Behind the Brand: our Senior Designer on rebranding the clean energy disruptor Gryd Energy

Megan, our Senior Designer, led the creative on Gryd Energy’s rebrand — from first concepts to final identity.

Creating a bold identity for a solar energy disruptor: our senior designer gives us the inside scoop on the Gryd rebrand process

In this post, we take you behind the scenes of a recent clean energy branding project; a complete rebrand for Gryd Energy, a startup shaking up the solar sector with a bold, subscription-based model.

We sat down with our Senior Designer, Megan, to discuss the creative process behind Gryd’s transformation — from the initial spark of insight to a brand that now radiates clarity, confidence, and genuine momentum.

Whether you’re a net-zero business considering a rebrand or a designer navigating your creative process, we hope you find this information interesting.

At the centre of Gryd’s identity is a dynamic 13-spoke symbol — designed to represent momentum, connection, and the power of collective impact.

Who are Gryd, and why was this project so exciting?

Megan: Gryd are doing something genuinely disruptive in the renewable energy space. Instead of expecting people to pay upfront for solar panels (which can be a considerable barrier due to cost), they’ve developed a subscription model. It’s a different way of thinking about clean energy, and it opens up access to far more people. But when they came to us, the branding they had didn’t reflect that ambition. The identity and all that it supported was underselling the offer, and they needed something that could confidently lead in a busy, often generic market. They needed a brand identity that truly reflected a forward-thinking, people-first energy business. Our challenge was to give Gryd more energy.

What was your approach to tackling that challenge?

Megan: We always start with listening. Deep listening. Immersion is a big part of how we work at Bright Collie and sets us up for the challenge ahead. We got to know Gryd’s vision, their goals, their audience, what they stood for, and crucially, what they weren’t. It quickly became clear they weren’t a typical ‘green energy’ company. They are bright, sharp, strategic, human and mission-driven. That tension — edge and empathy — became our North Star. It helped shape everything from tone of voice to colour, form and motion.

Every detail matters: the logotype is angled at 70º — the maximum pitch for UK rooftops — subtly grounding the brand in solar reality.

Tell us about the visual identity — what makes it distinct?

Megan: At the heart of the identity is the emblem: a bespoke, rotating 13-spoke symbol that feels like a vortex harnessing solar energy. Each spoke flows into the next, which is a visual metaphor for chain reactions and the power of small actions building toward greater impact. It’s dynamic, and it moves, because Gryd is all about momentum. We also developed a custom logotype, angled at exactly 70º — which is the maximum pitch for UK rooftops. It’s one of those subtle details that roots the brand in its real-world application. These kinds of details are what give a brand integrity. Branding for net zero businesses, or any business really, can’t be all surface. It has to have depth and intrigue.

Were there any key moments where the project shifted direction?

 

Megan: Absolutely — and honestly, I think more agencies should talk about these moments. There was a stage where we’d taken the identity in a direction we were excited about. But when we showed it to the Gryd team, it didn’t land. It was an awkward moment, but that's okay. Brand transformation projects often present challenges. Knowing how to deal with them is the key. Rather than push something that didn’t resonate, we stepped back and rethought it. When we say, “if it doesn’t feel right, rip it up,” we mean it. We want our clients to have 'love it' or 'hate it' reactions. That moment of tension, pause, and redirection was actually what led us to the identity you see now — one that everyone feels a sense of ownership over. The best branding work comes from genuine alignment between client, target audience and creative.

What can other clean energy or net zero brands learn from this?

 

Megan: It’s worth investing in a brand that reflects your ambition and mission. Too many renewable energy brands lean on the same visual clichés and play it safe. However, if your business is taking a bold and different approach, your brand should, too. You can’t just claim to be a disruptor; you need to prove it through how you show up and how you work day-to-day. Not every green-energy company needs to be distinctly green... It’s about having the confidence to challenge your category. People connect with clarity and conviction. That’s what we gave Gryd. We didn’t make Gryd look like a typical solar company — because they’re not. They’re redefining a sector, so their brand needed to lead, not blend in.

The final brand system in action — sharp, confident and built to scale across platforms.

Want to see the full transformation?

We’ve documented the Gryd Energy brand case study here — including visuals, before-and-afters, the whole design system in action and the strategy that shaped it:

Final thoughts

Megan: For me, this project sums up what great branding should be. It’s not just a logo or a typeface. It’s about expressing belief and showing people what you stand for before you’ve said a word. Rebranding can energise a business. It can realign teams. It can turn attention into action. That’s what happened with Gryd, and we’re proud to have been part of that journey.

Client testimonial:

“Working with Bright Collie was a game-changer. The brand they delivered didn’t just look good — it captured who we are and where we’re going. It’s already opening new doors.”— Mohamed Gaafar, Co-Founder & CEO, Gryd Energy

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Looking to rebrand your energy business?

Bright Collie works with ambitious businesses across the clean energy and net zero innovation space to build brands that stand out, lead with purpose, and drive growth.

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