Engine Creative News

Open University releases interactive screensaver

Marieke — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 23:00:00 +0100

The Open University has worked closely with Engine Creative to relaunch its OU Life Screensaver. The new version of the dynamic communications tool keeps users up to date with all of the latest news and events from the OU in an engaging and visually rich way that delivers OU updates direct to the screens of students, alumni and staff of the UK's biggest university .

The new format will allow for additional functionality to be added in the near future and reflects the OU's determination to maintain its position as a leading edge interactive organisation.

Engine Creative won the project after demonstrating their ability to combine high impact creative with strong digital knowledge for clients including The British Library, Tesco and Universal Music TV. As a result, Engine Creative have been working with the OU on a number of communication projects over the past 6 months.

The OU Life Screensaver can be downloaded for free online at: http://www.open.ac.uk/oulifescreensaver

We are hiring! Creative all-rounder required!

Andy — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:00:00 +0100

Description
Engine needs you! Due to some great new business wins and lots of exciting opportunities for growth in the future... blah, blah, blah... OK, it's true, we have lots of work and things are looking rosy but the bottom line is that we need great creative people now!

Specifically, we are looking for an all round designer, someone who is as comfortable creating a new brand as they are designing a website. The key to the role is creativity and enthusiasm and we can guarantee some varied and high profile projects to work on in return. Applicants must be fluent in Adobe CS and advanced Flash skills and / or motion graphics experience are a definite advantage.

It is likely that you will have worked in an agency environment as a Creative / Designer although talented individuals with less experience will be considered if they can show a high level of commercial creativity.

Key responsibilities

The ability to work closely with the creative team to support the production of a range of creative solutions.
Ensuring that the high level of quality is maintained throughout all creative projects.
Clear communication skills in relation to colleagues and clients.

Key tasks

Producing a range of creative solutions applicable to your skill sets.
Helping to develop creative output through innovative thinking and commercial awareness.
Management of projects with the support of the Production Manager.

Key skills

Jedi Master of all relevant software.
A solid background and understanding in the creative process; design, typography, illustration, etc.
A good people person and team player.
Eagle eyed and meticulous attention to detail.
Proactive, self-motivated and flexible with the ability to take control of projects independently if required.
Structured and well organised with the ability to work to tight deadlines whilst under pressure.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Summary
The role would suit a candidate keen to make a positive impact in a friendly and ambitious company that’s growing fast. Salary commensurate with experience.

Please send your CV and examples of work to careers@enginecreative.co.uk or, alternatively, give Marieke Vink a call on 01604 453 177 for further information.

Engine is an equal opportunities employer.

No agencies please.

Hayley Dunn wins inaugural Engine Creative Prize

Andy — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:00:00 +0100

Hayley Dunn was the first winner of the Engine Creative Prize in the prize giving ceremony at the University of Northampton.

Hayley received the prize from Wendy Langford, Senior Lecturer Marketing Communications at the University of Northampton and Andrew Wise, Engine Creative's Projects Director.

The prize was established this year by Northampton agency Engine and will be awarded annually to the highest achieving student of the Advertising with Design (BA Hons) course at the University of Northampton. The four students with the highest grades were shortlisted and judged on the quality of their dissertation and asked to complete a letter of application. The winner is the student who shows the greatest potential to make an impact in the industry.

Engine's Andrew Wise commented: "In the end and after much deliberating we chose Hayley Dunn as our worthy winner as her submission was passionate and she truly appreciates the value of creativity as a marketer. Her positive attitude combined with her opinion that it is 'an exciting time for forward thinking companies' reflects Engine's own beliefs about the creative industry at the moment."

After receiving the award, 21-year old Hayley said she was overjoyed: "I am really thrilled to have won the Engine Creative Prize. It is great to know that Engine felt that my dissertation provides practical advice to marketers wishing to use high levels of creativity; I now feel like all my hard work has paid off!"

Hayley, who hopes to work as an account planner in the advertising industry, received a cash prize and will take up a work placement with Engine as part of the award.

Andrew Wise added: "The applicants for the inaugural Engine Creative Prize were particularly high and all of the dissertations were insightful and of real relevance to the creative industry. This is a credit to the great work that the University are doing in educating their students with a sharp eye on vocational understanding.

The whole experience has been extremely valuable for us as a creative agency and we are hoping to expand our role next year."

Engine has close historic links with the University of Northampton. Managing Director Matt Key and Creative Director Phil Christer started the company after meeting at the University and Team Engine includes a number of alumni.

The Advertising with Design BA (Hons) course provides students with an understanding of both the creative design elements and the marketing functions of contemporary business organisations. This results in a greater understanding between designers and marketing professionals, increasing the opportunity for combining creative approaches with tangible marketing results.

Burning Rubber

Glyn — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 23:00:00 +0100

Team Bonding session, Whilton Mill, deepest Northamptonshire:

Welcome Lyla

Marieke — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 23:00:00 +0100

We are always looking out for young talent to join Engine and we have just been told of the arrival of a great creative mind. Her name is Lyla Chisholm and with her 9lb 13.5oz, she is definitely a good middle weight creative already. Congratulations to Paul and his wife for spotting this early talent.

Projects Update

Andy — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 23:00:00 +0100

For those wanting to know what we've been up to over the past few months, we thought it would be a good time to outline a few of the great projects we're currently working on. Although we can't give too much detail away, there is some serious digital wizardry going on for the British Library and the Open University involving online and Flash solutions.

We have also been working with Tesco on a great interactive project which should be rolled out across the UK in August and Engine have also been commissioned by the BBC for some key design projects for their flagship Top Gear brand.

As soon as we can say any more we will do. In the meantime, check out our RSS feed for regular updates and general orange nonsense...

John Mayer at the Carling Academy

Ed — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 23:00:00 +0100

Last night I had the great pleasure of seeing one of the best blues and pop musicians at the Carling Academy in Birmingham.
John Mayer is realatively unknown here in England and who knows why? It was easily one the best gigs that have seen in my life with Mayer playing a range of his own music and fantastic cover versions of Eric Clapton and Jimmi Hendrix.
If you have never heard of John Mayer, I highly recommend giving him a listen or take a look at some of his videos on YouTube.

Good Luck Simon!

Glyn — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 23:00:00 +0100

We have had a mini babyboom at Engine with 3 members of Team Engine becoming a dad in recent months.

Simon loves being a dad to his daughter Isabel so much that he has decided to leave Engine and become a full time House Husband. He has been fantastic as a Video Technician since joining Engine, working as cameraman, editor and assistant producer.

We are sad to see him go and wish him all the best for the future.

Orange Crush

Marieke — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 23:00:00 +0100

England's absence in Euro 2008 has resulted in a calm and relaxed mood in the the Engine office. No frustated conversations about diamond formations and Lampard not connecting with Gerard in midfield.

Instead, the talk is about Total Football and Brilliant Orange. Yes, Engine has gone Oranje. Nothing to do with the fact I am Dutch of course or that orange is already well represented at Engine. In true Dutch style, I have a large collection of orange hats, boas, caps, shirts, flags and ballons for everyone to wear.

So far things are going quite well. Having humiliated Italy, France and Romania in the group stages, I am feeling confident that The Netherlands can make it to the final. I am expecting Portugal to be the other finalist. An excellent opportunity to take revenge for the defeat Oranje suffered against them in the World Cup 2006 when Ronaldo got 2 of our players a yellow card with his diving antics.

Hup Holland!

Update on 23rd June: Oops.

We are hiring! Video Guru required!

Glyn — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 23:00:00 +0100

Engine are one of the Midland's leading creative agencies and are looking for an experienced video guru to join the team. This is a superb opportunity to join a talented and ambitious creative team that currently works on national TV campaigns for clients as diverse as Universal Music TV and Loans.co.uk.

You will be working across a range of media projects including video, DVD's and web. You must have excellent skills in Final Cut Studio 2, Shake, After Effects, Photoshop and DVD Studio Pro with any knowledge of Illustrator being advantageous. The ideal candidate will be flexible and enthusiastic with good communication skills and an expert knowledge of post-production procedures.

The opportunity to lead and manage an expanding side of the business and be an integral part of a growing agency with a wealth of high profile and exciting projects awaits the successful candidate. Salary will be commensurate with experience.

Please send your CV and examples of work to careers@enginecreative.co.uk or, alternatively, give Marieke Vink a call on 01604 453 177 for further information.

Engine is an equal opportunities employer.

No agencies please.

Productivity Upgrade: Downgrade to Windows XP!

James — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 23:00:00 +0100

As the only PC user in an office full of creative-friendly Macs I must confess that I had grown curious of their high levels of productivity and pondered if the crunching sounds and frustrating delays of my poor PC were an omen of change. No longer could I sit through the painstaking rotating hour glass which reared its ugly head with every mouse click nor the blue screens of death so finally I decided that it was time to upgrade my PC.

I took the easy route by putting in an order for a new, pre-built, high spec machine. The machine came with Windows Vista pre-installed which promised to make my life as a developer easier with “better performance” and increased “productivity”.

Ignoring the nay-sayers I decided to keep an open mind when it came to using Windows Vista for the first time. Afterall, almost every release of Windows has taken a public bashing upon release. ‘Why should this release be any different?’ I asked myself with fond memories of Windows XP.

Looking forward to a new flare of super-productivity I eagerly powered my new machine on for the first time 10 months ago and after a brief 4 month honeymoon period I soon found myself growing frustrated by the constant nag messages and inflexibility when it came to simple tasks such as managing my files. Explorer and Firefox would also spontaneously crash during file uploads. All in all, my simple day to day tasks amounted to taking twice as long as they were before.

Can an operating system facilitate better productivity? Absolutely, both in terms of performance and reliability. Since ‘downgrading’ to Windows XP with service pack 3 I’ve enjoyed a new level of productivity and confidence in the system I am using.

Confidence and reliability is something that we strive to deliver to all our clients, in particular when it comes to web-based solutions which are often designed around the automation of tasks. With our years of combined knowledge and experience we know the importance of building with productivity in mind.

Moral of the story:
Learn from the past when you’re building for the future.

They call us Mellow Yellow

Andy — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 23:00:00 +0100

The Summer has finally arrived at Engine HQ and we have had a beautifully unplanned influx of overtly bright clothing to herald the warm weather.

Top of the class for synchronised sun worshipping was Paul, Dan and Mark (pictured) who have all gone for a shades of yellow look... beautiful!

Official: We Are Creative

Andy — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 23:00:00 +0100

Official notice: We have changed our name from Engine (Visual Communications) Limited to Engine Creative Agency Limited. Most people already know us as Engine Creative but we have now made it official to avoid confusion. Everything else will stay the same: great work, great people and strong coffee.

NNDC chooses Engine for Annual Report

Matt — Sun, 18 May 2008 23:00:00 +0100

We are proud to announce that the North Northants Development Company has chosen Engine to design their Annual Report this year. As one of the preferred agencies on the NNDC design panel, we have worked closely with the NNDC in the past 12 months. In that time we have redefined the brand identity by building on existing assets and adding subtle changes that reinforce brand cohesion.

Engine gets published...

Dan — Thu, 15 May 2008 23:00:00 +0100

A few months ago, I got an email from a lady named Charlotte Rivers. She had come across our work and wanted to know if we would like to contribute to one of her books about design. 'LogoArt - Innovation in Logo Design' showcases some of the best logo design from around the world. The book examines logos both as two-dimensional designs and also in their three-dimensional contexts, exploring both the creative inspiration and the logistics behind the work.

It is always flattering when people ask you if they can use your work in a book that showcases the best in the business so we did not have to think twice. For our submission, we picked a design close to our heart as it was for a pitch for the County Council.

I got my hands on a copy of the book yesterday and it is a stunning showcase of the world's most innovative logo designs so Engine is in good company.

Dropping bombs and taking corners

Phil — Thu, 15 May 2008 23:00:00 +0100

The 1st Engine Games Night went off with a bang here at the studio. The imaginatively titled Teams (A and B) fought it out over a load of games including some high adrenaline racing, speedy pill poppin', mind bending maths, crazy shooting and a little bit of bombing. The highlight had to be Andy's tactical race against Ed (Think of 'The Tortoise and the Hare').
In the end Team B pipped Team A to the post 9 to 8 in a nail biting final round of 4 player Bomberman.

So, Team B hold the trophy for now, but we hear a rematch calling. Stay tuned.

Welcome Mark!

Andy — Wed, 14 May 2008 23:00:00 +0100

Hello to Mark Taylor who joins us as our new Designer.

Mark has over 5 years experience in the industry and is yet another graduate from the University of Northampton. He joins us as we continue to expand our creative capacity and has jumped straight into the role already having worked on projects for the British Library and the Open University.

Scooter overtakes Madonna

Phil — Mon, 12 May 2008 23:00:00 +0100

German dance outfit Scooter has pushed Madonna off the Number 1 spot in the UK Album Charts after only one week. Quite an achievement when you consider commercial dance gets hardly any airplay on the radio. It is the biggest success yet for our clients, Blackburn-based independent record label All Around the World (AATW). Engine has been working with AATW for years on the creative for the massive selling compilations Clubland, Floorfillers and Dancemania (See our Case Studies and Portfolio for some of the work)

But that is not all. Clubland Classix, another AATW album Engine has worked on, is still at No. 1 in the Album Compilations Chart, making this a massive week for the record label. We are especially proud of Clubland since Engine created the brand identity all those years ago.

AATW Director Matt Cadman told the BBC News website today: "Commercial dance is a very overlooked genre. It's quite sad really. The Clubland TV channel is doing fantastically well, it's one of the biggest music channels on Sky."

We are quite proud to be part of this success. The wall of the Engine reception is already coverd in Golden and Platinum Records from the Clubland series but we are already clearing a space for the many more chart toppers we will be certain to produce for All Around The World.

Evolution of web design

Alistair — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:00:00 +0100

Samuel at Wakeup Later.com has written a very informative blog about how websites of some major brands have changed over the past 10 years. See MTV's website of 10 years ago and the one they have today as an example.

Afterwards, I too began to reflect on the projects and websites that I have been involved in over the course of my career. Although the building blocks of a website have changed little, over time they have each matured and been ingrained into conventional wisdom. Online media is now one of the most pervasive mediums available to market any product or service.

The internet is however full of websites that were created over 10 years ago and have not been updated significantly since. Websites are often seen as a requirement for any business but their full potential is rarely achieved. A website should not only clearly present a company brand and contact information but it should also clearly facilitate interaction with the target audience. A website is more than a simple brochure or flyer, it is an opportunity to add value to a brand, product or service.

In conclusion, I believe that website users expect, no in-fact demand more from the websites they visit. Even infrequent users pick up on the styling and functionality of mainstream sites and expect smaller sites to function in the same way.

Design standards and user expectations may have changed in the past decade, the two most important criteria for designers have remained the same:

1. We need to stay up to date and develop our skills and knowledge.
2. We need to support our clients in keeping their sites moving forward.

At Engine, we are firmly committed to both these objectives.

Babe Competition hits TV

Phil — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 23:00:00 +0100

We've just launched the new Clubland Babe Competition for Universal Music to find the cover girl for album no.13. Now that Clubland has its own TV station we thought this would be a great opportunity to expand on the Competitions advertising.

We wanted to come up with a fun campaign that would work on TV and also as a web viral. So we came up with the idea of producing a selection of adverts based around BAD Competition entries, that included unexpected viewers, dodgy web cams, naff dancing and badly shot photos.

We have a couple for you to see here, we call these Garden 1 and 2. Check out Clubland TV or the Web for the rest.

Engine Creative Award for students

Andy — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 23:00:00 +0100

A new award created by Northampton-based creative agency Engine Creative aims to encourage the best students of the University of Northampton by offering a cash prize and a placement at the agency.

The Engine Creative Award will be awarded annually to the highest achieving student of the Advertising with Design course at the University of Northampton. The three students with the highest grades in years 2 and 3 will be shortlisted. Their final dissertation will then be judged by the team at Engine Creative. The winner will be the student who shows the greatest potential to make an impact in the industry.

Engine Creative has close historic links with the University of Northampton. Managing Director Matt Key and Creative Director Phil Christer started the company after meeting at the University and Team Engine includes a number of alumni.

Projects Director Andrew Wise hopes the award will encourage students to think creatively about all aspects of the industry:
"Approaching the University was a logical step in the aim of encouraging the talent Northampton has to offer. Creativity shouldn't be restricted to the actual process of developing design solutions and we are keen on supporting the University of Northampton in developing creative thinking in all aspects of the design and advertising process from initial strategy to planning and delivery."

Engine Creative are highly recommended

Andy — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 23:00:00 +0100

Engine Creative has made it on to the exclusive Recommended Agency Register (RAR) for 2008. The RAR undertakes extensive research every year to identify the most respected agencies in the core marketing disciplines. Thousands of clients across the country were contacted to give their verdict on the quality of their agencies' performance across five criteria: account handling, creativity, value for money, strategic thinking and overall professionalism.

Engine Creative's Projects Director Andy Wise comments:
"This validation of our abilities as a creative agency is great news for us and particularly rewarding as the research is purely based on client feedback. We pride ourselves on being client focussed and delivering creative and high impact solutions without any restrictions to the exact format or media utilised. This research reflects the strong partnerships we build with our clients and we're extremely proud to be on the register."

Steve Antoniewicz from RAR said: "During our research, your clients paid testimony to the high standards of services provided by your agency. This information also helps us to provide impartial guidance to clients' companies on agency selection."

Engine Creative have built up an enviable reputation for creating high impact design, complex digital media solutions and quality video production for a range of clients that includes the BBC, the British Library, EMAP, Loans.co.uk, Mercedes-Benz HPE, Ministry of Sound, National College for School Leadership, the Open University and Universal Music TV.

Founded in 1997 and now based in a converted chapel in Northampton, Engine Creative have enjoyed substantial growth over the past few years and are currently working with a number of local organisations including Northamptonshire County Council, North Northants Development Company and Toyo Tires to develop various marketing initiatives.

I don't believe in Modern Love

Dan — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 23:00:00 +0100

The music landscape is littered with excruciating cover versions of classic songs. There are exceptions of course. The secret of a good cover is to take a song and run with it. Make it your own, rather than trying to recreate what's been done already.

I chanced upon this while listening to Jonathan Ross' Saturday Radio 2 show. Enter The Last Town Chorus' version of David Bowie's "Modern Love". Being a big Bowie fan, I had to track it down.

Unfortunately the quality of the promo video doesn't quite match up to the song... ( just hide the browser window and listen to the audio)

"Modern Love" is the first track on David Bowie's album 'Let's Dance'. It was issued as the third single from the album in 1983. Here's the original.

Think Video, Think Engine!

Glyn — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 23:00:00 +0100

The video production team at Engine has been on the road quite a bit recently and it is time we bring you up to speed with what they have been up to lately.

Engine is currently working on a big project for the National College of School Leadership (NCSL). The aim is to promote Personalised Learning for children and help teachers to get to grips with how to implement this in their school.

Working closely with the NCSL, we are creating an online interactive resource where teaches can exchange knowledge and share their experience with Personalised Learning. The video production team recently went back to school to film teachers and pupils in action. The videos will be part of the Personalising Learning website which is being created by Engine's digital team.

TAC are positioned as experts in school security after commissioning the TAC School Sceurity Report in relation to Building Schools for the Future and 'Every Child Matters'. They came to Engine for an interactive sales tool to present the findings of the report.

The individual speakers were filmed and edited and all resources collated for the creation of the interactive DVD. See the TAC case study for more details.

Credit broker Loans.co.uk was looking for a way to train their staff in leadership techniques. True to their company ethos, they wanted something out of the ordinary. We gave them David Brent. Well, not the real one but a pretty good impersonator. The workshops, organsed by the video production team, were filmed and edited into a training film.

The Best Of Clubland

Phil — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 23:00:00 +0100

With the MASSIVE release of Clubland Classix 'The Best Of Clubland' out this week we thought we'd bring back together various Babe Competition Winners from past covers and produce the 'Best Of the Babes' Shoot to help with promoting this new album. 8 girls and 1 hectic day later the results are now all over the web including in The Sun, Zoo and in the press.

Facebook us!

Marieke — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Never one to ignore a hurtling bandwagon, we now have our own Engine page on Facebook. Not just a group, but a proper business page. You will be able to see our portfolio, as well as watch some of our best videos and TV commercials. You can become a fan and let other people know they can become fans of Engine too (*hint*). Of course there is The Wall where you can leave your comments about the work we have done.

Social networking has changed the way people keep in touch. It has also changed the way people work. Or perhaps, better said: not work. Apparently British workers waste £133 million per day by spending work hours on sites such as Facebook and MySpace.

At Engine, most of us have our own Facebook profile but we seem to manage keeping the use of it limited to lunchtimes. We are simply too busy at other times. No slackers here. We figured if people want to spend time on Facebook, they might as well spread some Engine love to their friends in the process...

Calling all neglected websites!

Andy — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0100

I read recently that a survey by market research group Cambridge Resolution has found that nearly one in four (23%) websites have not been updated since they launched. This beggars belief when you consider the amount of resources that are spent developing sites of all shapes and sizes. It also raises the question as to why they are not updated: why haven't the agency who developed the site set out a plan to work with their clients to ensure the effectiveness of the website?

Many of our clients have limited resource to manage regular updates and, to this end, it is key that the process is simple and quick. We also keep tabs on our websites from the day they first set foot into the public domain. We expect our sites to grow and evolve according to our clients and their customers needs.

A shameless attempt at soliciting new business or a genuine mini rant about the way that websites are left to fight for their own lives without any 'parental' support? A bit of both really. You know where to find us.

Nicknames and Helmet-Cams

Phil — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0100

First off, I'm so glad there's another Adam and Joe Podcast (BBC Radio 6 Music) out there. It may only be 30 minutes long, but in my book it's 30 minutes of genius wrapped up in gold. All I'm going to say is the word 'Nicknames'; if you've listened before you'll know what I mean. Just check it out!
Also whilst I'm talking about Adam and Joe, let me direct you to the excellent video Adam did for Radiohead's awesome track 'Jigsaw falling into place', taken from the album 'In Rainbows'. You can check out all the videos they've put together over at the Radiohead podcast.

5 times more powerful!

Phil — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0100

We've become 5 times more powerful!

With only a month of broadcasting under its belt, Clubland TV already has 5 times the viewing figures of MTV Dance. That's pretty good going in my book. What's it going to be like in 6 months time if the start is already this explosive!
We're continually working on new animations for the channel so keep an eye out for new stuff soon!

I drink your milkshake...

Phil — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0100

...I drink it up.
Yeah, like so many other people out there, I absolutely loved 'There Will Be Blood', and no one can say that Daniel Day Lewis' performance was anything other than outstanding. Paul Thomas Anderson, the director, can do no wrong in my book but I bet he never thought that one phrase would stand head and shoulders above everything else in the film.

I DRINK YOUR MILKSHAKE

Websites, T-Shirts, Fan versions, they're all out there to be found.
This is just one of many.

Engine in Amsterdam

Marieke — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0100

I always get a warm feeling of pride when I spot some of our work in a shop or 'in the wild'. here in the UK this is of course a regular thing but my family in The Netherlands don't get to see what we create all that often, apart maybe from the Clubland albums.

So on my trip to Amsterdam last weekend, I was pleased to see our latest cover for Today's Golfer on display at Schiphol Airport. Adam and Matt will be happy to know my father was very impressed with their work on The 10 Commandments of Golf.

We are hiring! Designer / Artworker required!

Andy — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Description
Engine needs you! We have a great opportunity for an ambitious and enthusiastic Designer / Artworker to join our growing team. The role is varied, ranging from creating marketing collateral based on existing brand guidelines to Photoshop intensive work right through to the artworking of No.1 selling compilation albums.

You will get the opportunity to work on a diverse range of clients, sometimes working from a verbal brief and other times from a digital visual. Key to this role is the ability to work quickly and accurately to produce print ready artwork. Applicants must be fluent in InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator and Quark.

It is likely that you will have worked in an agency environment as a Designer, Artworker, Mac Operator or Mac Designer although talented individuals with less experience will be considered.

Key responsibilities

The ability to work closely with the creative team to support the production of a range of creative solutions.
The efficient and accurate creation of print ready artwork.
Clear communication skills in relation to colleagues, clients and suppliers.

Key tasks

Management of individual projects and client liaison with the support of the Production Manager.
Producing accurate print ready artwork across different media and modifying existing artwork.
Ensuring that all client brand guidelines are adhered to.

Key skills

Black belt in all relevant software.
A solid background and understanding in the print process.
A good people person and team player.
Eagle eyed and meticulous attention to detail.
Proactive, self-motivated and flexible with the ability to take control of projects independently if required.
Structured and well organised with the ability to work to tight deadlines whilst under pressure.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Summary
The role would suit a candidate keen to make a positive impact in a friendly and ambitious company that’s growing fast. Salary commensurate with experience.

Wolves and Chicks

Phil — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0100

If you have the mind for puzzles and a Nintendo DS, you can't go far wrong with picking up a new game called, 'Professor Layton and the Curious Village'. I was playing this for hours last night, and some of the puzzles are really tough.

The developers have put together a great site promoting this title where you can actually take control of the DS stylus and play through one of the puzzles on the web.

Wolves and Chicks
This variation on the well-known River Crossing puzzle is a great little game where you have to get the 3 Wolves and 3 Chicks across the river on the boat! Why don't you give it a go, and see if you can nail it in under 11 moves. Once you've gone to the site you need to click on GAME DEMO. You'll need to click through a bit of text, but it's worth it. I have done this one by the way - Enjoy.

Hello Paula!

Andy — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0100

A big hello to Paula Lane who joins us as our brand new Production Manager!

Paula has over 13 years of experience in the creative industry and also brings with her some much needed additional feminine charm to the Engine studio. Paula will oversee the production of all jobs through the studio and ensure that our clients continue to receive the high level of service that they have come to know and love from Engine.

Wii have a winner!

Andy — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0100

We are pleased to announce that the winner of our Yuletide competition is Louise Boston from the Robert Horne Group. Louise was the only person to count the same number of Santas as we did: 56. A big Engine congratulations to Louise who popped in to pick up her prize today and is pictured with Matt in the big 'handing over ceremony'.

Thank you to all of those who entered; the competition was a great success and we will definitely have to get our thinking caps on for a 2008 Christmas competition!

Competition now closed!

Andy — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:00:00 +0100

All the entries are in and the lines are now closed!

Thank you to all of those who have entered our Yuletide competition to win a Wii - the winner will be notified next week so keep your ears and eyes open for a special call from Engine HQ...

Clubland TV is set for stun!

Phil — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +0100

The Clubland brand created by Engine is just going from strength to strength, with 2008 looking to be a major year for the biggest dance label in the business.

Headlining the start of the year will be the launch of the new 24hr television station Clubland TV. With a mixture of music videos, interviews, behind the scenes exclusives, and original programming, this looks like it will be the must see station for all the dance music lovers out there. Engine will be handling all the brand identity and motion graphics for the station and will also be a key player in the ideas and filming for the programme content.

Hitting the digital airwaves at the end January, with a low key opening, the station will be broadcasting to the nation on channel 378 on your Sky box. The 'balls out' station push will really happen at the end of February to tie in with the other huge Clubland Event happening this year: Clubland Live.

The Clubland Live Tour will be taking over 7 massive venues throughout the whole of the British Isles during the month of March. A huge line up live acts and DJs will be pleasing over 50,000 clubbers for what's billed as the biggest dance tour ever.

Sport Relief Challenge

Glyn — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Sponsor me and help me rise to the challenge for Sport Relief. The money you give goes directly to helping people living unimaginably tough lives in the UK and across the world. I will be running in the Watford Harriers, 1 Mile Challenge on Mar 16, 2008 12:00 PM. Why don't you come and show you support.

Click the link 'NOW' http://www.mysportrelief.com/glyn?SID=4476

Engine fuels brands

Andy — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Engine's extensive portfolio in the automotive industry has been recognised in this months edition of Car Magazine.

Based in the heart of Northamptonshire and the home of British motorsport, we are ideally located to work with some of the biggest names in the industry. The highly respected Emap publication includes a full page (page 87 to be precise!) on Engine's work with top automotive brands including BF Goodrich, Max Power, Mercedes-Benz, Parkers, Redline, Top Gear and Toyo Tires. Engine have also worked on a number of road safety campaigns for various government initiatives over the past 18 months to complete a truly well-rounded portfolio of work for the industry.

Wii still have plenty of time!

Andy — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +0100

For all of those who have yet to enter our Yuletide competition to win a Wii then you still have time - until the end of the month to be exact!

To be in with a chance of picking up some Wii action simply fill in your details on our Christmas Annual and start counting those Santas. As long as you can add up you're in with a chance - good luck!

Stormtrooper in New Year Camp Dance Shocker

Chris — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +0100

A number of stormtroopers on annual leave from their tour of duty in Tatooine were recently spotted exhibiting uncharacteristically camp behaviour whilst seeing in the New Year with friends.

Lieutenant Chris Laughton was caught on camera by friends in the early hours and is likely to face disciplinary action in the Galactic Empire courts within the next 14 days.

The Engine Christmas Annual 2007

Andy — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 00:00:00 +0100

"Absolutely loved it!" - Emma Trant, Universal Music Group

"That's properly wicked. had me giggling for ages and then I got covered in sparkles...!" - Tal Watson, Ministry of Sound

"What an incredible little booklet! Thanks so so much, very clever!" - Kathryn Gilfeather, Universal Music Group

The release of Engine's Christmas Annual 2007 has created quite a storm at desktops all over the country. Available both online and in a limited printed edition, the Yuletide Oddities Christmas Annual 2007 replaced Engine's traditional Christmas cards.

The little book is full of Christmas cheer and quirky thoughts created by Engine and was emailed to all our clients. Some very advanced jiggery-pokery from our web-development team and Flash-gurus meant that each and every Annual was personalised with the details of each individual recipient.

A limited edition was printed and an even more limited edition was printed and personalised. If you would like to receive your own copy then please email me with your details and explain why you are worthy of such a great festive freebie (in no more than 25 words).

Around the world in one night with Loans.co.uk

Simon — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Christmas isn't just about the time of good will to all men, it's also the party season and here at Engine we never pass up the opportunity of a knees up. Last weekend it was Loans.co.uk's turn to celebrate the Yuletide period and not only did Engine have their cameras there to document the event but we organised the evening from concept to the smooth running of night itself.

The 'All Around The World Extravaganza' saw many weird and wonderful costumes from different countries as well as an array of cuisines to tempt the tastebuds of all attending. The event took place at the Hilton Hotel in Watford and the staff at Loans.co.uk were entertained by dancers performing routines from Russia, a belly dancer from Persia and a line dance troupe from the USA. There was also a bucking bronco for those who were brave enough and a variety of vodka luges.

Throughout the night the dance floor was packed with everybody celebrating Christmas and dancing to the video DJ. I'm sure that the following morning there were a lot of hangovers among the staff of Loans.co.uk, but a wonderful night was had by all.

Marketing Director Andy Pelley comments:

"Walking around the office today, the party is very much being talked about in glowing terms. Our people had a great time and have lasting memeories that will remain for years to come. So a massive thank you to all at Engine. Once again it was a pleasure working with you."

Quality or quantity?

Adam — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Sifting through my inbox last night I found a message from popular design portal www.lounge72.com indicating that they are 'no more'. This morning I arrive to the office bleary eyed and coffee infused to receive a feed of the seemingly ever-present Pixelsurgeon's demise. It might just be coincidence or part of a bigger global shift in society from regulated and established comment to the layman; in short, the rise of blogging.

Although the former portals were pet project collaborations of various senior and middleweights inside the industry, the actual content was constructed and published in a traditional report style. Todays news site is a forum or hub consisting of post's submitted by joe public, introducing a link to some current event or idea with a short synopsis; an equal portion of the report is the readers replies.

Is it just me or is perceived control moving from the establishment to the masses? Even low-brow pop culture like 'Strictly Come Dancing' or 'X-Factor' have an element of public interactivity and control. It's a great idea. In the case of the latter they get the public involved and feel part of the process, make money on the phone polls and advertising, and a more receptive audience to a product they help make at the retail end of the spectrum.

The only downside to this trend is that content suffers. In the case of blogging, reports are written poorly, subjectively and full of grammatical errors. Take this very entry as an example!

Santa Claus places Engine on Preferred Supplier list

Andy — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 00:00:00 +0100

We are pleased to announce that Engine will be working with Santa Claus and his team of elves on a number of exciting projects in the build up to Christmas and beyond. The work follows a tender process where Engine were able to demonstrate their ability to make the Santa brand appeal to a wider target audience beyond the core youth market.

Santa's Marketing Director Bob Small explains: "Many post-believers have lost touch with the Santa Claus magic and need to be re-educated to exactly what the great man can offer them in terms of fun, laughter and sparkle.

After seeing the work that Engine have created for other clients and meeting the team, we firmly believe that they have the skills to re-ignite an interest in Santa and the whole Yuletide industry whether you're naughty or nice."

Further details of our work with the bearded mystery man will follow.

Pic: Santa Claus developing a new marketing strategy to expand target market and brand reach to lapsed believers.

Richard Hammond book illustration

Matt — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Whilst browsing the bookshelves at Tesco, I came across Richard Hammond's autobiography: "On the edge: My story". A book about Hammond's car crash would of course not be complete without a crystal clear 3D illustration of the seconds leading up to the crash.

As luck will have it, Engine created just such an illustration for Top Gear Magazine in February this year. I opened the book, wondering if perhaps our work made it in to what will surely be a best seller this Christmas.

There it was. Proudly taking up two shiny full colour pages. My Christmas presents for this year are sorted.

2Fast2Soon makes an impact

Marieke — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Film premieres are always exciting but even more so when the audience consists of 800 teenagers!

'2Fast2Soon', the hard-hitting road safety film produced by Engine for the Northamptonshire County Council, received a spontaneous round of applause from the audience when it was officially launched at the Royal & Derngate Theatre in Northampton.

The response afterwards was overwhelmingly positive with many students saying they would definitely be more careful when getting in a car in the future.

The regional press was out in force with BBC Look East devoting time to the event in the evening news and several papers such as the Northants Evening Telegraph, Banbury Cake, Oxford Times and Northampton Chronicle & Echo publishing articles, both in print and online.

The campaign hopes to cut the number of 17 to 24-year olds killed or seriously injured on the county's roads. Engine have been working with the Northamptonshire Casualty Reduction Partnership to develop the brand, video, website and associated collateral.

Apple of our eyes

Matt — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 00:00:00 +0100

We've been lucky enough to experience the joy of the iPhone this week and would recommend it to anyone out there who wants a mobile tool that allows you to easily work 'on the go' and, in particular, those who have been waiting for something that seamlessly integrates with their office tools.

Yes, it's absolutely revolutionary in its simplicity and usability, as eloquently put by Malcolm Garrett in Design Week, but it's also a great way of keeping on top of things at a time when clients expect the best service in a competitive industry.

Thank you Apple (again).

2fast2soon event launch

Andy — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Today sees the first event of a widely anticipated road safety initiative which is aimed at reducing the number of young drivers who are killed and seriously injured on Northamptonshire's roads. Last year 51 young people were killed or seriously injured on the county's roads. 2fast2soon is a ground breaking production which features a professionally produced film with input from Northamptonshire's emergency services. The first events are being shown at Royal and Derngate Theatre in Northampton and Castle Theatre in Wellingborough during November 2007.

2fast2soon is funded by Northamptonshire Casualty Reduction Partnership which includes Northamptonshire County Council, Northamptonshire Police, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service and East Midlands Ambulance Service.

Engine have been working with the Northamptonshire Casualty Reduction Partnership to develop the brand, video, website and associated collateral since the Summer and will continue to event manage the shows over this month. For further details visit www.2fast2soon.com.

The 12 Babes of Christmas

phil — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 00:00:00 +0100

With this now being the 4th Clubland Babes Competition we really had to turn the entry dial up to 11, so not only did we need to find the cover girl for Clubland 12, but also enough lovely ladies to fill a whole calendar. Yep, the 12 months of Clubland have arrived. Shot over 3 very long days, in a studio and on location in the extremely warm month of October, the first Clubland Babes Calendar was created. Available now for the very reasonable price of £4.50. Check out clubland.fm for more details.
We've also been especially busy with other Universal Music projects, and there's a whole smorgasbord of albums about to hit the shelves for Christmas. Stay tuned for more music info.

Rate our pumpkins!

Andy — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Welcome to the Engine pumpkin patch - a place for members of the team to express themselves through the art of pumpkin carving, a place to get into the Halloween spirit and, most importantly, a place to get competitive!

Ali, Andy, Dan and Paul have (in their own time!) weaved their creative magic on defenceless pumpkins and we want you to rate them.* Please feel free to use the following criteria as a basis for your rating:

Scare factor.
Intricacy.
Ingenuity.
Quality of carving.
Visual impact.

Please email all of your comments / rating to Andy who will act as judge (with only a hint of prejudice).

*Please note that both Paul and Andy actually involved their children in the process and Paul had to use his mobile to document the creation. Since first writing this entry it has also emerged that both Dan and Ali used templates to base their designs on. Enough said.

Stephen Fry on design

Marieke — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 00:00:00 +0100

Our favourite savant, Stephen Fry, has a soft spot for smartphones. In his own words: "I've never seen a smartphone I haven't bought".

On his blog he discusses in typical Fry-style, his history with smartphones which started in 1991 with the now positively prehistoric looking Psion 3 up until the iPhone of today.

An outspoken fan of almost all things Mac, he takes a swipe at the lack of creative design in the smartphone industry, especially in devices designed for Windows Mobile.

"To say “well my WinMob device does all that your iPhone can do” is like saying my Barratt home has got the same number of bedrooms as your Georgian watermill, it's got a kitchen too, and a bathroom.” … I accept that price is an issue here; if budget is a consideration then you'll have to forgive me, I'm writing from the privileged position of being able to indulge my taste for these objects. But who can deny that design really matters? Or that good design need not be more expensive? We spend our lives inside the virtual environment of digital platforms - why should a faceless, graceless, styleless nerd or a greedy hog of a corporate t**t deny us simplicity, beauty, grace, fun, sexiness, delight, imagination and creative energy in our digital lives? And why should Apple be the only company that sees that? Why don't the other b******s GET IT??

He does point out to Steve Jobs that the lack of a keyboard on the iPhone is a drawback as it makes entering long texts uncomfortable.

"It's an example perhaps of ideology overcoming practicality, as in the early days of the single click mouse."

This of course is always a fine balance, both in product design and in graphic design. The most fabulous design can look great but actually make the end product less effective. The right design is the one that finds the perfect balance between looking great and functionality.

We are hiring! Top Production Manager required!

Andy — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 23:00:00 +0100

Description
Engine is growing! In order to facilitate current and future expansion we need a talented and enthusiastic individual to take ownership of the delivery of creative projects within the company. The wide range of projects undertaken will mean that the right candidate will inevitably need to develop their job knowledge as projects range from brand development to website development, outside advertising to TV advertising, 3D illustration to Flash animation.

Engines client base as both broad and impressive and the successful candidate will be able to demonstrate an ability to manage multiple projects with professionalism and efficiency under the guidance of the Directors.

Key responsibilities

The efficient delivery of project work on time and on budget.
Ensuring consistently high levels of creative quality control.
Good team management skills in order to deliver the range of projects.
Clear communication skills in relation to both colleagues and clients.

Key tasks

Scheduling and management of workflow through the studio.
Development of efficient production procedures in conjunction with the Directors.
The generation of project quotes in conjunction with the Directors.
Effective liaison and communication with Directors and studio team.
Day to day communication with clients to ensure that all deliverables are met and that the client is aware of any issues concerning the project at hand including timelines, amends and budget.
The creation of project plans / timelines where appropriate.

Key skills

A passion and in depth knowledge of the creative industry and pride in the work produced.
A strong commercial awareness and understanding of the company strategy, both short and long term.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
A good understanding of the principles of project management and project management methodologies.
A good people person and team leader with the ability to get the best out of a range of talented individuals.
Proactive, self-motivated and flexible with the ability to take control of projects independently.
Structured and well organised with the ability to work to tight deadlines whilst under pressure from conflicting client and internal needs.
Ability to work effectively across a range of client projects simultaneously. Ability to plan time efficiently and manage resource across all projects.
Confidence and ability to identify and resolve client and project issues in a timely and effective manner.
Experience in successfully running and delivering a range of large creative projects a distinct advantage.

Summary
The role would suit a candidate keen to make a positive impact in a friendly and ambitious company that's growing fast. Salary commensurate with experience.

Please send your CV and examples of work to careers@enginecreative.co.uk or, alternatively, give Marieke Vink a call on 01604 453 177 for further information.

Engine is an equal opportunities employer

Engine in Car

Matt — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 23:00:00 +0100

We've just created a 3D illustration of Cadwell Park racing circuit for Car magazines 2007 performance car test. The illustration (on page 90 of the November issue) details the nuances of the hilly circuit and was created in 3D by combining topographic height data with satellite imagery. You can view it in more detail in our portfolio section.

The issue also features me - a fully qualified '3D image wizard' - in the contributors section at the front of the magazine. To find out more about this great publication visit their website - http://www.carmagazine.co.uk

Engine fuels young driver campaign

Andy — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 23:00:00 +0100

Road safety officers from nine authorities across the East Midlands have joined forces with Engine to develop a young driver road safety campaign.

Every day two young drivers are killed on Britain's roads. It is statistics like this that are behind the striking new campaign No more lives wasted, which is being launched this weekend at The Rally Show, Chatsworth House, Derbyshire. Show visitors are invited to the exhibition vehicle to gain information from the interactive displays and pledge support for the campaign.

No more lives wasted aims to make young drivers think about their vulnerability on the roads and asks them to take action.

The East Midlands LARSOA (Local Authority Road Safety Officers Assiciation) group approached Engine to create a high-impact brand for the campaign. The combination of a skull and a speedometer creates a direct, no holds barred visual reference to the dangers of speeding.

The website, designed by Engine, offers young drivers advice on responsible driving and how to avoid accidents. It also features short video clips where vicitims of road traffic accidents tell their stories. The campaign also consists of posters, flyers and a fully branded exhibition vehicle that will be used at exhibitions around the region.

Engine's Projects Director Andy Wise said: "The campaign has been developed to combat young driver casualties across the region. Young drivers can drastically reduce their chances of being involved in a road crash by following advice that can be found at www.nomoreliveswasted.com. The launch this weekend is just the start of the campaign. We will be working with the LARSOA team on an ongoing basis to develop a wide ranging marketing strategy in order to raise awareness and make a real difference."

For more information, have a look at the case study.

Fresh look for Loans.co.uk

Glyn — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 23:00:00 +0100

Loans.co.uk have started implementing their new brand guidelines, which aim to provide agencies with best practice advice across all creative and marketing requirements.

Created by Engine, the set of core guidelines takes the shape of a 36 page document with rules and guidance that will ensure that the updated brand delivers a clear and consistent message which has a positive impact across all communications and target audiences.

Small revisions have been made to the logo and the company values have been formalised into a strap line that will now run throughout all consumer collateral. The guidelines use the 'Fast, Friendly, Straightforward' values as a conceptual basis for all customer interaction from copy writing to use of photography.

Andy Pelley, Loans.co.uk's Marketing Director, comments: "We knew it was time for our brand to be developed, improved and updated, and Engine have once again demonstrated they have an excellent understanding of our business, and what was needed to move us forward.

"How the public perceives us is crucial to the success of our business and our brand now brings us a more modern, professional, smarter look which we look forward to getting the benefit of. The quality Engine produce time and time again makes them a great agency to work with."

Engine, who have worked closely with the credit brokers on a variety of creative challenges over the past 2 years, aimed to devise a framework that could be used across all media channels and by in-house creatives and external agencies alike.

"The 36 page document has its own distinct tone of voice to complement the brand values that we have devised with the Loans.co.uk team. The way we have written the guide is a million miles away from the dictatorial and restrictive guidelines distributed by many big brands. They are aimed at allowing the Loans.co.uk brand to flourish in a far more cohesive and creative way and this will be reflected in the way that Loans.co.uk communicate with their audience from now on," says Engine Projects Director Andrew Wise.

Help! Do our users need it?

Alistair — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 23:00:00 +0100

We spend a great deal of time on the internet (well I do!) but just because we have developed an understanding for how applications work does not mean that everyone else knows.

As designers and developers there is a danger of getting too close to a project and just expecting that our users will know how things work. Even with the best intentions we always run the risk of designing confusing interactions.

After reading 'Designing the Obvious' by Robert Hoekman, Jr. I endeavour to do just that! Create obvious interactions that appear natural to the user, allowing the user to feel confident about using the application and enjoy the entire experience.

But how does a user learn these interactions?
Is the current Facebook and mySpace generation as web savvy as we would assume?
Can we really expect our users to just know how things work?

In a recent article on his blog Robert Hoekman, Jr. explores how this assumption can often be quite false - a great insight for designers, developers and users alike...

http://rhjr.net/theblog/2007/08/30/the-savviness-paradox/

No Surrender - The Official O2 England Rugby Send-off Dinner

glyn — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 23:00:00 +0100

Engine, partnered with Fireball Management, pulled out all the stops at The Official O2 England Rugby Send-off Dinner, to create a celebratory atmosphere to send off the England squad in style.

Ben Shephard and Kirsty Gallacher were hosts for the event, getting the facts and feelings from the players. Captain Phil Vickery and Lawrence Dallaglio provided moral boosting remarks and Head Coach Brian Ashton talked freely about his intentions for defending the World Cup in France. The night was attended by the whole team with entertainment provided by Jools Holland and his band, as they performed a fantastic hour long set.

The event was fully supported by O2 who are the sponsors for the England Rugby Team.

GOOD LUCK to the team, we're behind you!

Road safety campaign

Marieke — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 23:00:00 +0100

If you happened to drive past Denton last week, you may have caught a glimpse of the latest Engine film project. We are working with the Northamptonshire Casualty Reduction Partnership on a young drivers campaign that aims to reduce casualties on the county's roads.

The project, called 2Fast2Soon, is aimed at young drivers and school leavers and brings home the dangers of driving too fast, especially when combined with a lack of experience on the road.

The campaign, which will officially be launched in November, will consist of a website, roadshows and a DVD to take the message to the target audience.

For the DVD we staged a spectacular car crash and rescue operation, using the stunt team that worked on James Bond's 'Die Another Day' and real police officers, firemen and paramedics.

Despite the best efforts of the British weather trying to dampen the spirits and hinder the schedule, the rough cuts are looking great and the film will undoubtedly have the desired impact on the target audience.

Video games go to the Lab

Dan — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 23:00:00 +0100

Usually reserved for websites and software applications, video games are now getting the usability treatment. Development companies have always had testing departments, more technically focussed on fixing visual errors, bugs and crashes. Now Microsoft and Bungie are putting Halo 3 through the full usability lab process to make their game perfectly playable by all.

Lets hope it doesn't go all Jakob Nielsen...

http://www.wired.com/gaming/virtualworlds/magazine/15-09/ff_halo

Riding High

phil — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 23:00:00 +0100

The top 10 is once again filled with Engine designs. Classic Trance Nations and The Ride are now joined by Dancemania 2 and Galaxy Dance Anthems. With Clubland 11 still high in the charts after 2 months of release, Engine really does have 'the touch'*

Check out the new Galaxy Dance Anthems television commercial in our portfolio section now.

*Boogie Nights reference.

Happy Birthday to us - Engine is 10

Matt — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 23:00:00 +0100

Engine is ten years old today! We would like to thank all the clients who have supported us over the past decade and look forward to your continued support.

This year has been a particularly productive and transitional year at Engine; we've nearly doubled in size and have expanded our offering in many departments, most notably Creative, Digital and Video. This, in turn, has enabled us to work on a wider variety of great projects than ever before.

We have continued our sucess with new business wins from North Northants Development Company, LARSOA, Northamptonshire County Council, Crystal Clear Home Loans, How 2 Become, National College for School Leadership, Oxygen Games and Haymarket Exhibitions to name but a few. All of these achievements are only possible with the great team that we have here at Engine; a team we are proud of and a team that we are confident will form the basis of the next 10 years of development.

The company structure has now been tweaked to enable us to grow in a way that will also allow us to retain the Engine ethos and working environment that we all know and love

Matt Key and Phil Christer have swapped roles with Matt now becoming the Managing Director and Phil the Creative Director. Glyn Allen remains as Director with added focus on new business development. We would also like to welcome Andy Wise to the board of directors, expanding his role to become Projects Director. These changes take effect as of 1st August to accommodate our plans for the next few years.

Thanks again to everyone associated with Engine over the past decade and here's to another successful and rewarding ten years!

Mixalbum.com returns

Matt — Tue, 31 Jul 2007 23:00:00 +0100

Look out for the 'Engine designed' MixAlbum back on your TV screens tonight! check out "Dragons' Den: Where are they now?" at 8pm on BBC 2. Set your Sky Plus it'll be TV Gold!

Young Drivers Campaigns

Andy — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 23:00:00 +0100

Engine are currently working with the East Midlands regional LARSOA group on a young drivers campaign aimed at highlighting the dangers of night driving, over confidence and inexperience. We are taking a deliberately hard hitting approach which has been well received by focus groups. The campaign involves branding, awareness literature, website and a DVD for Road Safety Officers to use as part of their presentation.

As a result of this work we have also recently teamed up with Northamptonshire County Council and are producing a short film aimed at the school leaver age group. This, again, is backed up by a strong brand identity that we have created and that will form the basis of all the marketing collateral.

This work comes on the back of the proposed Commons transport committee initiative to stop young people "killing themselves and others". It's an initiative that, based on the research we have undertaken for the projects, is something that we fully back.

We are hiring! Video maestro required!

Andy — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 23:00:00 +0100

Zend PHP Certified (x2)

Andy — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 23:00:00 +0100

Further to our last blog entry regarding Alistair's accreditation as one of a few select developers to have the distinction of being a Zend Certified Engineer, we are pleased to let everyone know that James passed his exam yesterday and is now, officially, a top PHP developer.

One of only 125 Certified Engineers in the UK, James has been working hard over the last few months to attain this industry renowned qualification:

"Zend PHP Certification sets the industry standard in PHP certification, recognising outstanding PHP expertise & delivering a measure of distinction for PHP developers."

This cements Engine's commitment to offering its clients the highest level of service across the various media channels including, of course, digital.

It's official: Creativity is great for your business!

Marieke — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 23:00:00 +0100

It is official now: the creative industry is hugely important to the UK economy. According to a recent report published by The Work Foundation, the creative industry in the UK accounts for 7.3 % of the GDP. That is almost as much as the financial sector!

According to The Independent, "creative industries fuel Britain's economic growth".

More and more international companies realise that Britain has a lot of creative talent and they spend around £2 billion a year on design, advertising and architecture in Britain. In fact, last year we beat America in the world of excellence in advertising for the first time.

Design is a key part of the knowledge industry because new ideas come from creative design and from creative minds looking at old issues in a new way.

It is good that creativity gets this type of recognition because all too often it can be dismissed as a luxury rather than an integral part of business growth. Creative agencies play a part in the economic growth of Britain and Engine for one is proud to be part of that.

Engine educates school leaders

Andy — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 23:00:00 +0100

The National College for School Leadership (NCSL) exists to help to make a difference to the lives and the life chances of children and young people through the development of world-class school leaders.

Engine have continued to develop their portfolio in the Education sector after winning a pitch to design a new leadership package based on a collection of five papers written by some of the most prominent researchers on educational leadership from across the world.

Engine have worked in partnership with the NCSL research team to develop a pack and associated activities that will engage, inform and inspire school leaders. The format and design of the Positive Leadership pack are intrinsically linked with a pack which opens up to reveal a very definite + symbol.

This challenging project also included the creation of individual brochures and the development of activity programmes in conjunction with the NCSL team. Through a process which included a headteacher workshop to test the activities, the Thinking Board activities have been developed to act as a way for participants to create their own leadership futures plan. The Thinking Boards are a flexible and very visual way of participants considering and discussing their thoughts on a number of issues and scenarios related to the five think pieces.

Caroline Wainer from NCSL comments: "It has been a pleasure to work with such a dedicated and hard-working team. Their creativity and specialist knowledge were invaluable to this project and we have a unique and engaging set of learning materials as a result."

Engine's Projects Manager Andrew Wise adds: "Our work with the NCSL team has shown that, as a creative agency, we are able to deliver far more than just a design service. The Thinking Board activities are a flexible and open way for school leaders to discuss, analyse and improve their own practice and the plan is that this concept will be developed for other leadership programmes within the NCSL. We have built a strong reputation for creating practical and inspiring solutions for the Education sector with clients including The Open University, British Library and ProQuest and this experience has certainly contributed to our understanding of what is a complex and diverse target audience."

By using experience and creativity, Engine have developed a practical and inspiring pack for the NCSL which can truly make a positive difference to school leaders and the future of the schools in which they teach.

The Positive Leadership packs were launched at the annual leadership conference on the 6th June and will be promoted in schools throughout the UK. They can be downloaded from the NCSL website

Clubland storms the charts and the media

Phil — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 23:00:00 +0100

Clubland 11 has hit the No.1 spot with first week sales exceeding all expectations. It seemed that everyone wanted a piece of the Clubland promotional pie, with numerous articles in newspapers and on websites. Unfortunately Sam couldnt make it to the Zoo shoot, but Charlie rose to the occasion and is featured in this weeks Zoo magazine.

With Clubland 11, Clubbers Guide Summer 2007 and Massive R&B all in the top 5, it's been a bumper Engine week.