OUGD502: PPP2 - Life's a Pitch (emails)

Today we decided on e-mail addresses of each of the members of the team. I thought that it would be best that we had 6 e-mail addresses - one for each of and one for general enquiries. I think it is important to have this so that clients have an idea of who to contact first. Though we might have a managing director it would be beneficial for us all to be able to pick up on general e-mails from perspective clients. The team agreed with me on this and we created info@twoplusthree.com

OUGD502: PPP2 - Life's a Pitch (Defining roles)

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In our business I want to make sure that we all have our clear roles, just in case we are asked in the presentation. I devised a list of each of our responsibilities based on each persons strengths.

Harrison: Creative Director, Type and Layout Specialist, Editorial designer, Concept developer, Visual engineer. 

Samuel: Proof reader, Type and Layout specialist, Editorial designer, Client communicator, Print based imagery consultant

Laura: Proof reader, Packaging designer, Client communicator, Researcher, Copywriter

Issy: Packaging designer, Typographer, Concept developer, Visual engineer

Ellen: Digital designer, Concept developer, Client communicator, Web developer, Screen based imagery consultant.

OUGG502: PPP2 - Researching Into Aviva

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After getting the news from a relative about Kimberley at Aviva in York I have decided to carry out a quick search into her.

OUGD502: PPP - Life's a Pitch Choosing a Group

Today we were briefed for Life's a Pitch. This is a presentation based on research for our own business. We had to choose groups of 4/5 people to be in our groups and come up with a business from scratch. Choosing a group is, as always, very difficult as there is such a varied group of people in the class.

I chose to work with Laura and Issy who are my friends and housemates on the course. I chose to do this, against John's advice because I think that we will work well together. If this were to be a real business I do not think that I would make the same choice as I am more interested in Web design and they are both packaging designers. In our group of three we chose to work with Harrison and Sam, another friendship group. We did this because their work is similar to our own.

We wanted our business to be based on the two friendship groups coming together to work as a team. We are all very good friends with one another which I believe will help us massively in this brief. Coming up with a name was something that was done without my presence as I was busy on a Responsive brief and we had little time to come up with a name. The name that the group came up with was two plus three. I was very happy with the name because it is succinct and to the point which I think represents our group.

We have decided to market ourselves as a Branding and Identity company, this is purely down to the design disciplines that each of us possess. I am a web designer, Laura and Issy are packaging designers, Harrison and Sam are editorial designers, putting these together we think that Branding offers us the most options collectively.

OUGD502: PPP2 - Personal Branding (Behance)

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I have learnt the importance of having an online presence. I spent a lot of time photographing my work from the first year and also from the beginning of the second year.

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My Behance:

Since uploading my Behance portfolio I have had many views for my projects and also a direct message from a man in Germany who wants to use my coffee book from first year. 

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The message:

OUGD502: PPP2 - Creative Spark Research

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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. 

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

OUGD502: PPP2 - Life's a Pitch (Looking into trains)

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We have chosen to be based in Leeds due to good train connections to the rest of the UK. I decided to look into some train times and availability from Leeds. This was not my responsibility and Issy did take charge of the role in the end.



Leeds - London Kings Cross:  2 hours 13 mins DIRECT
Leeds - Edinburgh: 3 hours 5 mins DIRECT
Leeds - Glasgow: 4 hours 50 mins 1 CHANGE
Leeds - Newcastle: 1 hour 31 mins DIRECT
Leeds - Manchester: 56 mins DIRECT
Leeds - Birmingham: 1 hour 58 mins DIRECT
Leeds - Blackpool: 2 hours 10 mins DIRECT
Leeds - Huddersfield: 20 mins DIRECT
Leeds - Cardiff: 4 hours 19 mins 1 CHANGE
Leeds - Plymouth: 5 hours 37 mins DIRECT
Leeds - York: 24 mins DIRECT

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Looking at ticket prices:

Leeds - London Kings Cross:

Next Day: client emergencies:

1 week in advance:

Client meeting:

2 weeks in advance:

Pitch

3 weeks in advance:

The cost difference does not alter much after 2 weeks in advance but it alters massively from the next day to one week in advance.