It was a pleasure to collaborate with Stem7 to create their updated brand identity, to include a new logo, refined fonts and colour scheme. Stem7 are an Executive Search & Talent Advisory firm specialising in Investment Banking, Private Equity, Infrastructure, Real Assets, Debt, Credit and Sustainability. The new branding needed to reflect their ethos as a highly professional firm delivering exceptional talent at the top end of their specialist sectors.
The new logo honors the legacy of the previous version, with a few key improvements and rebalancing. The new logo has an almost symetrical outline, with the uppercase S mirrored in form by the number 7. It was decided no space was needed to differentiate ‘Stem’ from ‘7’, resulting in a tighter lockup; however a different colour is used to seperate the two elements. A range of collateral was included in the project scope, and overall the new branding showcases a clean, crisp, highly professional aesthetic.
Case Study
Opportunity
Executive search at the top end of finance demands instant signals of trust, precision and discretion. In a category overflowing with templated corporate visuals, there was space for a legacy-aware identity that feels engineered for board-level credibility while remaining modern and understated.
Objectives
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Convey a highly professional, discreet partner capable of delivering exceptional talent across specialist finance sectors.
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Honour the existing brand equity while correcting balance, legibility and usage consistency.
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Establish a disciplined system that performs across proposals, decks and digital touchpoints.
Insight & Strategy
C-suite clients and senior candidates form opinions in seconds. We positioned Stem7 around precision and composure: refined typography, calibrated spacing and a mark that quietly encodes balance and partnership. The tone is confident and low-noise—luxury expressed through restraint, not flourish.
Identity Solution
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Wordmark & Symbol Logic: The updated logo respects the previous form while improving proportion. A near-symmetrical silhouette pairs the uppercase S with the 7, creating a purposeful tension that reads as balance and exactitude. Removing the internal space tightens recognition; nuanced colour separation ensures instant readability without visual clutter.
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System: Primary horizontal and compact lockups with clear-space and minimum-size rules so the identity holds together from slide headers to small digital avatars.
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Palette & Typography: A refined corporate palette with editorially clean type—chosen for high contrast, long-form readability and calm authority in investor materials.
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Collateral & Templates: Application guidelines and working templates for day-to-day use (presentations, proposals and key client documents) to keep delivery consistent under real pressure.
Competitive Edge Now
Compared with typical sector branding, Stem7 now signals senior-level credibility at a glance. The symmetry and spacing choices convey method, the palette and typography project discretion, and the system reduces friction across live deliverables.
What This Enables
Ideally positioned to reassure institutional clients and attract high-calibre candidates; to present shortlists, proposals and thought-leadership with gallery-grade clarity; and to scale coherently as new sectors, geographies or service lines are introduced—without losing the brand’s unmistakably high-end tone.
