Zabisco Blog

Flat Pack Marketing Re-Launch

noreply@blogger.com (Hammad) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:42:00 +0000

Flat Pack Marketing, a subsidiary of Persona has recently been re-launched with a brand new design and set of packages. The site targets small businesses looking for an affordable way to establish an effective online presence though professional web design and intuitive online marketing. Check out their web design package and online marketing package for more information.

Small businesses usually have a tight budget when it comes to web design and online marketing. Most are put off thinking it will cost too much for a quality website or pessimistic of their chances of succeeding and generating new business online. Enter Flat Pack Marketing; a specialist provider of effective websites for small businesses.

Although their services are mainly focused on web design in Nottingham they offer services to small businesses around the UK. Whether you need some friendly advice on where to begin or you have a plan ready to go Flat Pack Marketing can help by providing the correct strategy and action.

Flat Pack Marketing's most recent project is www.akhtarkhan.com, an Asian wedding photography company. A unique design coupled with a fantastic gallery makes this site stand out from its competition.

So if you're a small business looking for a unique, afforable and effective web presence get yourself over to Flat Pack Marketing.

February SALE - Download now, pay never on all desktop wallpapers!

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:55:00 +0000

Having skipped a month due to over -indulging through the festive period, we're back on the desktop wallpaper trail for 2009, with a couple of fresh designs downloadable for your visual delight during Feb.

The first is based on the lunar calendar (why not?) and an interesting fact I read about February being the only month that can pass without a full moon. Amazing, eh? No? Well, maybe not, but will there be one this year you're now wondering; I'll let the wallpaper tell you. The second design marks the Chinese New Year, the year of the Ox, which approximately 1.33 billion people are currently celebrating and will be for the next couple of weeks. The Ox is thought to be the sign of prosperity through fortitude and hard work, so lets hope that holds true for us all at these credit crunching times!

Download: 1920x1200 • 1680x1050 • 1280x800 • 1024x768

Enjoy!

Beauty's in the eye of the designer

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 15:20:00 +0000

We've got another fine selection of creative desktop wallpapers for you this month that will hopefully provide you with some visual cheer as we count down towards the end of the year!

The first design is based on a quote from The Merry Book of Christmas by Larry Wilde and is our Smashing Magazine submission for December. Remember when you were a child and Christmas seemed so much bigger, exciting and somewhat magical? Well that's the inspiration for this heart-warming, illustrative artwork.

Download: 1920x1200 • 1680x1050 • 1280x800 • 1024x768

The second wallpaper is a slightly different take on Christmas - a thought-provoking image about the origin our best loved annual holiday. With so much of the original meaning of Christmas now lost to relentless advertising and commercialism, it's easy to forget that we're actually marking and celebrating a birthday. The artwork is suitably understated but still has a nice wintery, atmospheric feel.

Download: 1920x1200 • 1680x1050 • 1280x800 • 1024x768

The third wallpaper has absolutely nothing to do with Christmas, but is simply a cracking piece of 'grunge style' vector artwork with an electric theme that showcases our creative credentials and looks great on any desktop.

Download: 1920x1200 • 1680x1050 • 1280x800 • 1024x768

So there you go. Feel free to download the wallpaper of your choice in any of the resolutions provided and be sure to get in touch if you want some of our expert creative input in your next project. We'll have more wallpapers for you in the New Year!

A smashing resource

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 11:12:00 +0000

For a while at Persona we've been bookmarking one website that never fails to inspire us all; designers, developers, and information architects alike. Even the boss can't get enough! Smashing Magazine is a resource that

"delivers useful and innovative information for designers and Web developers with the aim of informing readers about the latest trends and techniques in Web development: clearly, precisely and regularly."

And that it does! Acting as a handbook of all things web dev, the site consists of a collection of professional references and solutions on various topics of interest. With daily postings such as 40 Creative Layouts, CSS Expert Ideas and Usability Nightmares, there really is something for everyone and each post is always thoroughly researched, well presented and right at the forefront of what's going on in the industry. Having this sort of content to hand is a great timesaver and source of inspiration just when the creative juices are starting to dry up.

Download: 1920x1200 • 1680x1050 • 1280x800 • 1024x768

Each month Smashing Magazine post a collection of themed desktop wallpapers designed and submitted by their readers and we obligingly browse through and download our favourites. So this month we've decided to have a go ourselves and create a November wallpaper that we can submit to the magazine and which you can download here for your viewing pleasure. After all, it's better to give than to receive at this time of year (well, almost). Our effort is based around the magic of bonfire night and features some lovely geometric fireworks intended to provide you with a little warmth and enjoyment as you gaze at your screen; something we all need at the minute, brrr.

In the coming months we hope to create more wallpapers for you all, building up a little resource of our own and you never know, we may get some of them featured on the hallowed pages of Smashing magazine.

The force is too strong

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:14:00 +0000

In the last few weeks I've done something I never thought I'd do, or even think I'd be interested in doing... I've joined the dark side! That's right; I've taken my first few tepid steps into the strange and daunting world of code.

Until now, developers have always been those geeks at the other end of the office, non-creatives permanently docked at their little PC stations consumed in page after page of coloured dots, colons and squiggly brackets. Like well oiled machines, they endlessly create, edit and refresh pages of code, only surfacing from their online havens and engaging in the real world for the occasional service or refuel. The distance between them and us has been understandably well observed and any contact confined to email. This is simply the way it's always been and is best for everyone concerned, right?

Okay, so maybe I'm exaggerating a little. After all, the pursuits of the two professions cannot be fully realised without our harmonious collaboration. Despite our fundamental creative and technical differences, we rely on each other for the success of each and every project we undertake. Without us creative types, developers have no page layouts to code away at all day and without their technical skills, we designers have no one to turn our works of art into something useful! Yet the journey of creating a web site always remains a process of two distinct and separate phases, design then development, in which the intricacies and limitations of both fields inevitably arise, occasionally causing friction and frustration for either camp dealing with the ignorance of the other. It is this lack of understanding about the each other's field that has prompted me to do learn more about the dark art.

I've realised that I will never fully understand the restrictions of the web and how that effects my precious design until I actually get my head stuck into some code and try to see things from the perspective of the poor old developer. For too long, I've just has to grumpily sigh and resign myself to defeat when Lewis comes and tells me that some part of my design just isn't possible to recreate or the primary font I've used will just look terrible in IE6! My well thought out and balanced response that "the web sucks" simply won't cut it anymore.

So with the Lewis' help and complete disregard for my previous bad experiences with linguistics (GSCE French and German), I've set about studying the languages of HTML and CSS, in a bid to broaden my horizons, understand how to code a web site and ultimately learn how to best optimise my future designs for web.

So far, I've been surprised how much I've enjoyed learning about elements, attributes and divs. At first it plays havoc on the eyes and is pretty taxing on the brain, but like with anything, putting the theory into practise and repeating tutorials is proving to be working well. I so far understand everything these languages have thrown at me and can rustle up a pretty basic but solid web site from scratch.

My only previous experience in building websites has been through Dreamweaver's "Design view" and that has always been a pretty frustrating one, with elements on a page jumping around when previewed, no matter what changes I seem to make. When creating pages using code, everything feels that little bit more deliberate and stable.

Needless to say, the time I've spent in code view has helped me appreciate the restrictions of the web in terms of the way different elements display on a page and how the medium is much more fluid than that of print design. I can't necessarily make every bit of design sit precisely where I want like I can in print, simply because of the organic nature of the web and the sheer number of variables there are (browsers, fold lines, anti-alias's etc). With each new web site I come to design, these are the sort of factors that I can keep in mind to make the whole process run a bit smoother and improve Lewis' quality of life.

Not only does my foray into uncharted technical territory help with the efficiency and enjoyment of the design and development process in the studio, it also helps me to expand my skill set and improve my employability in an industry where the role of the designer is becoming ever broader.

When studying graphic design at university, there is very little mention of designing for web, in fact there are entirely separate degrees dedicated to digital and multimedia design. My course focused entirely on conceptual "ideas" based print design, occasionally venturing into the worlds of advertising or packaging design. Yet this separation in design courses is not really mirrored in the real world, where many design/marketing agencies strive to meet the needs of clients wanting a range of services: branding, printed literature, web design and search marketing for example. Unless you happen to join a huge agency which has a team covering each of these bases and thus employ you solely for your branding abilities, then you're going to have to be able to branch out somewhat and adapt to the requirements of each individual project.

Many job descriptions for designers these days specify requirements for candidates to have experience and skills in both print and web design, and the relevant computer software for each. It would seem that knowledge of HTML, CSS and Flash etc. is becoming just as important as that of Adobe's Creative Suite and the print industry for those employing the next wave of graduates. For the purist designer who ignores this trend though, preferring to stick to their guns and the world of print, the opportunities may well become that little bit harder to find. This is an industry changing to meet the needs of those wanting to communicate their message, and with the web being at the forefront of the communication age, I for one am not going to rest on my laurels.

Maintaining brand momentum

noreply@blogger.com (Mark) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 12:40:00 +0000

As a designer, I find nothing more frustrating than seeing a strong brand I've helped to create slowly get pulled apart or watered down over time by poor application of all-important brand guidelines or outside members of staff with no creative nous. Logo's sitting in curious places on hideous backgrounds; typefaces you'd expect to see in a nursery; and entire pieces of "design" that bear no resemblance to the rest of a brand or its visual style are heart-sinking examples that I occasionally come across.

The need to involve your professional marketing agency when it comes to developing further brand assets and educating staff about the importance of adhering to the guidelines they have taken time to develop is an important process. Consistency and quality are key in retaining brand loyalty (from a visual point of view at least) and should be of paramount importance for a company who have wisely spent time and resources in developing a strong brand.

That's why I'm pleased to say that this month we've been working hard with our clients 'Growth Investment' and 'Ingenuity' to roll out assets that maintain their brand momentum as well as their integrity.

Having successfully launched their brand with the help of Persona from the very beginning, Ingenuity (a University of Nottingham initiative) has gone from strength to strength, enabling a growing network of business people, academics and public sector organisations to address "burning, real life, business questions". In October, the Ingenuity Programme will been launched, a new development bringing together The University of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University and The University of Derby to offer a range of activities and opportunities designed to help local businesses access knowledge and resources. To accompany this launch, the client has asked Persona to help them publicise this new development.

With the intention of extending the Ingenuity brand having been considered at the initial design phase, the framework was already set in place for such a time as this, and so the process for creating the relevant event literature has been both seamless and enjoyable from both Persona's and the clients' point of view - the result being two pieces of printed literature that successfully extend the strong Ingenuity brand, reaching a new audience.

In a similar vein, the Growt h Investment rebrand has been very successful for the organisation and the client has been keen to ensure the brand assets are used correctly just as much as we have. Close communication in developing artwork for literature, editorial spreads, web pages and this month a set of exhibition banners has meant that the brand visual style has been impeccably maintained. Take a look at one of the banners below.

Both Growth Investment and Ingenuity are benefiting from a good working relationship with their marketing agency, understanding the need to nurture and protect their brands to retain quality and loyalty. As a designer, I can only applaud this attitude and hope that more like them will realise the importance of good design, not forgetting that like anything else, you pay for what you get.

Diva Telecom continues to build brand equity

noreply@blogger.com (Hammad) — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 11:14:00 +0000

This month we've completed an update to the ever growing Diva Telecom brand.

Since we first worked with them (almost 3 years ago), Diva have always been keen to keep their brand and communications fresh - a strategy that has clearly worked, as they're enjoying phenomenal growth (including a new home in their super-environmentally friendly offices).

In parallel to the growth of the product and service ranges Diva Telecom carry, we've produced a new suite of illustrations to bring life and identity to each one. The bright, modern styles keeps within style we previous set in the brand, justifying the approach we took (which was to plan for scale).

The new designs are already in use on a refreshed web site at www.divatelecom.co.uk

Persona: The new oracle for The Psychic Highway

noreply@blogger.com (Hammad) — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 17:17:00 +0000

This year we began work on a fantastic new project with The Psychic Highway. Our good friends at Diva Telecom put us in touch with them to create their new logo, and they loved the design so much they wanted us to do more work for them.

The Psychic Highway specialise in Healing, Astrology, Tarot and many other psychic aspects. Helen at The Psychic Highway asked us to design some Oracle cards that can be used to help guide people with the answers they are searching for.

She contacted her angels to let us know what colours to use based on their meanings. We then used our own angels (our fantastic design team) to create the Oracle Cards. Everyone is extremely excited about them and they will be available to buy online for those that are looking for some guidance. They have even been advertised on Psychic TV - and went down a storm!

Take a look for yourself at www.thepsychichighway.com.

Ingenuity brand development

noreply@blogger.com (Hammad) — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:13:00 +0000

How do you solve the age old problem of bringing together clever academics and innovative entrepreneurs in a way that produces effective results?

One word - Ingenuity

Following a fierce three-way pitch in early 2007, Persona have been appointed the agency of choice for this exciting project, which is being orchestrated by The University of Nottingham, UNIEI and other key partners.

It's still very early stages for Ingenuity, but we have already created the brand identity and some initial marketing literature for student workshops.

Click & Play Web Site goes live

noreply@blogger.com (Hammad) — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:11:00 +0000

This ambitious start-up is hoping to capture the imagination of Home Cinema and Media fans in the South East with it's classy web site produced by Persona.

http://www.clickandplayuk.com

Not content with using false photographs or stock libraries, Click & Play commissioned us to produce bespoke lifestyle illustrations that would inspire viewers and create a modern extension to their brand. The illustrations produced have then been enhanced in Flash to become interactive tours of the solutions they specialise in.

Not only is the site attractive, but we've produced it using W3C Standard HTML code and in line with best practice and accessibility guidelines - a trademark of all web projects produced by Persona.

Transform your World with Toshiba and Persona

noreply@blogger.com (Hammad) — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 08:03:00 +0000

Notebooks in Disguise

When Toshiba told us they would be tying up with one of the big summer blockbusters, we we're hoping it would be Transformers!

So, when we got the call to attend a briefing at Toshiba HQ, the childhood dreams of the lads at Persona came well and truly to life.

We've produced an interactive campaign web site in Adobe Flash that highlights their featured notebooks and promotes the tie up between the two iconic brands.

Optimising a Prime time experience

Using the movie footage as inspiration, we've used choice cuts of film, stills and sound to produce an intro sequence that sets the mood for the site concept.

The site then features an interactive, 360 degree viewpoint of a Satellite notebook that users can 'Transform'. Browsing through the site, visitors can also take part in a competition to win a Helicopter flying lesson - a direct reference to the new movie Transformer 'Blackout'.

On a more technical level, the site uses ASP.NET to provide 'send to a friend' functionality and also process the competition entries.

Under the bonnet

The intro sequence was edited together and sound synced in Adobe Premiere, with Adobe After Effects used to add the atmospheric lighting. Finally, this was exported as Flash Video and added to the main site without needing any additional browser or plug-in software for visitors to view it.<.p>

For the competition, our ASP.NET code validates entries and posts them as XML to a remote web service on Toshiba's contact database; in a format that complies with their specifications. The web service then returns XML instructions that we use to re-direct visitors to the right page; either a message highlighting any problems or a confirmation that their entry has been successful.

To keep a smooth user experience, we've also used AJAX for the navigation, so the page isn't reloaded when moving between sections.

More than meets the eye

Toshiba and Transformers are both iconic brands in their own right; so how do you start to blend the two together in a partnership?

After being briefed by Toshiba, we worked with the Paramount Pictures footage, image library and usage guidelines to ensure both identities were given the right balance.

In our creative brainstorm, we came up with the concept that just like the Transformers robots, we needed to show that there can be more than meets the eye.

Other than highlight the more obvious brand synergy of Technology between the brands, we wanted to do something different.

For the site, everyday features such as USB connections and Keypads have been shot in an abstract style; suggesting they could be parts of a Transformer. By focusing on areas often taken for granted, we've created a mood that emphasises that the difference with a Toshiba notebook is that style and technology are equally important.

Using the All Spark

Using our in-house photography studio, we had full control of the lighting to create the right artistic style. We then put the shots through digital post production to add the Blue lighting - a common feature in footage from the movie.

Autobots, Roll out

Producing a site is only the first part of a campaign - the challenge is to get people to it. Toshiba have used a number of promotional channels to market the site, including:

Press Releases to the media
Banners on the main Toshiba Computers web site
Send to a friend email
Viral seeding and link building

With the campaign being time-critical (it's only being ran for the Summer), it is important that the PR activity focused on outlets of quick turnaround; specifically weekly publications and online media. Press releases have been sent to the design, IT and brand media to bring awareness of the campaign to the more effective audiences.

Toshiba have also agreed page sponsorships with Tiscali and have promotional material and signage in Dixons and Toshiba retail stores around the country.

The site features a send to a friend feature, that is branded as either Autobots or Decepticons depending on the users choice. The email sent is branded in the same style as the site, so recipients are enticed to visit the campaign to find out more.

Finally, the site has marketing analytics installed to track visitor levels, user journeys and conversion goals for the competition.

Avoiding Decepticons

Targeted traffic is being sourced and driven to the site using viral marketing. This was chosen over Pay Per Click advertising, so that the word-by-mouse effect would spread fast and search marketing budgets could be reduced - giving more creative freedom to the production side of the project.

Leading Innovation with Toshiba

noreply@blogger.com (Hammad) — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 14:48:00 +0000

Our old pals at Toshiba have been keeping us very busy recently, with a whole host of projects being worked on throughout the Persona team, such as:

A new style of Flash and graphic banner adverts. The theme of summer is present in both campaigns and will be changed to Autumn as the new school year starts in September.

Community Pages within the Toshiba web site

These pages contain product, solution and support information for different community groups Toshiba specilises in. We've created new layout grids that can be used in their existing CMS template system and made good use of the lifestyle photography we have previously shot for them to represent the actual communities.

Premium Service web site for the education sector

Toshiba also asked us to carry the new, modern brand elements through to a secure web site for the education market. Under the 'Premium Service' banner, Toshiba will be rolling our more sites that focus on their channel audiences and our designs ensure the visitors have an easy to use navigation and a lasting user experience.

Next month, we'll be launching our most exciting project with Toshiba to date - a sponsorship site for Toshiba and Transformers the movie. You won't want to miss the next edition of our newsletter when we 'roll out' with the Autobots. We are a creative web design agency.

DVD and Web Video for Urban Planters

noreply@blogger.com (Hammad) — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 14:48:00 +0000

After 7 separate location shoots across the UK and Holland, we've captured over 10 hours of quality footage on how Urban Planters operates. The masters of greener interiors have had us film all aspects of the network operation and we've left nothing unearthed as we showcase everything from starting a new franchise to installing a set of 6 metre palm trees in Boots head office.

Everything has been filmed by Persona in High Definition (HD), as well as a second camera capturing things from 'the plants point of view'. We're also writing and recording the script and producing a custom piece of music; courtesy of our in-house drumming guru. A 100% Persona production, which has been a lot of fun.

As always, there are some very exciting projects coming up with Urban Planters, which might not save the earth, but certainly do a good job in helping out. Keep reading our newsletter to find out what we mean.

Cross the Red Line

noreply@blogger.com (Hammad) — Wed, 30 May 2007 15:04:00 +0000

The British Red Cross has worked with Persona to produce their first online marketing campaign:

View the campaign site at www.crosstheredline.org.uk

Taking part in a sponsored run for a charity really is a win-win situation. Not only do you get fit and have some fun but you help to support some of the most noble causes we all rely on when times are tough. The British Red Cross are one such cause and have produced this site to encourage runners to join them for the Nottingham Robin Hood Marathon.

In a world of corporate sponsorship deals, we've created a campaign that is all about having fun and raising positive awareness. The campaign site has been created in Flash, with a static HTML version also available for those without the correct player or in need of accessible content. By using Flash, we've been able to create a more engaging user experience, whilst the HTML version also allows for Google traffic to get through and be indexed.

Visitors to the site can view an interactive map of the marathon routes, get training advice and pass on a digital baton to a friend to spread the message.

England goes smoke free

noreply@blogger.com (Hammad) — Wed, 30 May 2007 14:57:00 +0000

The new laws state businesses have to display no-smoking signs around their premises, but the standard White & Red sign looks pretty ugly right? Well a lot of people don't know this, but the laws actually allow you to have a sign that fits your own brand and decor; so you don't have to compromise on your signage.

To help push this message of creative freedom, we've produced some new web pages and a leaflet campaign for Badgemaster - who have many years experience in producing such signs and have the knowledge on what can and can't be done to meet the new requirements.

See the design examples below or check out www.badgemaster.co.uk for more information.

Brand overhaul for Rozone

noreply@blogger.com (Hammad) — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 08:59:00 +0000

Pretty much most of the team at Persona are bonefide petrol heads, so when Rubery Owen subsidary Rozone called upon us for a a brand overhaul, we came over all giddy from the fumes of excitement and a chance to trawl through the British Racing Motors (BRM) brand and archives they still own.

Rozone and their new service arm Rozone Direct are suppliers of sustainable solutions to mechanical, industrial and engineering clients such as the Royal Mail and the Ministry of Defense. Serious stuff, which is why our newly developed tag line reflects the triple-play focus of the group- 'Protecting your pounds, your people & your planet'.

The extensive brand refresh is one of the most comprehensive we've done at Persona and both the team and the client are very proud of the work so far. We've faced the challenge of legacy identity symbols, group company structure and a new service division all needing to convey a revised message that acknowledges the past, enhances the present and creates the future.

Some of the things covered in the initial brand project have been:

Modernisation of the corporate identity
Creation of a new sub-brand for a new van sales operaton
Extensive brand guidelines Vehicle signage (for a extra long wheel base Merc Sprinter!)
Sales and corporate presentations; design and content Brochures and communication literature
A concept for a new way of thinking about sustainabilty!

Next up we'll be addressing the Web and PR strategy of launching the sustainability brand concept- very exciting stuff, so watch for updates.

Diva Telecom e-marketing campaign

noreply@blogger.com (Hammad) — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 18:18:00 +0000

Fast growing telecoms supplier Diva continue to work with Persona, this time launching an e-marketing campaign targeted at the Travel industry.

We've designed an eye-catching series of banners and email postcard email campaign, complete with an interactive landing page that highlights the areas travel and tour operators can save or make money through Diva.

See the campaign landing page

To compliment that campaign, we've also made some cosmetic enhancements to the original site to give a more vibrant and rich experience. The entire site has also undergone a search engine optimisation process to boost the brands awareness. This will be extended to Pay Per Click (PPC) ads on GYM (Google, Yahoo and MSN) with matching landing pages and a new blog. The Diva Telecom site also fully complies with W3C development and Accessibility standards, proving that you can have a responsible, cost effective and effective approach to your online marketing.

Watch this space for more news on sustainable e-marketing initiatives from Persona Creative.

Picsolve re-branded

noreply@blogger.com (Hammad) — Thu, 15 Mar 2007 17:21:00 +0000

The clever people at Picsolve have a world-class reputation as being the best in amusement park and high-speed ride photography - and with clients such as Alton Towers and The London Eye it goes without saying that they needed a world-class service whilst undergoing a re-brand.

Persona Creative have just completed the first phase of the project, with a new logo and identity suite being rolled out to their teams in the UK, EMEA, USA and Far East. Not wanting (or needing) a dramatic change in identity, we've retained the existing colour palette and simplified the logo symbol to be easier to reproduce in print, embroidery and online. Along with key assets such as stationery and a house style guide, we're producing a high impact set of software and solution diagrams to showcase the systems available to customers and how they work.

The comprehensive re-brand will be used to keep Picsolve at the top of their game as well as open up new avenues of communication with existing clients and prospects.

Badgemaster product literature

noreply@blogger.com (Hammad) — Fri, 24 Nov 2006 08:57:00 +0000

Badgemaster

Awarded the Royal Warrant for their outstanding manufacturing and service, market leader Badgemaster have been working with us for almost a year - completely modernising their brand and market positioning.

As well as design and layout, we've shot a whole new new range of photographs - macro images of the badges and portraits of real clients in situ.

Badgemasters enviable client list includes the likes of Bentley, Premier Travel Inn and Boots - so it was important that we portray the prestige within the company, but also how accessible the products are.

We've been producing product literature for the entire range, including:

Personalised Name Badges
Enamel Badges
Reusable 'Instabadges'
Interior Signage

Next up, we're working on a very visual 'Design your own badge' system, complete with 3D renders and an animated demo of how it all works.

Keep an eye out for our new online portfolio which will showcase more of the creative output from the studio.

Being a Diva online

noreply@blogger.com (Hammad) — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 07:14:00 +0000

We first came across Diva Telecom at the NEC Computer Trade Show, when we were exhibiting. After the show, Managing Director Erica Lewis came to see us at Persona to discuss the branding for the new venture; set up having now left BT.

Erica liked the look of of some concepts we'd previously produced and gave us a brief to produce further concepts that were specific to Diva Telecom. With a strong sense of black and vibrant colouring, we produced a series of designs that showed different executions of type and style.

The designs were presented to Erica and a final version was developed to cover the brand emotions of a Diva and ultimately the product offering of the company.

With the logo for Diva Telecom now agreed, we produced and printed the company stationery and locked down the usage of the brand in a styleguide.

With the branding project complete - using the Persona Basics Pro package, Diva Telecom came back to us with a brief for the company web site.

We'd created the Diva brand to be different and so when approaching the web project, we felt that using common stock photography and images wouldn't be on-brand. To keep the vibrant and modern look for Diva, we designed a series of custom illustrations to be used throughout.

The final site design is clean and professional, with a content layout that suits search engine indexing. The site has been developed to comply with W3C Standards for both good quality code and accessibility guidelines, giving Diva Telecom a great platform to begin marketing to their already global customer base.

Check out the live web site at www.divatelecom.co.uk

Creating an Urban Persona

noreply@blogger.com (Hammad) — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 07:11:00 +0000

Urban Planters, the UK's leading interior landscape provider of live and replica plants displays, have transformed some of the country's most illustrious hotels, shopping centres, offices, car showrooms and leisure clubs. Last week the National Franchise Exhibition held at the NEC, Birmingham, saw Urban Planters capitalise on their business proposition to attract potential franchisees. Making it through to the finals of last year's British Franchise Awards it was particularly important to attend the exhibition, and being their first they wanted to be remembered long after the event for being different and above all, innovative.

As with all franchise businesses, it is the brand that somebody invests in. Therefore it is crucial that it stays fresh and the franchise owners take the lead in developing its' exposure; so franchisees can take benefit from the entire groups success. With over 20 franchise territories in the UK and with product distribution links in The Netherlands, Urban Planters have been proactive in developing equity in their brand to provide tangible value to their network. The show at the NEC this year proved to be a great platform to showcase the strength in the brand and give new and existing franchisees the chance to see why an Urban Planters franchise may be the right one for them.

Planting the seed

Joint M.D of the group, Thomas Palfreyman was keen for the exhibition to stand out from the crowd and approached Nottingham design agency Persona Creative for ideas; who Thomas knew previously, having masterminded the award winning planting installation at the agency's offices.

Thomas set Persona Creative a challenge "to come up with an idea for the stand that would be fitting to the brand, attract potential franchisees and showcase the groups innovative thinking."

The response from Persona Creative was a theme that challenged the way people think about urban interiors. Featuring display graphics of faux office environments; one showing a modern 'inspiring' workplace and the other a typical 'uninspiring' office, the theme was designed to provoke reaction and tempt interaction.

Hammad Khan, Creative Director at Persona Creative had this to say about their approach:

"The Urban Planters brand is already very strong, so to be given a challenge by Tom to enhance it was a great compliment to us. We've always had lots of ideas we could use for them and this brief gave us an opportunity to show just how creative we can be."

Recycled CRT monitors were used as tree planters and a false turf floor used instead of office carpeting. To complete the stand layout, an air quality display was also designed as an area the Urban Planters team could use to discuss the end user benefits to those considering a franchise.

The centre piece of the design was a two metre tall 'Urban Tree', made from scaffolding to simulate branches and glass-fronted flat screen monitors mounted as leaves. This would provide an eye-catching focus point for the stand as well as highlight Urban Planters innovative approach to interior landscaping.

The concept was received with great applause by the Urban Planters board of Directors, who felt the emotions and values of the brand were given strong presentation. With full approval of the theme, Thomas set about project managing the manufacture of the stand and Urban Tree, whilst Persona Creative produced the graphics and animations required. With the concept designs approved in early August and the date of the NEC show fixed to 6 October, the joint team had 10 weeks to complete the project scope, which included:

Stand visualisation & designs
Urban Tree Manufacture
'Air Quality' Bio-Spheres manufacture
Display artwork for the stand theme
Screen Animations
Large format printing
Dry run testing
Delivery, installation and logistics

Not wanting to create simply a visual installation, the sales and marketing proposition was also developed further, with two strap-lines created. To compliment the contrasting office environments on the stand, the line "Same number of trees - just less paper" was created to mark the groups' ethical approach to their business. Another line was produced to appeal to the emotive side of a prospective franchisee - "Do you want a business that lets you breathe?" Both lines can be used by the franchisees in their marketing and a positive step from head office in supporting the network.

Pre-Show Activity

The day prior to the opening of the show, the Urban Planters team together with Persona Creative set about assembling the components of the stand. Whilst this was in progress the Urban Tree was already attracting a lot of interest from other exhibitors at the show - all curious to inspect it in more detail. A number of onlookers inquired about purchasing the tree - a request already anticipated by the project team, who have taken steps to copyright the design and market it as another proposition from Urban Planters; revenue from which will benefit the group and ultimately the franchisees. This type of longer term planning and an opportunity to improve the return on investment from attendance of the show is typical of Urban Planters efforts towards the longevity of the brand.

Visitor Reaction

The exhibition attracted 14,000 visitors, a similar figure to that of the previous year and further evidence that the franchise market remains a strong attraction for budding business owners.

One visitor to the Urban Planters stand made a comment that sums up the experience almost everybody who walked past it felt: "This is the first stand I've stopped at; the tree is the star of the show and really grabs your attention. What an innovative way to promote what you do."

Franchise Director of Urban Planters and event co-ordinator Alan Page had this to say about the show:

"We wanted to make our company welcoming to as many people as possible, by making the exhibition stand interesting and visually appealing; the stand has been well received by our audience, as well as other exhibitors here today. It's even more important to demonstrate to people wanting to buy-in to our company that we continue to project the right image to clients and give the right sales and marketing support, so that our franchisees prosper and own a successful business"

Return on Investment

Exhibiting at the show was a great success for Urban Planters, with 11 of the available 13 franchise territories now under active conversation - the busiest the group has ever been from a single marketing exercise.

Being able to bring a simple set of ideas together that conveys the brand was essential to promoting the franchise and Urban Planters are happy that their approach differentiated them from others at the show. Visitor reaction, lead generation and a new revenue stream from Urban Tree sales has laid down the gauntlet as to what can be achieved from a well planned and executed exhibition attendance and the group are keen to continue demonstrating their innovative approach to conventional ideas.

The group will certainly be exhibiting at the show again and have already committed to a space at The Interior Landscaping Exhibition 2006 at the National Agricultural Centre, in November.

Graduate Design Jobs

noreply@blogger.com (Hammad) — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 15:09:00 +0000

It's that time again - when all those bright-eyed design graduates are starting to think about getting a job. Well if you happen to be one of the talented ones, Persona Creative could be the place for you.

Essential Skills & Experience

Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator
Macromedia Dreamweaver MX
Paper & Pencil Sketching & Illustration

You'll also be savvy with Microsoft Office, in particular Word and PowerPoint formatting. Don't worry if you're not - it's not hard and you'll pick it up quickly. We always look for those who are keen to learn and develop their skills, so if you can prove your ability to do this you'll be fine.

We do use a few other programs, which if you know how to use would be great; otherwise you can learn on the job.

Macromedia Flash MX
Adobe InDesign
Adobe Acrobat
Microsoft Visio

What you can expect

We have a great studio right in the city centre of Nottingham, fully equipped with an in-house photography studio, large format proof printing and more IT than you can shake your pencil at.

We're Windows PC based and standardise on Adobe Creative Suite 2 and Macromedia MX. You'll be part of a very fun and talented team and will get the chance to work on live client briefs as well as grow the Persona brand - which we're very passionate about.

Projects we work on include everything from creating exciting new brand identities and literature to web site design and online advertising.

How to apply

To be considered for our graduate programme, you'll need a portfolio of your work. This will need to show your creative style and range of skills.

In the first instance, email us a few example images and a short summary of who you are (tell us about your personality, rather than your CV). Include any information about work experience, qualifications and salary expectations to increase your chances of making the shortlist.

We'll then get in touch and invite you in for an informal interview and a coffee and see if we click.

Send your applications to careers@personacreative.com

Good Luck