Harper and Bone
Reigning cats and dogs
Working with: Visan team + Kate Larsen
Visan makes exceptional quality food for cats and dogs. Having already worked on a couple of this Spanish manufacturer's other brands, we were all ears when they asked us to help create their new premium brand, Harper and Bone. The eponymous cat and dog were beautifully brought to life by ace illustrator Kate Larsen, and now they needed a voice. We happily trotted in to take care of the words.
First we built out the two characters, imagining their personalities and back stories. We quickly decided that rather than having them speak out loud, we’d instead narrate their imagined inner monologues. This opened up endless possibilities for gentle wit and subversive humour, helping Harper and Bone avoid the common pitfall of 'cutesiness' that can often arise from talking animals.
We then crafted a voice that would not only bring the two fabulous four-legged friends to life, but also communicate the exceptional quality, taste and nutritional benefits of the products that carry their names. Working hand-in-hand with the glorious illustrations, we built a quirky brand world in which Harper and Bone can live, eat, do yoga, go surfing, sing around the campfire, and greedily dream about their next delicious feast.
We wrote for every touchpoint, from naming, to packaging, digital, print, social and more. We also created a comprehensive set of brand language guidelines to ensure their future comms are on point. The result is a fine balance of engaging character and rigorous messaging. In a highly competitive sector, sales are scampering along nicely and we continue to support Harper and Bone as they charm pet-lovers across Europe.