PS Design Group becomes part of The Brand Group

The Brand Group is here. Yes that's right folks, PS Design Group is now a partner of The Brand Group. There has been lots of work in the background and reasons why this partnership is not only necessary, but also very relevant. Over the years I (Paul Smith) have been privileged to work with some top creative talent throughout Cumbria and across the UK - in fact I still do and will continue to do so. I am however going to focus on the reason that brought me into this creative profession originally... Brands!!!!

Branding is what makes me get up in the morning - and is my passion. Your brand is not just a logo, an advert or a brochure, your brand is everything your current and prospective customers think, feel, say, hear, read, watch, imagine, suspect and even hope about you or your product, service or organisation...

It's about real meaning! And that's what's important and why people use their emotions to choose a brand and stay loyal to a brand for many years.

Although I will be taking a step back from the actual graphic design duties and development process that takes place once a brand has been established, I will be overseeing the majority of the creative output and I will still be hands on when it comes to delivering the tangible stuff for PS Design Group. I will be spearheading The Brand Group along with some very creative talent - from cool Graphic Designers and amazing Photographers to brilliant Web Developers and Marketing Gurus, who are all at the top of their game. And we will be giving businesses in Cumbria and beyond the chance to have a 'full service' and true 'branding agency' to call upon to help their brands become what they really should be and reach their true authentic potential.

The new website and introductory material for The Brand Group will be rolling out to our current clients in the coming weeks and months, but in the meantime I wanted to announce this first from my blog. I would like to remind everyone that The Brand Group, will be all about creativity, strategy, and development over the long term. PS Design Group will be the Graphic Design partner along with other sectors including Online Developers, Photographers, Marketing and much more. Thus making us (and our clients) better, adding more value and becoming a relevant partner to anyone who is serious about their brand.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and if you need any further information or would like to talk to us about your brand and how we can help, then please contact us at: info@thebrandgroup.co.uk

A very Merry Christmas to you all and we look forward to working with you in 2011.

And remember... A Brand is like a puppy...it's not just for Christmas.

Straight 6 Classic Car Brand Launch

Straight 6 was a passion for a client of mine whos dream was to own a number of classic cars and then as a business idea, hire these out to enthusiasts or for personal events and weddings etc.. When PS Design Group were first briefed there wasn't even a car to hire out, but since then an e-type jaguar has been purchased and in time a number of other classics will join the fleet. The name Straight 6 came from the 6 cylinder engines associated with these cars. The whole brand needed a vintage feel about it, but with a memorable look and feel associated with the subject. We decided on classic racing Green and complimentary yellows as the main company colours and a stylistic, strong logo marque. A website , business stationery and promotional literature have also been created. We hope you like the branding, and if you need a perfect gift for Christmas this year.. Straight 6 also do vouchers - so visit the website and buy your Dad a present he will never forget. Va va Voom!

Eden Valley Hospice - Bike 2 parliament

Please help raise money for Bike2Parliament . PS Design Group created the logo design and banners to promote a charity cycle ride by some friends and my local Conservative MP John Stevenson. They are raising funds (and getting sore bums and legs) for Eden Valley Hospice. You can also follow their training and the actual rides ups and downs

via their twitter page. Good luck guys and girl. Say hello to Mr Cameron when you get to Westminster.

Penrith & Border Broadband Conference @ Rheged.

I've just attended the "Penrith and the Border Conference today at Rheged in Penrith. Rory Stewart (MP) was hosting the event with some great speakers from around the UK being put on the spotlight about the possible solutions for the communities who are determined to get high-speed Next Generation broadband Access (NGA) and a reliable 2mb connectionby the end of 2012. PS Design Group is proud to be associated with this very important conference and we were responsible for creating the logo and a lot of the marketing material and visual graphics. To find out more please visit: www.rorystewart.co.uk/broadband

The Wheatsheaf Inn gets new branding and website.

The Wheatsheaf Inn is a fantastic public house and caravan park based in the small village of Low Lorton near Cockermouth in Cumbria. They approached PS Design Group to breathe some new life into a tired looking website. At the same time we also created a new identity to sit with the new look, this new identity will be rolled out onto menus, signage and all promotional material in the coming months. The new website is full of useful information on all that is happening in and around the pub. With news on events, the latest award winning ales on offer and a full food menu which will be updated on a regular basis. It was a pleasure working with Mark & Jackie (lanlord and landlady) and we hope to visit them very soon to sip some fine local ales and dig into some scrumptios pub grub.

Chatsworth Tennis Club - Mailer

Chatsworth Tennis Club asked us to design a mailer to coincide with the launch of the new logo that we were commissioned to do a few months ago. Children and teen member numbers were on the down turn, so we neede to create something to generate interest in the club and the excellent facilities that are on offer. We designed an informative trifold leaflet with energetic imagery to reflect the passion and exitement that we found from the children that were currently members. We urge anyone interested to visit their website for more info or why not head down to the club and see all the great facilities that are available.

Armstrong Watson Literature

Armstrong Watson are a leading accountancy firm in the North West of England. With strict guidelines and brand identity PS Design Group were asked to create some new literature for their up and coming events to promote their specialist services. The literature had to sit within their current brand style. We also helped launch their twitter home page.

Cool World Cup Wall Chart!

Theres a few doing the rounds at the moment with the World Cup nearly upon us. This is a lovely typographic wall chart which arrived in my post this morning and is all for a good cause with all proceeds raised going to Soccer Aid | UNICEF. The poster is available to buy directly from here – its only £7 + £3 P&P. Go on, get one for the studio wall and do some good at the same time. See more images here.

Shout, shout let it all out, these are the things I can do without.. Come on England!

Truly Independent

Independent Financial Advisers based in Dumfries, Scotland appraoched PS Design Group on recommendation from another of our clients. We helped Truly Independent launch with a new identity and business literature. After initial consultations we also helped them with their copywriting and online presence. Identity Guidelines and future marketing material are in the pipeline for 2010.

Cumbria Renewable Energy business new website.

Cumbria based renewable energy company Encompas Ltd asked PS Design Group to be involved with the re-design of the website. After intensive market insight from 'Reach Marketing' into what their self build and commercial customers were wanting from renewable energy systems, we were able to design a comprehensive yet user freindly and customer focused site that impresses and informs on many levels to keep Encompas Ltd at the forefront of their market. Our design team worked closely with Kudos who developed and host the new site. We are currently helping Encompas develop their brand offline through exhibition stands, literature and PR.

Hand on Heart Jewellery

This wonderful local Cumbrian businsess came to PS Design Group and asked us to create a simple A5 showcard for an up and coming event at Carlisle Racecourse in February 2010. After speaking with the girl owners, they realised they also needed a pull up banner to accompany them at the show. Although they create lovely jewellery of your loved ones hand and foot prints they didn't have any product photography, so we helped them with that to, cool huh! All the images were created by our in-house photographer. Hand on Heart is a great business with a fab product, in fact the cufflinks shown on the finished showcard actually belong to the Creative Director Paul Smith. He had them made of his son and stepdaugther's hand prints.

TOPBOD - Carlisle Beauty Salon new website.

After creating the new company logo last year for this small salon based in Wetheral, it was finally time to update their website with the brand style. A simple web template was just the right solution as there was very little budget and no room for error during development. The site was designed, built and live within 2 weeks from receiving the initial brief. The client was extremely happy and all things went to plan and hassle free. Contact us if you require a simple, yet effective, well designed webiste on a small budget. We can get your business online and working for you in no time at all.

York Place Dental

Smile...the new York Place Dental business cards and greetings cards have just arrived from printers. Nice stock and great photography from Steve Meyfroidt.

We went for folded business cards with a cropped image of the actual dentist and some introductory text on the inside. Clean design with a polished print finish :) We really like this.

Off The Wall Promotions

Some times a client comes along with so much enthusiasm, it's inspiring. Off The Wall is that client. They design and manage anything that will make your event memorable. Here at PS Design Group, we were asked to create a new brand identity that could be flexible, quirky, memorable and fun. We started with getting under the skin of what OTW were about and giving them some brand guidelines along with new identity, stationery and website. Direct Mail, Vehicle Livery and Corporate Literature will also be rolling out over 2010. So for all kinds of cool games and event ideas for your business or pleasure contact David Gardiner at 'off the wall'. Ps... Thanks to Darren at Kierweb for the help in the construction of the website.

Beautiful Portrait Photography

Some gorgeous portrait photography from Steve Meyfroidt (pronounced Mayfruer). He came and took some stunning shots of my new born baby (and my double chin, time to get back to the gym me thinks). We had a great afternoon and I can't wait to see the rest of the shots. Please take a look at his work, I know I am slightly biased, but once you see his portfolio and meet this charming gent, then I'm sure you will be to. He also has some stunning wedding photography and an accomplished

commercial portfolio to boot. Thanks so much Steve, the shots look amazing...as always. P

New Logo for Astro Soccer Six league

Cumbria soccer 6 a-side league 'Astro Soccer Sixes' approached us to refresh their logo of over 12 years. Having played in the soccer league ourselves, we jumped at the chance to work with a project that we are passionate about and a sport that we love to play and watch. We opted for a logo that summed up the excitement of the leagues using colours to represent Cumbria rather than the usual reds and blues of footballing teams. We introduced 6 moving stars to represent each player on the team and a softer more modern font. The identity will be rolled out onto all marterial online and in print in the coming months. A Facebook page will be launched in the coming days so will keep you posted, and if you would like to take part or get a team together, then contact Billy Rafferty on 01228 593030.... Football logos are not a matter of life and death ... they're more important than that.

The Tradition Partnership

We were asked to put a visual style to a company that was focusing on bringing about a return to traditional pension values. Providing bespoke pension solutions for each individual company scheme. Initially we implemented stationery and a corporate document that could be used as a tool to inform clients about the range of services available and a background to the company. Photography was used to reflect the core businesses that The Tradition Partnership serves, from all industries at all levels. Website and Exhibiton stands will roll out over the coming weeks...trust us.

Free ways to promote your website.

A List Directory

Promoting your website can be expensive, but what if you haven't got a large marketing budget? Here is one technique you could use:

Add yourself to FREE web directories!

There are hundred of web directories that allow you to post your details for free.

A List directory is just one of them. A List Directory

and

Visit http://info.vilesilencer.com for lots more. Hope this helps. P

Carlisle Wealth Management Brand

CPC Wealth Management approached us to create new corporate literature and stationery (and soon to launch a new website) that would reflect their services and communicate their brand in a positive way to their clients. To begin with, we helped CPC understand what was so unique about their business and the brand. We created a brand document containing new brand values and mission statement along with guidelines to help give CPC a clear consistency in all their communications. We were very impressed with their business knowledge and financial expertise, so that was our starting point in creating this look. We also had to capture their infectious 'charisma' which we felt was a real difference for them in their market place. Expert financial advisers who won't bore the hell out of you..now that's worth something!

It doesn't do what it says on the tin!

Firstly best wishes to all for 2010. I trust you have been hitting the high street shops and searching online for all those bargains to be had (unless your a man of course and hate shopping, according to BBC news this morning). Well I have been doing a bit myself and over the past couple of days, mainly buying for the birth of my first child who is due any day now. I was in the kids sections of Next, M&S, Hoopers and the mecca of all...Mothercare. I also purchased a new i-Mac for my business, which leads me to the topic of this particular post.

I went up to 'PC World' store in my city of Carlisle as there is no Apple Store here yet (nearest is Manchester I think). It got me thinking about brand names of big shops and why quite a few of these names don't actually match up to what they sell. PC world was selling furniture, cameras, paper shredders, Sat Navs and of course Apple Macs. Yes some of these products are all linked in some way to your computer, but there not the strongest of links. Is it time for a re-brand or name change. I am not talking about brands that have some obscure names like Santander or Argos, but brands that name themselves after the product they initially sold, and have diversified so much over the past few years that their brand name struggles to match what they actually sell or is their core product.

Another one I came across whilst shopping was 'The Carphone Warehouse' which sells laptops, gaming, i-pods etc...these products have nothing to do with a car or a phone and the store itself looks nothing like a warehouse. I am sure there are more stores like this in the UK, and I will be on the lookout when shopping with my new baby, but if you know of any other shops or brands that "doesn't do what it says on the tin" then please let me know. I am trying to reach one hundred brands by the end of the January sales, so if you can think of any then do let me know. I will also try this on my facebook page for all you Facebookers. Thanks again and I look forward to seeing what you all come up with. Here's to a BRAND NEW YEAR. Paul Smith