A big thanks to all our clients, old and new, whose creative projects we have worked on during 2011. We’d like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a New Year that’s full of cheer, joy and happiness.
We very much look forward to seeing you all in 2012.
Our charity golf day held in aid of Leicester Charity Link has raised £4,500.
Thirteen teams fought it out across a challenging course, on what was a sunny but windy day. Luckily help was on hand in The Grand Hall whereby all golfers could relax over a two course meal and discuss their tales from the course.
It was a tightly fought contest, with RSM Tenon emerging as the winning team. Craig Shevas also from RSM Tenon won the Nearest the Pin competition and Moira Page won the Longest Drive competition.
Sue McEniff of Leicester Charity Link said the event – which also featured a raffle – had been a resounding success.
She added: “Everyone who attended had a wonderful day and an amazing £4,200 was raised. Due to the unique way in which we work, we will be able to convert the £4,500 raised on the day into £22,500 by accessing grants for individuals in need. All of that £22,500 will go to help local vulnerable people and children in desperate need. I would like to thank the main supporters, Sam Johnson, all the golfers and sponsors who ensured that the day was a great success.”
Leicester Charity Link are a local charity helping vulnerable children, young people, families and the elderly who are experiencing poverty, hardship or crisis throughout Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Each year the charity helps over 5,000 vulnerable people by providing items that most of us take for granted such as a bed to sleep in, a cooker to prepare a hot meal and, in emergencies, food! These items may not cost much but they can make a massive difference and change people’s lives for the better.
It was a privilege to design a brochure to highlight the challenging work of the police during the recent riots. The document, commissioned by the four West Midlands Police Federations representing officers in Warwickshire, Staffordshire, West Mercia and the West Midlands itself, featured impressive and disturbing photographs as well as some very personal comments by the officers involved.
The brief was to produce a simple but impactive design that allowed the images to speak for themselves as the text gave the stories behind the headlines. Due to the nature of the job, upon delivery the recipients were, as expected, rather quiet as they flicked through the content. Once they were finished, they said it was a superb brochure – which was good to hear.
For more information or to discuss this article further contact
Mark Robinson at mark@creative62.com
There were some surprisingly high handicaps at our recent charity golf day. This suggested the golf might have been a little tricky for some on the challenging Stapleford Park course. But no, oddly, during the day we saw some incredible improvements as well as impressive fairway and green play. How very strange!
On a serious note, the event raised £4,500 for Charity Link and was enjoyed by all who attended. Phil Atherton summed up the day up when he said: “It was a fantastic day. Everything was organised so well all we had to think about was enjoying ourselves. And, to top it all, we got the extra satisfaction of knowing we were doing something that ultimately helped other people.”
We’d like to thank our teams on the day: Phil Atherton of Precept Optimum Performance, Phil Wort of CDG Financial Services, David Hassall of DH Business Support, John Robinson of Thorn Baker Recruitment and Alison Marsh of Rothley Golf Club. Their support was very much appreciated.
A big thank you to Sam at Sam Johnson Photography for taking all the publicity shots and putting up with the near misses he survived; Susan McEniff at Leicester Charity Link for organising the day and lastly the hole sponsors – Benson Bespoke Insurance, iPS Estate Agents and Allbright Bishop Rowley Insurance and Risk Solutions. Many, many thanks.
Here are some pictures from the day:
Above: Creative62′s very own Andy Rudkin posing like a professional and Phil Wort overwhelmed by the occasion.
Above: Alastair Higgins and Phil Atherton focused on the put and David Hassall struggling.
For more information or to discuss this article further contact
Andy Rudkin at andy@creative62.com
We recently designed the graphics for an exhibition like no other we’ve ever undertaken. It involved the creation of 103 individual panels and headers for 20 brands. With names such as Maglite, Barska, Bridgedale, Stanley and Grangers to list a few, there were a lots of individual requirements to deal with while considering the overall exhibition. It was massive in every sense and took many, many hours to design and complete.
The exhibition covered 140 spm square metres, looked the business and did the business, we’ve been told.
Here is a 3D impression (supplied by the production company) and a few images to help get over the complexity of the stand.
Do you have any comments, queries or views?
We’d love to hear from you. Please email us at enquiries@creative62.com
We couldn’t let today pass without some mention of Steve Jobs and the sad news of his passing. Our business field wouldn’t be the same without his inspired influence. The expansion of Apple beyond design into our day-to-day life is monumental.
Apple said his “brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve”. We think that just about sums it up.
This was the case when we were approached by a representative of the Leicestershire Police Federation with a brief for a county-wide advertising campaign.
Sometimes the ideas we create have to be hard-hitting, honest and to the point. There are times when fancy creative just doesn’t cut it.
Our ideas were bold, eye-catching and aggressive. Although an issue, the proposed cuts to police budgets aren’t the end result for the general public. The ultimate effect will be more crime.
Below you’ll see the ideas we presented for consideration and the final version rolled out in local newspapers across Leicestershire.
For more information, or to discuss this article further, contact:
Mark Robinson at mark@creative62.com
Usually our creativity has to target a sales-related market place. But, occasionally we get a job that is produced to target a fixed audience. In the case of Hinckley’s Concordia Youth Theatre and its recent High School Musical production our brief was simple… we have a great theme and show just create a programme that captures its fantastic atmosphere. So that’s what we did.
Briefs like this are great for designers. We can have a bit of fun while being creative, and anything is possible! The nature of theatres and the shows they produce give an array of images we can use within the promotional materials. In addition to our creative skills, our 10 years of working for The Haymarket Theatre (as it was) always comes in handy.
As you can see, the programme captured High School Musical perfectly and, when the curtain came down, both the show and programme received great reviews.
For more information, or to discuss this article further, contact:
Andy Rudkin at andy@creative62.com
We’re doing our first Charity Golf event. To read the full article at the Leicester Mercury click here
The requirement for this latest project for the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust were the same as the last. It needed to meet the needs of the varied readership and clearly convey the key messages. The only additional requirement was to move the styling forward subtly to differentiate it from other day-to-day materials, and include a vehicle for feedback.
Given the importance of materials like the Delivering Excellence brochure there are rules. You never complicate it with unnecessary design. You work to the client schedule. You always meet the tight deadline. And we did.
Responsible Solutions had a very specific need. The company image needed to be far bolder, more obvious. However, it had to be clean, simple and demonstrate a commitment to their own area of expertise in environmental and social responsibility in business practice.
Our solution was to go back to basics – simple typography with good use of weights to separate copy sections, therefore making the content clearer to read and easier to digest. We also decided not to complicate the message with obvious images but instead let the words speak for themselves. In line with Responsible Solutions’ business policies, we printed on a 100% recycled FSC stock.
Client comment: ‘The team at Creative62 were innovative, accurate and easy to work with. The design they have produced for our new marketing material is modern, eye-catching and professional. We’re proud to provide our clients and future customers with our promotional material and will continue to work with the team in the future.’
We’re very pleased to announce we’re working with Maglite – a fantastic brand and creative opportunity. The client was looking for more creative input not just day-to-day design execution. In other words, they want something that will get results not just look pretty. Our first project is this POS Card for the XL LED range of torches. They are a great team to work with and everyone was happy with the end result.
Client comment: ‘Creative 62 understood the brief and produced two designs that communicate the strengths of the product and conform to the Maglite brand guidelines. The designs were delivered on time and to budget. We were 100% happy with how this project turned out.’
This question comes up a lot, usually when a potential new client has had some issues with a past, or on occasions current, project. It’s a dilemma you would do well to avoid. But we believe using an open, honest supplier is a good start.
At Creative62, the answer is simple – you own what you commission and pay for. Therefore, we make it very clear from the start that all copyright and other intellectual property rights in any materials that are produced for you are assigned to you once you have paid for the project. This is detailed in our terms and conditions given to you at the point of engagement.
If you want to find out more, you could start with this interesting article by Harvey Ingram http://www.harveyingram.com/news/ownership-of-marketing-designs.aspx or go straight to those with all the answers – The Intellectual Property Office at http://www.ipo.gov.uk/
It may sound obvious, but to benefit from networking, you must network!
Creative62 have attended two breakfast networks for over three years. We have without doubt gained from it in both business support and sales generation. But success doesn’t come without effort, it takes time to develop strong, reciprocal relationships. You must be patient and not act in haste with regards the results you achieve (or may not achieve) in the short term. Instead, you must look to the long-term gains – take some time to identify the potentially good referral partners, meet these people away from the group to ask them what they are looking for from their networking activities. Then clearly define your business, its services and the type of people you’re looking to be introduced to.
To any small business, we would strongly recommend investigating a local networking group as part of the overall marketing mix. It will require an investment of time and money, but if it’s approached with the right attitude, the results can be very rewarding.
We would be more than happy to discuss our thoughts and general approach to networking. We’ll even point you in the right direction if you wish? We are also very happy to introduce you to some of our network partners who can offer you solutions to benefit your day-to-day business needs.
You can find out more about the benefits of Networking at the Business Link website here.
Or you can visit our current breakfast networking groups here and here.
With the successful 2010 project under our belt, Lifestyle Products were happy to invite Creative62 back into the mix for the design of the 2011 main catalogue.
Once again the client provided some very definitive ideas for how key pages within the brochure should appear and looked to Creative62 for quick, yet creative, interpretation and development of these concepts.
As with previous Lifestyle projects, we are very happy to report that everything was signed and delivered ahead of schedule, with the finished brochure receiving very positive feedback.
New marketing materials designed by Creative62 will be used by Responsible Solutions at Ecobuild 2011. They’ll be launching their new training aimed at construction sector SMEs.
Responsible Sourcing is an issue that is rising up the agenda and it’s essential that construction product manufacturers and specifiers alike understand the issues involved.
That’s why they’ve been working with Loughborough University to develop the UK’s first training package designed to:
Ecobuild is the world’s biggest event for sustainable design, construction and the built environment. If you’d like to find out more, you can see them at Ecobuild, on stand N124. Or, visit www.responsible-solutions.co.uk for more information.
We’re please to announce Receptor of Syston are joining the growing creative62 folio. They specialise in the supply of fire protection and integrated security systems for businesses. We’ve been tasked with reviewing the current marketing activities and developing materials for the 2011-2012 campaign.
Give us a few weeks and we’ll show you what we’ve come up with.
If you or someone you know are planning some marketing activities for 2011 and need help with materials then give Creative62 a call.
Our first success was making contact with the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust through our new business process. Our timing was perfect, they were looking for a new creative partner. Specifically a smaller, dynamic supplier who could understand their needs and adopt a structure to deliver. Our second success was delivering this, our first job, on time and on budget. We’re happy and the client’s happy, need we say more.
The IT & Telecomms market is dynamic, fast paced and forever changing. The companies involved keep a constant eye on the the marketplace, its products and solutions. Aspen Technologies job is to listen to the client and present a suitable, working package that surpasses their clients requirements.
Our job was to do the same except in brand form. Aspen Technologies had evolved and outgrown the old brand. They needed a new one that reflected their enthusiasm, passion and expertise in the multi channel communication marketplace. This is the new brand, it will be rolled out over 2011.
Client feedback: ‘We asked the impossible of Mark and his team, to come up with a truly iconic, modern logo base on blue sky thinking. After a couple of possibilities, he came back with a great design that I think looks superb. I can heartedly recommend Creative62 for any marketing/design goals you may have!’
This is the new UnityComm brand. The client asked us to take control, review and revisit the brand elements and suggested a course of action to refresh it. Under these circumstances our approach involved a degree of subtlety.
The immediate result was this comment from the client,’Creative 62 helped Unitycomm develop and deliver a consistent message across all branded material that enhances the professional approach the business is renowned for’. As for our opinion, the brand is now stronger and the client positioned to take on 2011.
Normally when you’re working with any dark blue you avoid uncoated materials like the plague. But on this occasion we ventured forth with our printer by our side. The end results look (and feel) fantastic and coincide with our first use of Carbon Balanced Paper. The client is very impressed with the new corporate materials and we’ll have more feedback once the materials have been in use for a while.
We all know that we need to do our bit for the environment and in the past we’ve specified FSC and recycled stocks for our clients. However, we recently went one step further and completed our first Carbon Balanced project!. Put simply, this means that the carbon impact normally associated with producing and printing on paper has been calculated and an equivalent amount of carbon is either prevented from being released or is absorbed from the atmosphere.
Balancing is facilitated by the World Land Trust (WLT) which is an ecological charity.
We sourced our paper through Howard Smith Paper. Have a look at their website for more information, or to discuss Carbon Balancing your next print project, drop us a line!
With 50 members to please, this was always going to be a challenge! Under these circumstances we have a specific way of working. It involves introducing the client to our visual thinking process and allowing them to contribute through the creative process. The final brand is a significant move forward for the Chamber and something they can build on through other marketing activities.
Testimonial: ‘Creating a new brand logo for a long established organisation is always going to be tricky. Creative62 captured the essence of Loughborough Chamber of Trade & Commerce very well ‚Äì and were then very patient with us while we went through an extended process to get members agreement to the change and to the new logo. All in all, a very professional and creative process which I am happy to recommend to others. Paul Fileman, President, Loughborough Chamber of Trade & Commerce’.
XPR is a busy PR consultancy based on the outskirts of Leicestershire. Our brief was to create a simple and functional web presence to convey the upbeat and professional image of the business. True to our client manifesto… we delivered a stripped back, yet creative site that XPR are very pleased with.
Testimonial: We gave Creative62 a very limited brief. We had some ideas about how we wanted our new website to look and what we wanted to achieve. But we very much left it to the guys to decide how best to fulfil our goals. We were not disappointed. They took on board our brief and our discussions and came up with a simple, but effective, design. We would have no hesitation at all in recommending Creative62 to other businesses. We will definitely be working with them again – we are impressed with their designs but we also love their approach to business. The whole process was totally stress-free.
Another week closer to Christmas and so it only seems right to review another mince pie (it’s tough work, but hey it’s a public service at the end of the day).
We were kindly supplied with a sample pack of Costco Mince Pies for this weeks judging session by @natalie_jayne
Without further delay, let’s commence with our critique of the Costco Mince Pies.
Mark says: An interesting option to the norm with the sponge topping. Overall a nice mince pie if you’re looking for something a little different.
Andy says: Excellent. Very solid structure, yet easy on the palate and a welcome break to the standard mince pie formula. Could have done with a tiny bit more fruit filling for my liking… but that’s me being super picky! Obviously ours were exceptional good value at ¬£0, but I would happily purchase these with my own money.
We strive to deliver very high levels of customer service in everything we do for our clients. As a gift to the world on the run in to Christmas, we have decided to offer regular reviews of available mince pies to ease your seasonal shopping woes.
Each mince pie will be rated independently (out of 10) by both Creative62 partners on the following criteria…
Quality of pastry
Quantity of filling
Fruitiness of filling
Value for money
Moistisity
Overall beauty
…from these scores, we will generate a definitive score.
We kick of this Christmas Shopping Guide with a six pack of The Co-operative Deep Filled Mince Pies which have scored a very respectable 6.4 / 10.
Mark says: Not a bad start. Surprisingly nice for the first of the season. A few subtle improvements and it would be a real winner.
Andy says: I would imagine that ‘Deep filled’ is meant ironically. The picture on the box led me to believe that we’d be poorly on the amount of filling. We were not. However, it’s a decent start to the proceedings and I look forward to giving myself heart failure in the name of our readership.
As you may have seen we’ve been busy updating our website. This is accompanied by some new marketing materials. Our new Introductory Mailer is called ’10′ and outlines our commitment to all new clients. In addition we’ve also produced the first printed issue of PEEK! As the title suggests it gives you a glimpse of some recent projects and accompanying testimonials. You may have already received these in the post. If you haven’t and would like to find out more about what creative62 can offer you then contact us and we’ll get some off to you.
Find out more courtesy of Simon Garfield and his article for The Independent – Click here.
Our brief: ‘Can you update this and make it cheaper to produce?’ The response: We can and we did. We enjoyed the challenge and the chance to work with Leicester-Shire and Rutland Sport again. Sometimes it isn’t what you do it’s the way you do it and that comes from experience and understanding the client’s needs.
Testimonial: Really pleased with the finished leaflet, the creativity and design was exactly what we were looking for – these will fly off the shelf in the coming weeks and expect to order a re-run.
In conjunction with UK Older Persons Day and Active Ageing, Leicester-Shire & Rutland Sport’s promotion is aimed at those over 50. It encourages anyone aged 50+ to become more active. From walking and kurling to seated aerobics and Wii fun, there is an activity for all to enjoy.
Creative62 has develop the key marketing and promotional materials for the campaign. For more information visit the website here.
On Tuesday 27th July 2010, exactly 2 years prior to the start of the Games, Inspire LeicesterShire launched a poster campign designed by Creative62 featuring the Inspire brand to raise public awareness around the Inspire LeicesterShire Legacy Programme.
The campaign called ‘My Games My Legacy’ features high profile personalities associated with Leicestershire from the worlds of sport, physical activity, business, culture and many more.
The full suite of posters can be viewed here.
We’ve been steadily building a strong relationship with various departments at Charnwood Borough Council and we like to think we’re a supplier they can come to for a great result on time and cost-sensitive projects.
For this particular project we were invited to work on a redesign of our Early Years Summer Activity Brochure from 2009.
We suggested a new format, uncoated FSC stock and created a strong, colourful layout to really bring the content alive.
This project involved a logo revision and website creation. The key to this project was taking an older dysfunctional site and creating a brand new interactive one.
The final design is simple, clean and bright. It’s functionality gives the managing members the ability to control and update as required. It give the members an informative up to date site the can be proud of.
Testimonial: Creative62 have designed a very ‘fresh looking’ and easy to use website for Leicestershire Ladies County Golf Association. The whole process was finished in a short timescale but all the detail was considered. Since the launch there has been very positive feedback from the people using the site so a very successful corporate identity rebranding exercise.
So who else saw the first episode of the new Gadget Show series last night? Some very impressive stuff covered (as well as the super-sized competition). We, like many others were keen to test the Total Immersion advertising that was created as part of the show’s presenter challenge.
Our screen grab really doesn’t do the technology justice so try the experiment out for yourself by visiting the Gadget Show website here.
It’s going to be really exciting to see where all this leads over the next few months and years!
A few weeks ago we unveiled the new Inspire logo. It’s all to do with the work being done to develop a legacy from the London 2012 Olympics. We’ve been busy working on a number of projects and we have some great news.
The hard work been rewarded by some great coverage on ITV Central News.
If you want to find out more then visit: www.inspireleics.org.uk
Have you ever considered a creative review? We recently did this for TA-oR
Beauty and Holistic Therapies. Every aspect of the marketing was discuss and reviewed over coffee.
The result? We suggested some immediate changes in practices, the introduction of VIP Groups and a new lifestyle format website focusing on services and more importantly the results felt by customers. As you can see below the clients is happy and they’ve had immediate results, the VIP Groups are a big success!
Testimonial: We chose C62 because unlike most ‘web designers’ their ideas are not just about image but are produced with a marketing perspective in mind. Mark and Andy have created for us a highly professional, user friendly website that we can control and update practically with our eyes closed!
Charnwood Accountants look after the numbers side of our business. They do a great job and we can’t recommend them highly enough. Imagine our surprise when they asked Creative62 to advise and design their new marketing materials – bonus!
We gave the materials a professional, clear, confident and bold feel, just like the service you receive from them. Overall a nice balance that’ll get results.
Testimonial: We commissioned Creative 62 to produce our brand new brochure. They achieved a great balance between incorporating our ideas and adding their own artistic skills to the content. The service was timely and represented great value. All in all we were very pleased with the end product. I would recommend them to many of our clients or business contacts.
Quorndon Formal Hire approached Creative62 to help design and implement a smart, contemporary identity for their ambitious start up business. As well as the striking logo design, we’ve also been involved with designing and building a functional website and a number of printed marketing pieces.
After acquiring a new London office in the Business Design Centre, Murray & Willis commissioned c62 to redesign their marketing collateral. This was to help attract multi-million pound contracts from the capital’s architects, planners and building contractors.
Our super-sized folder and accompanying set of divisional inserts really do pack a punch.
Testimonial: I just wanted to congratulate you on the design work you have undertaken for Murray & Willis in respect of our new corporate folder & associated brochures.
I must say as a Marketing Manager I have produced a good number over the years, but what you have produced for Murray & Willis looks great and will I’m sure assist me in promoting the companies services far & wide.
Insurance can often appear as a very plain and uninteresting business. Our brief from Allbright Bishop Rowley was to help change that perception and move the brand forward with a complete overhaul.
Gaining an understanding of the client’s hopes for an exercise like this is the key to success and after our usual connecting and development process we were able to present something that really did hit the mark.
Testimonial: I am so pleased I asked Creative62 to help us design our new logo / Corporate Image. The guys did a great job for us and came up with a design which fitted our business really well. I have had lots of compliments on the design and am really delighted. Creative62 also did a great job liaising with our printers and made the whole exercise very painless!
I came across Posterous while reading through some articles online and curiosity got the better of me. Basically Posterous lets you post things online, fast! You can email to a Posterous user account and it updates on the site as well as any number of other designated blog sites.
It’s totally flexible, you can send anything! Posterous will accept any file you send and convert it to the most web friendly format available.
Here’s an example‚Ķ If you were to attach a single photo (of any size, even direct from your camera!), the site will resize it to a web-friendly format and post it. If you attach more than one image in the same message, the system automatically creates a multi image gallery.
MP3s, videos, you name it the system will accept, convert and present it. This site is well worth a look and is a great addition to any social media practice.
Referrals are great! They make everyones life easier. There’s nothing better than a client who’s happy to pass on our name and recommend our work. For the new contact it’s peace of mind that we tick all the important boxes.
The Inspire LeicesterShire logo was been created to “package” the activities being developed for implementation in Leicester & Leicestershire to support and maximise the legacy of the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympics Games. To be asked to design the identity was fantastic but it’s only the start. We’ll show you more as it develops.
Testimonial: ‘It is a complex area of work and has presented many “creative challenges” but the passion, commitment and professionalism that Creative62 bring to their work has enabled us to develop a long standing partnership and mutual understanding of the task ahead’.
Here’s our latest, recently completed project for LRB Consulting which is to help promote their Food Safety services. As well as coming up with a creative way to layout a lot of vital information we advised on the right print format. In the end we agreed that a six page DL was the best route. It’s great for an easy-to-read, cost-effective application‚Ķ a perfect way to meet the brief and keep the client happy!
Testimonial: ‘Working with C62 was a pleasurable experience C62 worked with me and involved me at all stages from the concept development, through to the print’.
We all know how important making a good first impression is, right? But we think it’s even more important to leave the right impression. Marketing Managers and Business Owners will not be losing our new card in a hurry, that’s for sure! Our last cards were good, but these are really special and introduce an extra dimension (quite literally) to our brand.
Find out more about our new ‘triplexed’ cards by calling the studio or filling out the contact form here.
Working with a client like Unimed is a real treat for a designer. There aren’t many clients that specify gold foiling, an emboss, die-cut and spot UV all as part of the same project! We were asked to help move the corporate image forward, however it was important that key design elements were evolved and not reinvented for the sake of it.
The finished result is something that we are pleased meets the brief perfectly. Unimed now have a functional suite of marketing literature that is helping to promote their brand in a more positive and contemporary way.
Here is the finished brand and stationery for PsychologyLegal. We have also developed a website presence for the client.
Testimonial: “I was impressed with the professionalism, efficiency and high-quality service provided by c62. Their impressive knowledge of web design is matched by an appreciation of the virtues of targeting specific markets. Creative62′s familiarity with the latest developments in the ever-changing world of internet advertising, have proven to be a valuable asset to our organisation. I would not hesitate to recommend c62 or to use their expertise again”.
Here it is the new Future Energy Performance logo. The review was a challenge and opportunity we thoroughly enjoyed. In the field they work there is an abundance of information and regulations that’s in a constant state of ebbs and flows. We needed to create a new logo that would clearly stand out from current competition and the multitude of visual information available.
Two days after completion the client attended a local exhibition event. We received very positive feedback from both the client and related suppliers.
Testimonial: “Our business needed an identity that would not just give a professional look but also allow us to promote what we are and what we do. Creative62 not only delivered, but provided us with valuable help and support needed in the final decision making”.
Psychology plays a major part in graphic design and the way the creative process flows. We could go into more detail, but these posts are to be brief. So imagine our surprise when Creative62 were asked to create a logo design for a Clinical Psychologist! Would our every move be watched and reviewed?
Work is well underway; we’ll keep you posted and show you the results soon.
You might be thinking it’s a crazy time to start your own business, but for some brave folk this is the perfect time to jump in and win business from some bigger, struggling competitors. Merlion is one such company! Entering a crowded business advisory market meant it was essential the client invested in a brand that would help his company stand out. The design needed to be memorable and also look well established.
Despite a limited marketing budget, we delivered a memorable, trustworthy design that met the brief perfectly. Once approved for print, we sourced a 100% recycled stationery paper that would compliment and help strengthen the new brand values further.
It was a textbook project from start to finish with the client more than happy to leave the job in our capable hands.
We design brands that get noticed. We create company literature, sales leaflets and websites that get results how do we know this – our clients tell us! But great results don’t cost the earth, we are cost effective too, always looking to get the best value for money for our clients.
At a recent meeting Thorn Baker Recruitment asked us to look at a cost effective way to ‘catching up with clients and prospects’. We had to consider the consultant’s day-to-day roles and the 10 national office locations. The solution needed to be universally simple, easy to sends and most importantly, cost effective to produce.
We developed six very different designs, which allows the consultants to choose a favourite, personalise it, and send without the need for an envelope.
Leaflet, flyer and promotion banner design were the order of the day for Syston Leisure Centre, courtesy of Charnwood Borough Council.
As usual the creative ideas had to be fit for purpose with the design execution needing to be memorable and straightforward. Colour played a critical role as information needed to be clearly defined to help separate key pieces of literature.
The exercise was a complete success and everything was delivered ahead of schedule.
GWL Feeds of Shepshed have joined the Creative62 roster of clients. We mailed, called and met to discuss our creative offerings, then a design project arrives. If only life was always this straightforward!
Our skills were needed to incorporate the existing brand into a new exhibition. Even more interesting was the fact that we were working in partnership with a local large format supplier.
Networking is a great way to meet and support like-minded businesses. In an effort to build our own local network we have recently joined two local groups, The Loughborough Network and Business & Bacon, in Blaby.
The benefits to networking are simple. You’ll be able to promote your business to other local businesses that in turn will hopefully refer you on to their contacts. The people you meet become an active sales force working for your business; overall it’s a winning combination.
There are seats available so check out the links above and if you fancy visiting.
If you’ve picked up a newspaper or caught the news on TV in the past 12 months then you may be aware that the world is a little strapped for cash at the minute!
You may also have noticed that in spite of all the doom and gloom, life does go on. It’s true that many companies (of all sizes) have fallen foul of the hard times. Thousands of people now find themselves out of work and scouring the ever-decreasing recruitment pages of the local press. However it is essential that no matter what your business is doing to survive the recession, your marketing activity needs to continue.
The silver lining to this economic storm is the fact potential customers are now more open to discussing the idea of switching supplier in the hunt for better value. If you can offer a quality service that is effective and dynamic then there is business to be won. But how is anyone going to know that you’re there and offering an exceptional service if you have eliminated your marketing activity to save a few pennies?
Marketing your company is vital, even through these tough times but it doesn’t have to cripple your cash flow or jeopardise your business.
Over the past year Creative62 has helped many of it’s clients to evolve their marketing and make better use of recessional budgets. Most importantly their activities have continued and their brand message is still in the mind of potential customers.
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ValueStaff Branding
The idea was simple, to seize the opportunity that the current climate had presented and infiltrate a busy market by offering ‘no frills’ recruitment solution.
We presented the client with this striped back brand option that screams low cost. It was important that the brand made a subtle statement that was very different to the competition and was then backed up by the verbal sell.
Once the branding was approved we used our experience to place the job with the right supplier and by making use of the printed sheet we were able to plan up business cards, flyers and the stationery to offer the client even greater value for money than they expected.
Admiral Editions eNewsletter
Having worked with Admiral, a London based hospitality recruitment specialist on a number of projects we were approached to help them convert their traditional printed newsletter into a HTML email version.
This switch in media means that Admiral have instantly enjoyed a cost saving on postage and print production whilst expanding the coverage of their client and potential client base.
LRB Consulting
Networking face-to-face is a valuable way to gain trust, build reciprocal relationships and talk directly to potential customers on a regular basis. LRB Consulting briefed Creative62 on their initial brand development, design of printed newsletter and production of a pop-up tension banner. Having produced a striking identity and corporate suite, the client now has an eye-catching back drop to his networking events and memorable business literature to leave with potential new business.
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No-one knows for sure just how long the grey clouds will be hanging over the economy. If you’re looking to reduce costs or save money don’t just cut your marketing activities. As they say ‘act in haste, repent at leisure’, so don’t make any rash decisions that you may live to regret it. A simple, honest review is the best way forward in these difficult time.
With bags of experience in providing our clients with cost effective creative design solutions, we‚Äôre confident that you would benefit from talking to Creative62 about how we can move your marketing forward… even through the recession.
You may love it, you may hate it or you may be one of the few people left in the world that have yet to discover it. Whatever your opinion, the fact remains that Twitter is big news and for some… big business!
We set up our Twitter account almost 12 months ago now, and until recently we’d been using it to convey a sense of the our personality to the outside world (and boost our egos!). However, just under a month ago we spotted a tweet calling for help with the design of a logo! Our brands stand out from the crowd and we had nothing to lose, so we showed our interest.
Needless to say that we won the project and after a few frantic hours of design, we presented a logo that fitted the brief perfectly. One great logo, one happy client and 2 happy chappies at Creative62… not bad for a FREE networking tool hey!
Can your business afford to ignore a FREE networking tool that leaves you completely in control?
Getting the best out of a budget is something we have always focused on. Sometimes it’s simple advice, on other occasions it’s the way we design or print the finished materials. The first stage marketing campaign for Video Intelligence consisted of a media campaign, a small introductory mailer and a overview brochure. Each of the elements used a limited budget so it was essential they either supported the marketing process or resulted in customer calls.
The layout of the brochure above, consisting of company information, images and supportive client feedback, isn’t like a corporate overview, it’s a little lighter, a mix between brochure and newsletter. This allows the reader to select different parts as he or she wishes. If the reader is a real potential client, the brochure subtly encourages them to find out more by getting in touch.
So far the results have been very positive with the media campaign supplying a number of significant leads.
When a brief has words like ‘Victorian London’, ‘homeless children’ and ‘musical’ in it you know that you are going to have to work very hard to avoid the usual clich√©s and not deliver just another Oliver Twist rip-off!
Our design for the Concordia Youth Theatre this year focused on mixing a modern layout and text styles with period photography. The Theatre ran a competition in the local press to search for the stars of the programme and c62 were heavily involved with the art direction and styling to ensure that the final layout came together perfectly.
You can learn more about the Concordia Youth Theatre here.
This project is a real gem. So much potential for both client and c62. We’ll introduce to you properly to Maddie and her new Nine Corners shop in the coming weeks as the different design elements come together. On this project we feel our job has to go that little bit further and we’ll be supporting this new client venture anyway we can.
You can follow Maddies progress on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ninecorners
Here’s a quick snap of the the newly designed Summer Activity Brochure. We’ll be adding the full story later this week, but needless to say that both client and designers are super-pleased with the results!
Last week we saw the first of our new Leicestershire County Cricket Club programmes come off the presses. It’s always a real buzz to be able to turn a brief on it’s head and give the client something that exceeds their expectations!
Having been given the opportunity to to work with the Leicestershire Foxes, we set about designing a programme that would not only look great, but be readable and of course, memorable.
Find out more about Leicestershire County Cricket Club here.
In recent years, some older and, established companies have found the transition from traditional artwork to digital somewhat difficult. In many cases, artwork is lost in the supply chain or just misplaced over the years. It may be that it was designed using more traditional methods, that didn’t allow for newer media. Mawby & King asked creative62 to supply a new business card design included a full redraw of the existing logo update. Watch our folio area for more news on additional creative and marketing work for this client.
Once we meet and convert a client, we find the relationship develops naturally. As the client gets more comfortable, the work flows. The projects can be both large and small. We find large projects are usually straight forward and fluid. It is usually the smaller ones that cause more problems, due to the nature of the task. This is because the brief usually begins with… ‘We just need something simple, cheap and easy to produce’ It’s generally not a problem, but sometimes things can be a little bit more tricky. On this occasion it needed to be A5, include a response mechanism and had a fair bit of copy. Lastly it had to be produced on an average colour copier. We aimed to please, and we did.
This was a real hot potato! We discussed, we argued, and then we discussed it some more. But it’s finally finished and live. True to our central message it’s simple, and straight forward. Nice big pictures and accompanying text. There’s no need to trawl through endless pages, we just let the pictures do the talking. You’ll quickly see evidence of our creative skill, customer reference and positive feedback.
Why not drop us a line through the contact form… we‚Äôd be interested to know what you think!
After being invited to London for an initial briefing with Admiral, we headed back to the midlands and set about creating a design that would exceed their expectations.
The requirements for the new corporate site were simple; it would need to be a slick and modern design, be simple and functional to use and work seamlessly with the existing job search engine. The client also wanted maximum control over future content updates, so a custom CMS was built to make this as easy as possible.
This was big project for Admiral, so we worked very closely with them to ensure they were happy from start to finish.
Following up on a referral from a freelance web developer, creative62 began working with WaveJam on redesigning their website in line with the recently revived identity.
The professional surf outfit were keen to maintain the fresh, bold and punchy approach that we’d created for the brand and after an initial consultation and the presentation of rough concept visuals, work started on the development of the new look site.
Having successfully completed several design projects for a local web development company, we were asked to present ideas for a simple, yet effective e-commerce site. After working through the initial concept stages, the selected design was worked up into a functional, fresh and modern looking site.
Creative62 was briefed to produce a bright, engaging website that made the often laborious task of searching for JEEP parts easy and quick for the visitor to navigate and ultimately make a purchase.
After developing a fun and punchy brand identity, we carried the job through into a easy to manage CMS design. On approval the design files were then passed to the clients chosen web developer for completion.
Creative62 has worked with this client previously. Following a very successful year, the company instructed us to evolve the branding with specific instruction. The brand needed to be bold, forward thinking, suggest a positive direction, and be memorable.
The company name changed and was reset but following some further client consultation, it was decided we would keep the design foundation we had established during the first branding exercise. Everyone was happy with the final result.
And the client said ‘Creative62 offers a personal service, taking the time to develop a deep understanding of the clients needs and aspirations, developing this into a strong creative execution’.
The brief was simple – “Do what you want, we’ll listen”. The right brand is a balance of creativity, market and client emotion as it’s their business after all. They need to understand it and take ownership. On this occasion, we felt CDG Financial Services needed something that was formal and established, but needed to break away from tradition. For the construction of the branding we used a nice classic typeface. The blue represents the strong, reliable foundation of the company and its employees. The orange directly associates to the monetary and wealth values with its day-to-day business.
The branding transferred well into print. The solid orange reverse to the Letterhead was a challenge but it worked. It certainly stands out!
Any mailer needs to work in conjunction with either, an internal sales function, or externally supplied services, (like ours!). Either way it is part of the process. The mailer for CDG was briefed and developed to be very different to the norm. From feedback we have received, it’s all working as planned.
And the client said ‘The time we invested was certainly well spent and whilst not a designer, I know what I like. And I certainly liked what creative62 delivered’.
