Follio

The problem at hand

Any large-scale architecture and interior project, be it a new hospital, or university campus, needs a comprehensive design standard. A place to access all approved products, their application within room templates, as well as specification details.

Historically, the industry go-to practice would be to create a folder of inaccessible PDFs, or a clunky physical binder. This often leads to stagnant documents, quickly outdated information, time wasted endlessly searching for simple information, and an increase in overall project costs.

But as the world moves forward, so should design standards.

Follio is the future of interior design standards — a digital platform designed from the ground up, helping large enterprises organise, manage and deliver design standards to streamline workflows and ensure cohesion in every project.

What initially started as an idea, ended up as a long-term partnership with the Follio team across the brand, website and product. We gave the company a name, created a confident brand identity system, designed & built a complex standards platform, and launched a marketing website with carefully directed 3D scenes.

An identity that gives you space

Every good idea needs a good name. We came up with the name ‘Follio’ as a reinterpretation of what a standards folder in the digital age would look like. A new folio, designed for complexity and accessibility.

We constructed a simple and clean visual system that reflects the modular and functional nature of the brand. Drawing from architectural blueprints we transformed a flat folder icon into an isometric floor plan, and a subtle ‘F’ monogram. The logomark confidently represents how Follio allows you to rethink the organisation of a space.

The graphic language acts as a blank space, allowing the content to be the centrepiece of the brand. This light and muted approach makes space for a wide range of manufacturers, products, materials and room templates to happily coexist on the same platform. Relying on the neutral colour palette including black and off-white; the electric blue accent is a nod to the architectural blueprint. 

To compliment the timeless aesthetic, we introduced Beausite Classic as the brand’s only typeface. The neogrotesque font with subtle geometric touches is designed to be effortlessly versatile, suitable for both display and body.

Platform for pipes, lights, and everything in-between

The platform needed a rigorous, accessible, and streamlined user interface. We carefully developed a design system using a React framework focused on visually displaying the products and materials library through a set of versatile card components, akin to e-commerce catalogues of products. On top of this foundation, we added a range of essential features, from category tagging and global search, to custom room templates, and product-to-room multi-referencing. 

We’ve also built an AI-based product enrichment feature that auto-populates the product images, name, codes, manufacturer, specifications, and more, all from a simple link. This allows teams to build and operate standards more efficiently, removing constant copy-pasting.

Additionally, we developed a secure system that would be enterprise-ready for all industries, including two-factor authentication, file hosting architecture, and role-based permissions system that ensures the right access to the right people.

Building a room with Follio

Working closely with the Follio team, we created a series of art-directed 3D videos showcasing the brand in a variety of architectural scenes, and a range of materials. On top of that, we’ve produced a Medical industry-specific 3D video, showcasing a hospital room coming to life with the help of Follio. From the electrical system, drainage, to walls and furniture, the clip contextualises the variety of products documented on the platform.

Follio tomorrow

After the launch, Follio succeeded in onboarding significant US-based hospitals into their new framework, and is now working towards integrating more industries into the platform. All in the name of optimising workflows, and allowing project management teams to operate more efficiently without the barrage of questions about design standards that can impede progress.