When SHL, the world’s largest provider of psychometric assessments, asked us to refresh their visual identity it made sense to put people at the heart of our design. In an effort to escape the stock photography clichés that dominate professional services branding, we commissioned nine up and coming illustrators to create head profiles to depict the different areas of the business. It was a natural step to then create a new logo which supported this concept based on the positioning ‘People intelligence, Business results’. We worked with the US web design team and the in-house studio to help launch the new designs across Europe, Asia, the Far East and the Americas.

This private equity firm started life ten years ago as a ‘family office’ backed by one of Europe’s most successful entrepreneurial families. In 2009 we helped uncover the new name, inspired by the nature of the business – Frog helps companies metamorphosize – as well as its cleantech/green focus and a simple desire to be different. With such a bold name we opted for a simple logotype and a monochrome palette. A small frog print is used as a secondary ‘signature’. We designed everything from the website to signage, stationery to printed collateral.

The ABPI (The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry) needed to refresh their image of 40 years. Working with our friends at Hensley Partners who lead the research and repositioning part of the project, we worked to translate the strategy into a fresh new look. Based on the idea of smaller components collaborating to create something bigger, we designed the geometric tree inspired by an ancient medical symbol. We then brought the tree to life across everything from signs to digital formats and print applications.

 

Working with Simon Paterson we recently carried out a worldwide review of the Shell brand and visual identity. Research with Shell’s customers showed that, beyond the petrol station, Shell’s famous brand had started to look dated, fragmented and incoherent. Our recommendations were to make more of Shell’s distinctive visual assets – the famous Pecten and the yellow, red and white colours – and to create a simpler and cleaner communications system. Working with Shell’s lead creative partner’s JWT and Imagination we helped steer the Shell visual identity onto its next chapter. 

 

We have worked for Estonia’s leading mobile network for the past six years, and have been constantly impressed by their pioneering technology and appetite for change. Four years after creating a new design system, EMT wanted to retain their innovative fast-moving reputation by asking us to refresh the design. Inspired by the company’s ladybird logo we created a system of circles and dots and worked with local agencies to implement the new look across advertising, retail & digital media. More recently we designed their flagship store window display as well as advising on the store interiors.

Working with our partners Michael Wolff and Simon Paterson we designed and produced a brand book for Citi. The idea was to help educate Citi’s senior employees about the power of branding and the potential of the Citi brand. We were lucky enough to be able to commission many original pieces from illustrators Huntley Muir, Andrew Pavitt and Tony Lorus as well as photography by Phil Cook and Stuart Gill.

A new brand identity for Royal Holloway, University of London. We started by inventing a design system that feels as comfortable on a printed page as it does in the digital environment. The logo provides a reference to the imposing Victorian Founder’s Building at the heart of the campus. To complement Phil Cook’s quirky photography, we commissioned illustrator Chloe Mutton to capture the essence of the campus.

Starting with a blank screen is always exhilarating for us. NicheHunters is a new recruitment/social network hub created for offshore centres. We were brought in from the beginning, inventing the name and design for the business and working with our clients in Jersey and web-build team in Delhi to create the product itself – the website. We have worked on everything from launch events to advertising, in fact we are so committed to the idea that we have become not just creators but investors.

Once we had established the new name for this bespoke finance house start-up, we needed to clothe it to appeal to both companies seeking capital (to boost their businesses) and to investors who wanted stable returns. We came up with the idea of tradition with a twist which was carried through on the business cards with their mix of engraving and fluorescent inks as well as the website with hand drawn portraits by Nick Hardcastle. We employed a series of antique illustrations accompanied by captions to adorn everything from business cards to PowerPoint presentations.

 

We started by reviewing the brand identity of this global property company. We helped create their property marketing design system so that condos in Sydney and offices in New York can be presented with a consistent look and feel. We commissioned young photographers Lillian Wilkie, Mindaugas Komskis and Lex Fleming to find fresh angles on architecture around the world, and illustrators Chris Dent, Chloe Mutton and Diana Boyle to draw cityscapes. We’ve created guidelines for signs and interiors and more recently we were asked to create an animation for the annual MAPIC retail property conference illustrating six facts about the global retail market.

It means ‘deal’ in Estonian: it’s the country’s low cost mobile network. Along with strategic consultants Hensley Partners we created from scratch what has fast become a cult brand. Built around the idea that “We didn’t have any money left for design” we came up with everything from hand drawn logos to a new typeface ‘Diil Bold Collapsed’, through to launch concepts and SIM card packaging. The designs were created in English then translated into Estonian by a local advertising agency.

With a growing demand for wind generated power in the UK, Broadview energy came to us initially to upgrade their website. After some analysis we persuaded them that it was worth having a deeper look at how the business presented itself to a very diverse audience. As a developer, constructor and operator of wind farms throughout the UK Broadview needed to present this often controversial industry in a clear and open manor. We built the design around the idea of energy and movement with an animated logo and fact based statistics on the homepage.

As one of the UK’s leading training organisations Reed Learning asked us to refresh their visual identity and create an array of new printed collateral to list their range of courses. With such a focus on personal development we decided to put people at the centre of the new look, commissioning a series of portraits of staff and clients and re-staging the familiar Reed logo on a palette of coloured backgrounds. Over the past four years we have designed everything from posters to web banners, stationery to magazines, we’ve advised on office interiors and art directed photographic shoots.

Six years on from its launch, LateRooms, the UK’s leading online site for late hotel deals, asked us to give them a new look. We wanted to create something that felt both friendly and intuitive and decided to capture some of the travel nostalgia from the early 60s. Unlike many web design projects LateRooms’ website is their product and so we worked with their in-house team to re-design the site from the ground up. Since launching the new design LateRooms has seen a 48% uplift in their bookings and has been bought by First Choice Holidays for over £100 million.

We’re proud to have worked for this place. For Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity we created presentation displays for fund-raising events, graphics for the annual Peter Pan Awards ceremony and even interactive (with a marker pen rather than a mouse) commemorative posters. We didn’t design the website but we’d still like you to go and have a look – gosh.org

This private equity fund administrator with headquarters in Guernsey decided to raise its profile after eight years of successful trading. We wanted to create something memorable that stood out in this visually arid market. We based the new logo on a worker bee to represent the behind-the-scenes nature and busy work ethic of the company. The idea was carried right through to launch day where employees were presented with a jar of local honey.

Wi-Fi is modern magic. When the number one wireless technology brand in Turkey asked L&CO to refresh their visual identity as they expand across Europe and into the Middle East, we ran a brand workshop then created a new look based around the idea of liberation (from wires) and the sheer pleasure it can bring. Commissioned illustrations in vibrant reds and oranges help bring the magic of the AirTies products to life.

How do you create a visual system that is not only visible but also memorable, when seen from a passing car? That was the challenge set by West London estate agents Chase Buchanan. The result is a bold identity, equally applicable to sale boards, launch advertising and a new magazine. We also created office fascia concepts, subsequently developed into office environments and displays and gave guidance on writing good copy.

Dominion Fiduciary Services Group is one of the fastest growing offshore wealth management companies in the UK. The business is actually about making often-complex financial vehicles simple and transparent which is what drove the minimalist black and white identity. We designed everything from signs to the website for which we used the address ‘expertsinwealth.com’ to act as a description of the business. We also introduced the short-form of the name ‘DO’ for internal campaigns.