Creating one brand out of two for one of Scotland’s largest independent schools.

Creating one brand out of two for one of Scotland’s largest independent schools.  

The Requirement 

With roots going back to 1694, ESM has never been a school that sits still. Our task was to support a root and branch review of the school’s brand identity as it moved towards going co-educational in 2026. 

Our Approach  

We undertook stakeholder research sessions involving school leadership, pupils, staff, alumni, parents and the board. Our work concluded that one brand for the combined school was not only preferred, but it was also essential to supporting a wider review of how the school operates across two campuses. 

We created a new badge that brings together elements from the two heritage badges of Mary Erskine School (for girls) and Stewart’s Melville College (for boys), reflecting the history and heritage of both schools. The resulting design used the ramparts of the castle, the lion set in a contemporary shield. Colours evolved from the well-established school colours and a new dynamic design language was adopted across all physical and digital touchpoints.