Museum of British Surfing: a brand refresh and new website for Britain's surfing heritage
Based in Braunton, North Devon, the Museum of British Surfing is the national registered charity dedicated to preserving and celebrating Britain's surfing heritage and culture. Its collection includes surfboards, photography, magazines, films and memorabilia documenting more than two centuries of British surfing history.
The brief
This one was a little bit special for us. West Country Websites founder Christian Dormer has been involved with surfing for much of his life and has a genuine passion for British surf history, the characters behind it and the stories that deserve to be remembered — so bringing that interest together with the day job wasn't a project we needed to think twice about.
The project called for a refresh of the Museum's visual identity alongside a completely new website designed to better showcase its collection, exhibitions, events and archive.
With such a huge amount of history sitting within the Museum, the aim wasn't to turn it into something overly polished or corporate. Quite the opposite — the new identity and website needed to retain the character, authenticity and slightly rebellious nature that has always been part of British surf culture.
Alongside the digital work, the Museum wanted to drive more footfall through the door in Braunton, so the brief also called for print materials — postcards and leaflets carrying the new identity — to hand out locally and get people through the door.
What we did
We refreshed the Museum's brand identity, and we're now building a new website structured around its collection, exhibitions, events and archive, giving the many stories that make British surfing what it is room to be properly told.
We also designed a set of postcards and leaflets carrying the new identity out into the local area, giving the Museum something physical to hand out and display in shops, cafés and visitor spots nearby to bring more people through the door.
Throughout, we're working closely with the Museum to make sure the new identity and website feel like they genuinely belong to the organisation and the culture it represents, rather than something imposed from outside.
The result
The Museum of British Surfing now has a brand identity that reflects its collection and character properly — authentic and unpolished where it should be — along with postcards and leaflets already out and about locally, helping bring more visitors through the door. The new website is currently in development, and we'll be sharing it as soon as it's ready to help this national charity share Britain's surfing heritage with a wider audience.
Proper history. Proper surfing. And, hopefully, a proper job.
"From the very beginning, they've been more than just a web agency — they've been trusted partners, helping us grow and adapt in the digital space." Kevin Cook, Museum of British Surfing
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