are remote, so decisions are documented and nothing gets lost in calls.
Stage 5 - Production and launch (final week)
Finished means usable: print-ready dielines, digital assets, templates and guidelines organised so your team - or your printer - can execute without us standing by. Then launch, where the system meets the world. Projects like Bake Away went from first call to launch-ready inside this exact structure.
A good process is invisible in the final work - and unmistakable in how calm the project felt.
What this means for you
Fixed price agreed upfront (see real ranges), one senior team from first call to final files, direction before design, and launch-ready assets at the end. If that is the kind of project you want to run, tell us what you are building.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a brand identity project take with LIRCLE?
Most identity and packaging projects run 3-8 weeks from kickoff to final files, depending on scope - a focused identity sits at the shorter end, integrated brand-plus-packaging systems at the longer end. You get a concrete timeline before anything is signed.
How many revision rounds are included?
Scopes include defined refinement rounds - typically two per stage. Because direction is agreed before design begins, revisions refine the chosen direction instead of restarting it, which is why projects stay on schedule.
Do I need everything figured out before contacting LIRCLE?
No. A short note about what you are building, your timeline and a rough budget range is enough - the discovery call and brief stage exist precisely to shape the rest together.