I have been researching some studios in Leeds and Manchester that I could contact for any placement opportunities. I came across Creative Spark which have offices in both Leeds and Manchester and also London. I wanted to look at them in more detail and also look at the work they produce with the hope of contacting them for a visit.
We don't start by designing, oh no, we start by asking questions and listening. We listen to you. Really hard. We dig and dig until we know everything about our clients - to make sure we know precisely how we can help them.
Then, it's all about the idea. The spark. The piece of excitement that draws people in. We produce sparks by working hard, hammering out ideas fanatically to create something special. Passionately exploring all the possibilities, we know everything starts with a spark. So there you go. No fluff. No flowery nonsense. Just honest hard work.
I liked the website because it gave some detail into the members of staff that work at the company. I think that by doing this it highlights the personality and also the working environment of the studio.
The portfolio of work goes on and is all incredibly creative. I picked out a few of my favourite projects and some that I could see myself working on.
__
Visitor numbers to libraries across Trafford had been reducing, even though the facilities had received considerable investment. What they now offer is far more than just lending books, so we were asked to create a new brand that would encompass all the things available at Trafford’s community-focused libraries.
We started off by tackling their brand identity and brand guidelines. We supplemented this by creating a bank of icons to help people easily find their way around. We then worked on their interior signage and created a colour pallet that would be used across all 12 libraries in the region.
We came up with an adaptable brand because all of the individual libraries were different. And we gave them value for money moving forwards as the brand could be used online and in other marketing and promotions. Most importantly we created an engaging brand identity that appealed to a wide-range of people who live in the Trafford area.
“We were very impressed with the branding and signage ideas put forward by you and feel they embody what we are trying to achieve in our library modernisation strategy.” Nic Davies, Trafford Council
__
Aura Healthcare
Website Design & Development
Aura Healthcare is an international healthcare software and IT services supplier. They support a range of IT solutions that help healthcare professionals and organisations primarily within the NHS.
Aura came to us with a brief to overhaul their current online presence and we jumped at the challenge. We came up with creative concepts for imagery and made sure it had clear call to actions therefore encouraging users to book demos through the website. We consolidated two of Aura’s websites to produce a responsive website which provides a balance between who Aura are as a company and the IT solutions they can provide. We are currently working with Aura to develop their overall digital strategy.
Click here to see the site.
__
Hale Country Club
Print, Brand & Web Design
Hale Country Club & Spa is an independent, family-owned business that aims to be the very opposite of the large corporate chain clubs. Boasting an impressive 40,000 square feet over three floors and nestled in quiet countryside, the Hale Country Club provides indoor and outdoor swimming pools, and contemporary food and drink.
Their offering and their brand needed to feel more like a golf club with an element of family fun and friendliness. They knew that their audience would be brand savvy, so the new club had to have a brand and persona that reflected their professional and friendly approach as well as their premium services.
We created a crest logo that gave a sense of quality and heritage. We then used high quality photography combined with an approachable tone of voice in their copy to ensure a premium vibe, but also a friendly personality.
“We really loved the designs that Creative Spark produced. They brought through the heritage that the club wanted to represent but in a stylised, premium way”. Richard Edmunds, General Manager Hale Country Club
Spec for the website design:
WordPress including bespoke booking system / calendar
WordPress including bespoke booking system / calendar
__
Looking for who to contact about a placement:
I plan to contact Creative Spark in the future as I think that I would work well here.
