New year, new brochure!

Welcome to our new - hot off the press - brochure.  

Some of you might know that our business card is based on a playing card. We noticed some 20 years ago that a playing card is almost the same size as a business card and we wanted something different to grab peoples attention. 

To further make use of the card idea we decided to produce our brochure as a “pack of cards” and over the years have produced different versions, I think this is our 6th version. 

16 pages creased and folded which fits neatly into a bespoke card pack. Compact enough to fit into your inside pocket or handbag yet big enough to make an immediate impact when placed onto a desk. 

We have showcased just some of the work we have designed recently including branding, design for print, exhibitions, signage, vehicles and illustration. This gives an overview and a little taster as to what we can achieve for our clients. 

The eagle eyed among you might have noticed four illustrations of two Kings, one Queen and a Joker that bear a remarkable resemblance to…(?)

We hope you like our new brochure and we would be very happy to send one out to you. Please contact us or if you are in the area please pop in, we make great coffee, always have biscuits and would love to talk with you!

Tolo - Play fun for little ones

Courtesy of ianwilliamsphotography.co.uk

When we were asked by our client First Celtic Toys and Learning Ltd to see if we could design an in-store playtable for the internationally recognised award winning Tolo Toys company we leaped at the chance! Using our experience of working within the toy industry enabled us to produce a design and concept, which, I think you will agree, looks visually stunning.

Alan one of our directors, was given special dispensation to visit children’s nurseries to monitor and take measurements on a wide variety of day to day things that little ones use. From that he was able to make sure all ergonomics and anthropometrics factors were taken into account. Quite often toddlers struggle to use adult sized things, so it was especially important that this was made specifically for their needs. It had to be the right height, the right seat size, the right level of stretch to get to whatever they wanted to play with and above all it had to be fun!

Courtesy of ianwilliamsphotography.co.uk

Courtesy of ianwilliamsphotography.co.uk

The playtable was designed with a play train track on the outer perimeter and a play house feature in the centre that can be easily removed with a handle on the roof, and happy little Tolo figures and vehicles that add to their play experience.

The table top graphic has a generic playhouse garden feel to it with a garden path, flowers, bushes and a lake. To make it more fun the seats had large blow ups of some friendly Tolo characters, another ideal opportunity to increase the branding and awareness of the products.

The beauty of this design is that we can change the graphic and seats to tie in to all of the range or new products. 

This of course is for in-store use but we are thinking of producing them for homes to keep those little ones amused for hours! What do you think, would you like one?

German Tuesday - Christmas window display takes you to the zoo

Christmas markets aren’t the only giveaway that it’s not long until the holidays. In my hometown Bonn, a sure sign is the unveiling of the Christmas window display of department store Galeria Kaufhof, featuring Steiff animal toys.

The window in all its glory.

This year’s theme is a visit to the zoo and the amount of work that goes into creating the different scenes like the entrance, the snack bar or even the loved-up couple on a bench is amazing. Every year you can see children with their noses pressed against the windows discovering all the little things but it's even very popular with the older generations.

 

The window looks different every year - last year's theme was a jungle whereas in 2012 it was a wintery scene which you can see here.

Stylish wedding brochure design

So Brangelina finally did it this year and tied the knot. But most of us don’t own a chateau in France, have an epic team of wedding planners or at least six kids to help with the preparations.
If you have to plan your wedding yourself, take a look at the new wedding brochure we have just designed for the BEST WESTERN Cross Lanes Country Hotel in Wrexham.

Reflecting the beautiful location, the design involved the creation of a cover and layout for the inside pages that appeal to the bride to be, complemented by some digital illustrations and stunning photography taken on several weddings at the hotel by talented local wedding photographers.

This of course had to be bride focused which was why the design was expertly handled with creative flair and passion by our designer Ellen with some male input and comments here and there.

Highland Young Musicians Programme

The cover design of the programme is also used as a poster.

We have just designed the A5 programme for the Highland Young Musicians Concerts Festival which is on the 22nd November. This is an all day event featuring 8 concert performances so to convey all the information about them we designed a 32pg brochure. It contains conductor information and playing order as well as listing the musicians and also including listening plans for the featured composer.

Inside spread. Good photography does make a difference.

This was an urgent project so from text supplied to finished artwork we turned it around in 24 hours!
We are really living up to our name - the Mako shark is quickest to react and is the fastest shark in the sea!!

We have to work according to guidelines created for the brand of HYM.

We loved working on this project and it makes such a difference when we have professional photographs supplied, it really does lift the look of the programme.

This is the second year we have designed this and look forward to designing more for them, we have also produced posters based on the theme.

Cover design for the concerts in March.

Fun Friday - Spooky Car Wash Prank

Halloween is just around the corner, so time to get those costumes ready and maybe think about a prank or two.

Ford, in collaboration with Erebus and The Work, have done their bit already. On their way to a filmed test drive, passengers were asked to stop for a car wash. It wasn't quite what they expected. Makes me want to have a go, too.

WARNING: Video may cause nightmares and inspire pranks. Happy Halloween!



[via Ford - Go further]

Want to play? - Pictionary Mall Surprise

If you go into a shopping mall in Toronto these days you might be asked to play a game of Pictionary by an interactive display. The display is part of Mattel Games “Anytime is game time” campaign and was created in partnership with TrojanOne.

It looks like at first especially adults are a bit hesitant until a boy breaks the ice and starts playing a game with the display. Participants who guess the pictures correctly are surprised with exaggerated gifts presented by hidden Mattel staff.

Not to sure what I would to with such a big teddy though...


[via designtaxi.com and strategyonline.ca]