www.balefireblades.com

Balefire Blades is the company I cofounded and manage with my husband, the acclaimed swordsmith Chris Adams. We started this business together after Chris's master moved away, leaving him the forge he had trained in. He initially asked me to help him create a brand identity, and to build a simple website to encourage commissions.

The idea for the aesthetic was to bring an aspect of high fantasy back to the historical fencing world. As a historical fencer myself, I found little inspiration in the prevailing black-and-red sports theming of the available brands, and wanted Balefire Blades to grab audiences' attention by taking them back to the reason they started the sport: to feel like a hero.

I built the brand and website around this idea, employing Tolkien-inspired fonts and decorations, as well as moody outdoor photos and short pieces of fiction for each bespoke piece in the portfolio. I wanted readers to feel like they were embarking on an adventure, and being asked to choose their weapon.

As the business grew, so did the website, with the addition of a webshop, and additional services. In 2024 I redesigned it with the same fantasy aesthetic, but a streamlined user experience, helping would-be sword wielders to quickly access the service they need.