About - Luke Ritchie

Blending strategy with meticulous craftsmanship, aligning creative vision with business goals

Portrait of a handsome man with a beard. He has short dark hair and light eyes. He is wearing a t-shirt.

Nice to meet you!

I'm Luke, an independent design director from South Africa. I'm a brand designer at heart with a passion for typography.

Since 2009, I have worked independently on a global scale, always striving to create work that advances businesses, engages people, and maintains my passion for design.

Sixteen years of working independently have given me a secret weapon—great versatility and adaptability. Collaborating with diverse clients across various industries has reinforced the importance of following a strategy, rather than imposing a personal stylistic vision.

When I'm not at my desk strategizing a new brand identity or crafting up some delicious typography, I'm out hiking, mountain biking, snorkeling, or doing some wine tasting, enjoying the natural beauty of South Africa.

Heya! Luke here - I'm an independent design specialist from South Africa, focusing on Brand Strategy, Brand Identity, Type Design, & Packaging. ✺ When I'm not at my desk writing scrolling banners for my website or strategizing a new brand personality or crafting up some delicious typography, I'm out hiking, mountain biking, snorkeling, or doing some wine tasting, enjoying the natural beauty of South Africa. Still reading? Wow I'm impressed you read through all of this! Well, drop me a line and lets connect, I love to collaborate and meet new clients and design friends. Surely you're still not reading?! Don't you have things to do? ☺ Favorite food you ask? I love sushi or a nice spicy vindaloo curry with cheese garlic naan bread mmmmmm. Aiight im out, Have a good one!Heya! Luke here - I'm an independent design specialist from South Africa, focusing on Brand Strategy, Brand Identity, Type Design, & Packaging. ✺ When I'm not at my desk writing scrolling banners for my website or strategizing a new brand personality or crafting up some delicious typography, I'm out hiking, mountain biking, snorkeling, or doing some wine tasting, enjoying the natural beauty of South Africa. Still reading? Wow I'm impressed you read through all of this! Well, drop me a line and lets connect, I love to collaborate and meet new clients and design friends. Surely you're still not reading?! Don't you have things to do? ☺ Favorite food you ask? I love sushi or a nice spicy vindaloo curry with cheese garlic naan bread mmmmmm. Aiight im out, Have a good one!Heya! Luke here - I'm an independent design specialist from South Africa, focusing on Brand Strategy, Brand Identity, Type Design, & Packaging. ✺ When I'm not at my desk writing scrolling banners for my website or strategizing a new brand personality or crafting up some delicious typography, I'm out hiking, mountain biking, snorkeling, or doing some wine tasting, enjoying the natural beauty of South Africa. Still reading? Wow I'm impressed you read through all of this! Well, drop me a line and lets connect, I love to collaborate and meet new clients and design friends. Surely you're still not reading?! Don't you have things to do? ☺ Favorite food you ask? I love sushi or a nice spicy vindaloo curry with cheese garlic naan bread mmmmmm. Aiight im out, Have a good one!

Who I work with

I partner with both new and established brands across various business sectors to create meaningful creative solutions that drive growth

I frequently collaborate with creative agencies and studios worldwide on typographic and illustration projects, refining logotypes and brand symbols to make them even better

My approach

I’m all about creating great type and images, but strategy is really what drives everything I do. I love working closely with clients and sticking to a solid brief.

Guiding clients through focused discussions that lead to practical visual solutions

A few questions you may have:A few questions you may have:A few questions you may have:A few questions you may have:A few questions you may have:A few questions you may have:A few questions you may have:A few questions you may have:

Do you only do type & lettering?

Not at all. While lettering & typography is something I am passionate about and do a lot of, my main offering is a full branding service, including naming, strategy, consultations, and roll-out.

Do you have design packages?

Packages always sound nice, but each client has unique requirements.

I will get back to you within 48 hours with a rough budget and proposal.

I like what I see - How do we get started?

Well, first you need to shoot me an email so we can set up a time to talk and meet to discuss things further. Once we have gotten to know each other a bit and spoken about the project, gone over the timelines and budgets, I will send over a rough proposal, and then we can take it from there. A brand identity project always starts with a few discovery calls and then a few workshop sessions to unpack the strategy further before moving to the design stage.

Do you like pineapple on pizza?

I'm glad you asked. I love it!

Do you work remotely?

Yes, I am a remote worker and always have been. I am happy to accommodate any time zones required, and very comfortable working remotely.

Do I need to have a brief to work with you?

It’s helpful to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve, along with approximate budgets and timelines. However, if you’re still in the early stages of figuring this out, that’s completely fine! I'm here to help you through the process. Feel free to drop a message to get started.

What do you think of all this AI stuff?

I’m not afraid of AI, and I’m totally open to using it in my process. I think it has a lot of value and can help speed up the development of ideas. In fact, I’m using it right now to check my grammar and spelling, but I make sure it reflects my style and tone.

That said, I don’t see AI as a tool that can deliver fully strategic visual solutions on its own; it definitely needs some guidance. Sometimes, it can even be a bit of a hindrance, especially in branding, where standing out and being unique are key. AI tends to produce a look that can feel pretty uniform, lacking that special touch.

Technology has always been part of my workflow, and AI is no different. But when it comes to my work, I do feel there are some limitations to how useful it can be.

ASK ME A QUESTION

Let’s take some time to chat about what you're dealing with right now and what you need and want. From there, we can come up with a plan to tackle everything

It all starts with a conversation. Book a disovery call today and let's get cracking! It all starts with a conversation. Book a disovery call today and let's get cracking! It all starts with a conversation. Book a disovery call today and let's get cracking!

Services Include: Creative Direction / Brand Strategy / Brand Identity / Type Design / Lettering / Logotype & Symbol Refinement / Typeface Design / Packaging / Illustration / Art Direction / Brand Consulting ✺Services Include: Creative Direction / Brand Strategy / Brand Identity / Type Design / Lettering / Logotype & Symbol Refinement / Typeface Design / Packaging / Illustration / Art Direction / Brand Consulting ✺Services Include: Creative Direction / Brand Strategy / Brand Identity / Type Design / Lettering / Logotype & Symbol Refinement / Typeface Design / Packaging / Illustration / Art Direction / Brand Consulting ✺

Don't just take my word for it:

" Luke was a fantastic partner to work with, helping to develop and finesse a logo for a major consumer brand. He was quick to explore options, listened to feedback, and has a great eye for detail and crafting. I would not hesitate to recommend him to others! "

Charlotte Distefano
Creative Director, Elmwood London

" Luke is one of those rare design talents that not only has a great design structural eye, but also can craft sumptuous type as well. This blend of skills makes him a go-to for a variety of design challenges, from advertising to packaging to elaborate branding systems. An easy work demeanor and egoless creative exchange make Luke Ritchie's projects successful and enjoyable. "

Erik Attkisson
Brand Strategist | Head of Brand

" I've had the pleasure of working with Luke for a few years now. My first few projects with Luke were based purely around typography and craft. But we very soon realised how well-rounded and strategic he is. We don't usually come across people with such a good balance of 'thinking' and 'crafting'. I'd be very comfortable recommending Luke for any branding or packaging projects. "

Rohon Bhuyan
Creative Director at Path Ltd

" I had the pleasure of working with Luke, and his skills in typography and lettering are outstanding. Luke delivered the finishing touches and precise typography on a final logotype, which perfectly met the project's needs.

Beyond Luke’s technical ability and craftsmanship, he is collaborative, open to feedback, and works like a true professional. His passion for typography and lettering is evident across all of his project work. I highly recommend Luke for any typography or lettering work. "

Peter Furlong
Co-Founder and Creative Partner at three thirty studio

Select clients and agencies:

info@lukeritchie.co.za +27844109360

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