Acorn TV

Brand Identity

Acorn TV has long been a beloved service for fans of British TV, but as its content slate expands beyond Britain, the brand needed to evolve without losing its core DNA.

Client

Acorn TV

Role

Chief Creative Officer

Year

2019-2024

Our journey with Acorn TV began in 2019 with a rebrand that launched the service globally. (You can see this work if you scroll down.) After years of successful growth, we updated Acorn TV’s strategy and visual identity to transcend location and unite a world of mysteries and dramas that share a rich sense of place while staying rooted in a British sensibility.

Acorn TV’s new design system brings a refined playfulness. We redesigned the logo and introduced a monogram that provides a memorable frame for content while building brand attribution in small spaces. The reinvented palette was inspired by the signature “British Racing Green” of UK automobile designers. We also developed a whimsical motion language where animations open with a wink and then nudge to hero messaging.

The new brand voice is grounded in “brilliant-isms”—subtle turns of phrase and intonations that feel ever so British. A mystery that’s “quite nice.” A drama that’s “rather lovely.” Enter the new tagline: Brilliant. It effortlessly telegraphs Acorn TV’s roots, proclaims the feeling you get when watching, and is why so many subscribe. For the rebrand campaign, we expanded the tagline to its logical conclusion: Acorn TV is "Brilliant, In a Nutshell."

Our journey with Acorn TV began in 2019 with a rebrand that launched the service globally. (You can see this work if you scroll down.) After years of successful growth, we updated Acorn TV’s strategy and visual identity to transcend location and unite a world of mysteries and dramas that share a rich sense of place while staying rooted in a British sensibility.

Acorn TV’s new design system brings a refined playfulness. We redesigned the logo and introduced a monogram that provides a memorable frame for content while building brand attribution in small spaces. The reinvented palette was inspired by the signature “British Racing Green” of UK automobile designers. We also developed a whimsical motion language where animations open with a wink and then nudge to hero messaging.

The new brand voice is grounded in “brilliant-isms”—subtle turns of phrase and intonations that feel ever so British. A mystery that’s “quite nice.” A drama that’s “rather lovely.” Enter the new tagline: Brilliant. It effortlessly telegraphs Acorn TV’s roots, proclaims the feeling you get when watching, and is why so many subscribe. For the rebrand campaign, we expanded the tagline to its logical conclusion: Acorn TV is "Brilliant, In a Nutshell."

Our journey with Acorn TV began in 2019 with a rebrand that launched the service globally. (You can see this work if you scroll down.) After years of successful growth, we updated Acorn TV’s strategy and visual identity to transcend location and unite a world of mysteries and dramas that share a rich sense of place while staying rooted in a British sensibility.

Acorn TV’s new design system brings a refined playfulness. We redesigned the logo and introduced a monogram that provides a memorable frame for content while building brand attribution in small spaces. The reinvented palette was inspired by the signature “British Racing Green” of UK automobile designers. We also developed a whimsical motion language where animations open with a wink and then nudge to hero messaging.

The new brand voice is grounded in “brilliant-isms”—subtle turns of phrase and intonations that feel ever so British. A mystery that’s “quite nice.” A drama that’s “rather lovely.” Enter the new tagline: Brilliant. It effortlessly telegraphs Acorn TV’s roots, proclaims the feeling you get when watching, and is why so many subscribe. For the rebrand campaign, we expanded the tagline to its logical conclusion: Acorn TV is "Brilliant, In a Nutshell."

2020 Rebrand

When we began work with Acorn TV, the streaming service had yet to be acquired by AMC Networks. Starting in 2019, we worked closely with stakeholders to refine the strategic positioning, verbal identity, and visual design to modernize the brand without losing its loyal and extremely dedicated fanbase.

Our updated logo, palette, and art deco-inspired typeface retained Acorn TV’s quirky, classic brand character. An adaptive “flag” graphic device—telegraphing the platform’s international offering—acts as a dynamic showcase for Acorn TV originals, genres, marathons, and collections. As we completed the rebrand, Acorn TV was acquired by AMC Networks, where we helped it expand into more than 30 countries with an audience-focused strategy that has earned it one of the lowest churn rates of any streamer in the market today.

2020 Rebrand

When we began work with Acorn TV, the streaming service had yet to be acquired by AMC Networks. Starting in 2019, we worked closely with stakeholders to refine the strategic positioning, verbal identity, and visual design to modernize the brand without losing its loyal and extremely dedicated fanbase.

Our updated logo, palette, and art deco-inspired typeface retained Acorn TV’s quirky, classic brand character. An adaptive “flag” graphic device—telegraphing the platform’s international offering—acts as a dynamic showcase for Acorn TV originals, genres, marathons, and collections. As we completed the rebrand, Acorn TV was acquired by AMC Networks, where we helped it expand into more than 30 countries with an audience-focused strategy that has earned it one of the lowest churn rates of any streamer in the market today.

2020 Rebrand

When we began work with Acorn TV, the streaming service had yet to be acquired by AMC Networks. Starting in 2019, we worked closely with stakeholders to refine the strategic positioning, verbal identity, and visual design to modernize the brand without losing its loyal and extremely dedicated fanbase.

Our updated logo, palette, and art deco-inspired typeface retained Acorn TV’s quirky, classic brand character. An adaptive “flag” graphic device—telegraphing the platform’s international offering—acts as a dynamic showcase for Acorn TV originals, genres, marathons, and collections. As we completed the rebrand, Acorn TV was acquired by AMC Networks, where we helped it expand into more than 30 countries with an audience-focused strategy that has earned it one of the lowest churn rates of any streamer in the market today.

Credits
Trollbäck+Company (2024 Rebrand)

Alex Moulton, Chief Creative Officer

Erica Schrager, Executive Producer

Kevin Anderson, Senior Producer

Rosie Garschina, Executive Creative Director

Mika Saulitis, Director of Creative Strategy

Koda Ko, Art Director

Kasella Acain, Animator

Krysta Coates, Animator

Trollbäck+Company (2020 Rebrand)

Alex Moulton, Chief Creative Officer, Creative Director

Erica Schrager, Executive Producer

Kevin Anderson, Senior Producer

Nadia Shireen Husain, Art Director

Fredrik Henttonen, Strategist

Casey Halter, Strategist, Writer

Asia Hunt, Strategist, Writer

Julian Bevan, Writer

Adam Wentworth, Designer

Lili Emtiaz, Designer

Koda Ko, Animator

Acorn TV / AMC Networks

Matthew Graham, GM

Sylvia George, GM of UMC

Kerensa Samanidis, GM International

Don Klees, SVP Programming

Alexis Logan Wixted, Senior Director of Marketing

Chima Ogbuokiri, Senior Director, Acquisition & Retention Marketing

Jose Aguilar, Senior Designer

Credits
Trollbäck+Company (2024 Rebrand)

Alex Moulton, Chief Creative Officer

Erica Schrager, Executive Producer

Kevin Anderson, Senior Producer

Rosie Garschina, Executive Creative Director

Mika Saulitis, Director of Creative Strategy

Koda Ko, Art Director

Kasella Acain, Animator

Krysta Coates, Animator

Trollbäck+Company (2020 Rebrand)

Alex Moulton, Chief Creative Officer, Creative Director

Erica Schrager, Executive Producer

Kevin Anderson, Senior Producer

Nadia Shireen Husain, Art Director

Fredrik Henttonen, Strategist

Casey Halter, Strategist, Writer

Asia Hunt, Strategist, Writer

Julian Bevan, Writer

Adam Wentworth, Designer

Lili Emtiaz, Designer

Koda Ko, Animator

Acorn TV / AMC Networks

Matthew Graham, GM

Sylvia George, GM of UMC

Kerensa Samanidis, GM International

Don Klees, SVP Programming

Alexis Logan Wixted, Senior Director of Marketing

Chima Ogbuokiri, Senior Director, Acquisition & Retention Marketing

Jose Aguilar, Senior Designer

Credits
Trollbäck+Company (2024 Rebrand)

Alex Moulton, Chief Creative Officer

Erica Schrager, Executive Producer

Kevin Anderson, Senior Producer

Rosie Garschina, Executive Creative Director

Mika Saulitis, Director of Creative Strategy

Koda Ko, Art Director

Kasella Acain, Animator

Krysta Coates, Animator

Trollbäck+Company (2020 Rebrand)

Alex Moulton, Chief Creative Officer, Creative Director

Erica Schrager, Executive Producer

Kevin Anderson, Senior Producer

Nadia Shireen Husain, Art Director

Fredrik Henttonen, Strategist

Casey Halter, Strategist, Writer

Asia Hunt, Strategist, Writer

Julian Bevan, Writer

Adam Wentworth, Designer

Lili Emtiaz, Designer

Koda Ko, Animator

Acorn TV / AMC Networks

Matthew Graham, GM

Sylvia George, GM of UMC

Kerensa Samanidis, GM International

Don Klees, SVP Programming

Alexis Logan Wixted, Senior Director of Marketing

Chima Ogbuokiri, Senior Director, Acquisition & Retention Marketing

Jose Aguilar, Senior Designer