Maes y Pant - from quarry to forested area

Maes y Pant is a beautiful forested trail located on a former quarry site, built to improve the environment for wildlife, encourage biodiversity and provide safe footpaths and benches for families, schools and other groups to use.

The site is now owned and run by Maes y Pant Action Group (MyPAG). As we are local to the site we were asked to design and produce a range of communication materials to encourage visitors and raise awareness.

We designed a new brand, an A3 folded to a DL bi-lingual leaflet and four interpretation panels. To get the right look and feel for the interpretation panels we decided to use a series of illustrations which were created by Alan in coloured pencil at A4 size then scanned in.

Each panel focused on different aspects of the site, the pond, trees, flora and fauna and the woodland gym. In conjunction with the illustrations, the panels are very informative and give insight to the surrounding area.

 We had great fun producing these and I think you will agree they look great!

Showcasing walks in the Scottish Highlands

If you like walking and the Scottish Highlands we’ve just got the right thing for you. Working with The Highland Council we designed and produced a leaflet showcasing walks around Strathpeffer and Ullapool. To make sure nobody gets lost, we illustrated main maps based on various sources including OS maps that were double checked by local rangers. Colour coded walk routes with brief descriptions and information on length, time and difficulty ensure that the walker knows what he’s up to and where to take the right turn.

The leaflets are part of a series of different walks

To show as many routes as possible together with some images of the beautiful scenery we designed the leaflets as an A3 folded down to a DL size (99mm x 210mm) so that it fits neatly into a map pocket.

Wrexham Hour

We were asked by our good friends at Wrexham Hour to design them a new logo to maximise their online presence. Well, you know us and logos, as soon as we had the request we thought about it for at least a millisecond before the creative juices started to flow (mental note: Never get in the way when the juices are flowing).

During this process fuelled by copious cups of coffee, various banter was heard in the studio - “ Has it got to say Wrexham Hour?”  “The letters don’t make a nice shape”  “What has Wrexham got that looks nice?”  “It’s for who?”  “ What about a sheep?”  “Pint of lager maybe..?” and other thought provoking and inspiring genius comments.

Then after many sleepless nights, much wringing of hands and several packets of painkillers for the brain overload - like a bolt from the blue inspiration struck!

Designs were feverishly drawn up and shown around the studio for design critique which commanded educated professional comments such as “That ones c***”  “What is that?”  “ It would be great if it was for a farm” and other such treasures.

When we had decided on the final ones (incidentally all done by Ellen as Dave and Alan’s pathetic attempts fell at the first hurdle) they were submitted for approval by the Wrexham Hour panel of judges and within minutes a final version was approved - and here it is!

We would love to know your thoughts, please send any comments to us, which will of course be treated in strictest of confidence and filed away forever.

The Mako Team (but mostly Ellen)