Alter
(est. 2000, Melbourne)

Alter is an independent design studio based in Windsor, predominantly working in brand identity for businesses and organisations of all sizes. The studio was first established in 2000 by three Monash University Visual Communication graduates: Jonathan Wallace, Dan Whitford and Brendan Elliott. Dan Whitford went on to form the band Cut Copy and Brendan Elliott founded Melbourne label BURN Clothing, with Jonathan remaining as director to this day. Alter is now a team of eight people working across fitness, retail, hospitality, construction, architecture, art, music, local government and educational institutions. 

Alter’s work in this exhibition represents a cross-section of its focus on creating enduring brands and memorable visual identities in partnership with its clients. Bardee is a transformative new business that has developed a full-circle process of converting food waste to produce protein for the food industry, fertilisers and more. The broader Bardee identity incorporates visual themes of micro and macro – themes that repeat throughout science. The identity features Klim fonts Sohné Kraftig and Sohné Mono Leight, a pairing that befits this very human scientific endeavour. 

Sixpence Coffee is a family-owned, small batch roastery, nestled in the foothills of the Great Dividing Range in north-eastern Victoria. Historically, the sixpence was a token of love. It is a soft metal coin that was bent by hand and given as a gift to symbolise a lover’s connection. The curve of the Sixpence logotype subtly conveys this underlying concept. 

The Wilderness Society has been working to conserve nature for over forty years, starting with protests at the Franklin River and evolving into a broader mission to support and preserve life on the planet. In 2016, Alter began work on a new identity system for the organisation that involved researching history, science and technology. The new logo, dubbed ‘The River’, is a wavy line that represents the forces that shape and support life and can be used in various configurations across materials and media. The new Wilderness green is lighter, more vibrant and ready for digital use, while the secondary palette is brighter and more accessible.

Alter has won several awards over the years, including an ARIA for the album artwork on Cut Copy’s 2011 album, Zonoscope, in collaboration with Dan Whitford. The studio has also received awards from the Australian Graphic Design Association (AGDA) for its work on CBCo Brewing and Wilderness Society; the Australian International Beer Awards trophy for Best Design in 2017 and 2018; and industry awards for a Disaster Recovery communication handbook for the Australian Red Cross.