In 2002, when Coolgrey first opened its doors, the goal was to build a design studio with its own in-house print production, delivering everything from identity to rollout under one roof. The studio was founded by friends Justin Cronin and Anthony Cotter, who spent nearly two decades working with local SMEs and watching many of those businesses grow into national and even global successes.
While they saw great success with this approach, the pandemic prompted a shift. During those years, Coolgrey brought in creative director Kieran Rigby and doubled down on brand design as the heart of its practice.
“Coolgrey was born out of necessity in 2002,” Kieran says. “The guiding principle remains the same: always deliver more than is expected.”
An ethos of ambition and positivity
Ambition, drive, and positivity are core values that Coolgrey was built on, that Kieran says are still woven into the daily life of everyone who works there.
“We as a team are always looking to push our clients and ourselves to do something new and exciting, but also focused on developing the company as a whole,” he explains. “I want people to come to us with the knowledge and understanding that what we produce for them we will stand over, confident that we are putting our best foot forward.”
This means that all clients receive the same energy, ensuring that candid, creative conversations are the highlight of someone’s working day, rather than another meeting to get through. “A wise man once said, ‘Don’t be an arsehole,’ and we stand by that,” says Kieran.
It’s a simple but effective mantra that’s much welcome in an industry that sometimes takes itself too seriously.
Branding spaces, not just screens
One of Coolgrey’s more distinctive offers is workspace branding, which doesn’t just mean putting your logo on the walls and at reception. The service involves helping clients shape environments that embody their values without overwhelming the people who use them.
“We use the phrase ‘under-branding’ quite a bit here,” Kieran says. “No one wants to be sold to on a day-to-day basis, especially in a company where they work.”
For Nordan, a Norwegian doors and windows company, that philosophy meant leaving behind the obvious. Kieran explains: “Their primary brand colours are a strong yellow and red, but you will find their interior spaces use zero yellow or red, and this was a purposeful decision.
“The tone they want to set is one of high-end quality and richness. Yet it still needs to align with the overarching brand and identity.”
Local roots with global reach
Coolgrey’s client list spans Cork institutions such as The Everyman Theatre through to global giants like Johnson & Johnson. For Kieran, the scale matters less than the relationship.
“We take every project on a case-by-case basis and have found that people are people. They all have something they need help with,” he says.