Gratus Investment Management
2025
Freelance Produce & Web Designer
Gratus Investment Management Private Limited
Figma, Squarespace
The Challenge
Gratus Investment Management, a newly-established Singapore investment firm, needed a professional web presence to:
- Build credibility with investors
- Communicate their unique investment philosophy and approach
- Establish lead generation pathways for investor inquiries
- Create a scalable platform for publishing investment insights
Discovery
Competitive analysis of Singapore investment firms and global asset managers revealed:
- Industry prioritises clarity over complexity
- Trust signals (team credentials, investment philosophy, thought leadership) drive conversion
- Most competitors had outdated design—opportunity to differentiate with modern, clean UI
Design Solutions
Information Architecture
Organised the site around the investor decision journey:
Visual Design and Brand Identity
Design Direction:
- Clean
- Modern
- Forward-looking aesthetic
- Balance professionalism with approachability
Design Assets:
- Colour
- Muted Green (Growth and Sustainability)
- Neutrals (Trust, Stability)
- Typography
- Serif Headings (Authority)
- Sans-serif body (Readability)
- Visual Hierarchy
- Clear content structure guides users to CTAs
Responsive Web Design & Build
Built on Squarespace for maintenance and scalability.
- Fully responsive (desktop, tablet, mobile)
- Client-managed blog platform (Insights)
- Optimised page load and SEO
Lead Generation Design
Primary CTA:
- “Contact Us” persistent in Header navigation
Conversion Funnel:
- “Ready to Invest in the Future?” banners
Multiple touchpoints for engagement without overwhelming visitors.
Handover
Delivered comprehensive package:
-
Squarespace structure and editing workflows
-
Brand guidelines (colors, typography, imagery)
-
Content management best practices
-
Analytics setup for performance tracking
Outcomes
Launched a fully responsive website on Squarespace with comprehensive handover documentation, enabling the client team to independently manage content and publish investment insights.
The site now functions as the firm’s primary digital touchpoint for investor inquiries, with clear conversion pathways from homepage through to contact.
From startup to established: A professional web presence that builds trust, communicates expertise, and supports business development.
What I Learned
- Designing for trust in financial services requires restraint, less is more
- Competitive analysis showed modern, clean design can differentiate in traditional industries
- Comprehensive handover documentation is as critical as the design itself