We think so. That was our challenge for Reveri—a self-hypnosis app from leading Standford psychiatrist Dr. Spiegel. The approach is backed by 45 years of clinical research, not to mention over 400 research papers. Yet, when people think of hypnosis, their minds go straight to swinging stopwatches and Vegas stage shows. We knew this project would be more than reimagining their brand; it was a total shift in the cultural view of hypnosis.

In our research, we noticed that the most persevering misconceptions around hypnosis was that it resulted in a total loss of control. In reality, the opposite is true. Reveri shows us that through self-hypnosis, we gain better control of our bodies, hypnosis helps us relieve stress, improve sleep, build good habits and empower us to grow. This strategy formed our starting point for the creative, which was centred around gaining newfound focus to help you reach your goals.

Hypnosis is achieved through a state of hyper-focus, a concept which became the anchor to the entire identity. You can see it in the beacon icon, which becomes an optimistic metaphor for the light at the end of the tunnel. In our art direction which hones in on a single focal point to add clarity to its environment. In the UI design of the app that directs you toward your goals. and the colourful gradients throughout the identity. And of course, in the wordmark itself, which communicates our audience’s journey from challenge to solution.

When you look around the wellbeing sector, you'll see lots of hand-written fonts, muted pastels and images of people relaxing or meditating (with the odd seascape or two). We knew, given the stigmas we had to overcome, avoiding the softer tropes of health apps was the path forward. To emphasise Reveri’s credibility, we leant into the brand’s clinical research and scientific backing. You’ll see this in the vibrant palette, which was inspired by PET scans of brain activity. The contemporary sans serif—Neue Montreal—combined with a more technical secondary typeface. And our custom illustrations and icons that feel comforting while offering practical information about the hypnosis process.