Studio By and Large

Mata

Humanising healthcare through narrative medicine

Since 2024, our studio has served as a foundational creative partner for Mata, a storytelling platform and community dedicated to reclaiming the human narrative within the healthcare system. What began as an exploration of specific patient journeys has evolved into a sophisticated platform for "narrative medicine," providing a space for stories from the alternative healthcare world to be told with dignity and depth. Through ongoing creative direction, web design, and digital strategy, we have helped the founder build an intentional brand that seeks to Humanise Healthcare.

The Problem

The alternative healthcare space often oscillates between clinical sterility and an overly used wellness aesthetic. Mata needed to occupy a third space: one that felt patient focused but with a unique perspective of its own.

The challenge was to create a cohesive visual language that could support heavy, emotional storytelling without feeling weighed down. As the brand evolved from its specific origins into a broader storytelling community, the identity needed to be flexible enough to encompass a wide range of narratives while maintaining a distinct, high-end editorial feel.

The Solution

We leaned into a slow-burn brand evolution, prioritising creative direction and artful imagery over traditional marketing tropes. We developed a subtle, minimalist design framework for the Mata website and Substack that allows the stories and the people behind them to remain the focal point. By utilizing high-quality, evocative photography and intentional typography, we created an "alternative perspective" that feels more like a premium journal than a healthcare directory. This image-first strategy has been key in building Mata’s momentum, turning a digital platform into a genuine community that people resonate with. Mata has become a fresh and important voice in the alternative healthcare space.

Process & Outcome

The Process: A Collaborative Evolution

Our work with Mata’s founder has been a collaborative, ongoing journey. Rather than a one-off launch, our process involved extensive workshopping to refine the brand’s mission as it matured. We spent significant time exploring the concept of "narrative medicine", the idea that the story is as important as the treatment. This informed our creative direction: every visual choice was designed to create a sense of breath and reflection. We focused on subtle design that doesn't shout, but rather invites the viewer in to listen and creates space for other perspectives.

Our approach to imagery often centers on abstraction and unique perspectives. This treatment is a deliberate choice to honour the lived experiences within the Mata community; just as each story offers a new lens on health, our visuals reflect that individuality. By leaning into more abstract compositions, we aim to give the community the confidence to see the world, and their own health journeys, as having value. We believe that it is often within these moments of abstraction or complexity that a deeper, truer meaning can emerge.

The Outcome

Today, Mata has found its rhythm as a respected voice in the alternative health space. With a growing community and a cohesive digital ecosystem, the brand successfully bridges the gap between healthcare professionals and patients.

By distancing the visual identity from industry clichés and focusing on artful storytelling, we have created a platform that feels both contemporary and timeless. Mata stands as a testament to how thoughtful, long-term creative direction can turn a brand into a movement for human connection.