At Thirteenth Studio, inspiration often begins before we open a design file. It starts with looking closely: noticing the colours, textures, shapes and small details that give a place its character.

Now that summer has come to a close, we’re looking back at some of the places that left us creatively inspired. Malta is one we’ve kept returning to—not only for its warmth and atmosphere, but for the rich visual details woven through its streets and coastline.

A place full of visual contrasts

Malta’s architecture offers a striking balance of materials and colour. Warm limestone sits alongside painted balconies and shutters in deep blue, muted green and weathered rose. Ornate stonework, curved forms and iron details bring texture and intricacy; the open coastline offers a softer palette of sea, sky and foliage.

Together, these details create a strong sense of place. The colours feel at home beside one another. The architecture has its own rhythm. Even the smallest features contribute to the wider atmosphere.

That is what makes a place so interesting to observe through a design lens: not just its individual colours or textures, but the way they work together.

Turning inspiration into design direction

Travel references can be a starting point for creative thinking. A colour combination might suggest a palette. An architectural detail might inspire a graphic shape or layout. The feeling of a particular place could influence the mood of a photoshoot or campaign.

The aim isn’t to recreate Malta in a brand identity. It’s to notice what makes these details effective, then consider how similar principles could express a different brand’s story.

For a hotel, restaurant or lifestyle brand, the right design direction should grow from its own character, audience and ambitions. Inspiration can help open up possibilities; strategy helps us choose which ones feel right.

A Malta-inspired coastal colour palette

Inspired by the colours we noticed along the coast: olive foliage, sun-warmed ochre, Mediterranean blue, pale sky and soft lilac.

This palette is a starting point, gathered from a particular place and atmosphere. In a brand design project, we consider how colours work together, what they communicate and where they’ll be used—from a website or social post to a printed menu or brochure. The right palette needs to feel distinctive to the brand and work across its real-world touchpoints.

Olive Grove — grounding, natural richness, and Mediterranean depth
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Sunlit Ochre — warmth, heritage, and sun-washed character
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Mediterranean Blue — calm, depth, and a sea-toned contrast
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Coastal Mist — freshness, openness, and soft light
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Weathered Lilac — softness, quiet contrast, and an unexpected note
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Brand design is more than a logo

A visual identity is one part of how a brand is recognised and experienced. Its colours, typography, imagery and graphic details can carry through to the website, social content, menus, brochures, hotel information and other customer-facing materials.

When these touchpoints feel connected, customers get a clearer sense of the brand. A menu can feel like it belongs to the restaurant. A hotel information guide can reflect the atmosphere of the stay. A social post can lead naturally to the experience people will find when they visit.

Thoughtful design, with purpose

At Thirteenth Studio, we bring strategic thinking into the design process. Before shaping a visual identity or its supporting assets, we want to understand the business, its audience and what it needs its marketing to do.

That gives the creative work a foundation. It helps us make decisions about how the brand should look, what it should communicate and where its visual identity needs to show up.

Malta has given us a collection of colours, textures and architectural details to return to. More than that, it’s a reminder to keep observing—to look for the small things that make a place, and the brands we work with, feel distinctive.

Developing or refreshing your brand identity?
Thirteenth Studio partners with hospitality and lifestyle brands on strategic brand design and the customer-facing touchpoints that bring an identity to life.

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