Work archive

Top Hat House is a first-class five-bedroom guesthouse in the prestigious Hillside District of Edinburgh. We were appointed to create a brand for the residence that would resonate with business folk and tourists, take cues from the luxury travel world and be playful, welcoming and even a little mischievous. The solution was gifted to us at the owner’s family home in the Scottish borders: introducing Groucho, The front of house Grouse… A little cheesy? Perhaps, but why not. A combination of an understated identity where the iconic proportions of the Georgian windows frame glimpses of the house and the city, and the Scottish sense of humour, captures the family’s personality and taste to create a welcoming, homely experience for their guests.

Developed in partnership with physiotherapists from University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, and children’s mental health practitioners, VMDC delivers innovative, inclusive dance sessions that support wellbeing and recovery—and promote learning and fun. Helping physically vulnerable patients exercise and socialise in hospital wards; in classrooms, they blend education with exercise, immersing children in their curriculum through new ways of learning.

We’ve worked with Helen for over 20yrs now on several incredible branding projects in the contemporary art space; this one is right up there, making a massive difference in people’s lives right across the East Midlands makes it a genuinely meaningful project. Look forward to helping the team grow their reach and continue to positively impact people’s quality of life in the coming years.

A no-nonsense brand for England’s No.1 College.

Our work with Gateshead College began in 2015 when they asked us to help them define and develop a brand that could build on their unique approach to FE. So, we simplified the existing brand tome, reshaped their proposition, emboldened their values and introduced a new way of thinking about communications. We binned student marketing tropes and replaced them with a shared commitment to hard work. We co-created a strategy that keeps the college visible all year round (rather than the typical FE seasonal rush to recruitment), and we captured it all in an identity that identity now speaks with confidence and clarity.

The results tell us our work has encouraged many people to step forward into further education; some are the first in a generation. Proud doesn’t come close to describing the feeling that we have helped young people in our hometown and the north east move on toward a job they want, not simply need. Gateshead College is now one of the top-performing colleges in England—result!

Putting a city centre back on the map.

We rebranded Sunderland’s Business Improvement District to help attract more people to this vibrant area, and to reconnect the businesses that trade in the City centre. Our bold identity embraces Sunderland’s ownership of red and white (we originally tried black and white but didn’t get very far), simplifies their existing pin device so it connects the BID with its location, and uses the native Sunderland voice to help start the warm conversations Sunderland folk are known for. A confident combination that proudly grounds the BID in its home city. Now a key influencer, the BID is bringing real benefits for businesses and has recently been appointed for another three years. Great work the BID team.

DCC challenged us to create a brand and public information campaign to encourage the people of County Durham back to their local high streets after the lockdown; our client’s brief was “Think colour, think carnival,” no small fete.

Away from the city and the Cathedral, Durham’s vast geography and broad demographic inspired this accessible solution. Our work combines welcoming messages in local traders’ voices with a visual language referencing the price stickers and handmade signs still commonly found in the shops of Durham’s streets, villages, and mining towns. This grounded thinking meant we could easily embed the work across the County, and tailor messages to suit individual market towns onto every adshel and each piece of print, all underpinned with a clear safety message. This localised approach shows the council is in touch with its public, that it cares about the people who make Durham, Durham.