Garda

A compelling case

Nick Pack — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:20:29 +0000

Brown & Carroll fit out London’s finest buildings with some of the most beautiful, bespoke and practical joinery anywhere in the world. They enable architects to bring their designs to life, and contractors to deliver business-critical projects on time and on budget. But their end users – including many major financial services, legal and oil companies – also need to be convinced at the tender stage. These top executives might have less than a minute to look through a brochure. And they make up their minds very fast.

So our brief was simple. Produce a company brochure for Brown & Carroll that would capture their essence and make a compelling case. Blow readers away with stunning imagery of completed projects, clear evidence of working cost-effectively to the highest standards, and commitment to environmental best practice. Get attention – and help to win tenders. Here’s the 36 page brochure that we designed, wrote, photographed and produced.

Seventy ads in two weeks

Nick Pack — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 10:19:34 +0000

The pressure was on. Commercial Motor were about to launch commercialmotor.com – a new website to sit alongside their highly popular weekly magazine. Already at the heart of the road transport industry, they wanted to make their coverage even bigger, better and bolder, and to make it even easier for their readers to sell trucks fast. But they had to get their message across fast too – and they gave us just two weeks.

Two weeks. That was all the time we had to design and artwork seventy different ads of all shapes and sizes to scatter through the pages of the magazine – the natural place to attract readers and point them to the new website. The advertising ran in parallel with a direct mail campaign that we also produced … three different mailers sent to 5,000 clients and prospects. Did it all work? Well, the new website had over 100,000 hits in the first four weeks. So something certainly did.

Medium sized can be best

saram — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 09:33:26 +0000

Imagine you’re a young accountancy graduate looking for a career. Where do you apply? One of the big four firms? The Association of Practising Accountants would say no. They know that the training offered by the medium sized firms they represent is hard to beat. But how to make their case convincing in the face of such serious competition?

Our work for the APA started with new branding to give them a contemporary, relevant look and feel. Then we got stuck into their website, thinking through the user journey to appeal to three different audiences – graduates, businesses looking for an accountant, and potential new members. Ideas on structure, strong design and engaging words are all playing their part as the website takes shape. Watch this space!

Brave branding

saram — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 09:30:16 +0000

Sometimes, branding has to be brave to stand out. That certainly felt true for TWH – a new client who needed a fresh and eye-catching new look for their domestic building, plumbing and double glazing business. At the same time their branding needed to inspire confidence and trust – a bit like a utility company. Their vans seemed to be the key…

With three vehicles dedicated to their “retail” side, each was signwritten with the strong new logo we designed. But there was twist – because each one also carries an arresting image to promote one of the three service areas of the business. We’re now extending the new branding to the signage at their Wickford premises, their website and other marketing material.

Really motoring

saram — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 10:53:12 +0000

Following our branding work for the newly formed publishing company Road Transport Media, we have now been asked to work on another logo project. The prestigious Motor Transport Directors’ Club provides networking opportunities for directors of some of the leading transport companies around the country. The identity needed to be simple yet sophisticated. Our solution – an elegant black and silver circular device that can be easily applied to a whole range of event materials. We have produced everything from pens to display banners and even silver foiled the logo onto the front of some folders to add some extra sparkle to the club.

Our marketing gives you wings

saram — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 10:44:56 +0000

2800 bright pink feathers, three tubs of glue, 20 cups of tea, 7 paper cuts and 1 broken vacuum cleaner. The recipe, we hope, for another sucessful marketing campaign. Once again Garda are targeting local businesses throughout Essex who could use a little help to attract more customers, raise their profile, or just talk to their customers a little more clearly. If you are not already on our mailing list and would like to see what all the fuss is about, drop Tony an email tony@gardadesign.com. If you are on the list, look out for Ringo, our latest feathered friend, landing on your desk in the next couple of weeks!

The Seven Seas and beyond…

saram — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 10:25:49 +0000

Local marble and granite suppliers, Seven Seas, needed to update their logo. The existing one was looking a little tired. From our briefing meeting we discover that one of the biggest challenges they faced was with people not knowing what Seven Seas did. Our solution – incorporate the product into the logo. The beautifully bespoke nature of the work surfaces that can be created, has been captured in an icon designed to reflect both a kitchen, and the number 7 from the name.

Alongside the new strap line and sign outside the factory, we hope that Seven Seas will soon become known locally as the people to talk to when thinking about a new kitchen. We look forward to working on a direct mail campaign and new website in the future to really help get the company message out there.

A historic report

saram — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 12:20:22 +0000

This week we are working on some new designs for the Historic Houses Association Annual Report. This is the forth year that Garda has worked with the HHA on this high profile document. Some new fonts, a strong colour palette and a simplified page structure will all help this year’s Report really stand out. We are looking forward to receiving all the stunning photographs of the stately homes and gardens that help to bring the report to life every year!

» See last year’s Annual Report »

We know how

saram — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 10:29:15 +0000

Launching this week – the new identity for Rayleigh based sign makers, John Anthony Signs. The new logo and incorporated strapline has been designed to appeal to their design savvy target audience. It is a distinctive identity that is both bold and confident and forms part of our ongoing brief to help drive the business forward.

Also launching this week is the new website. Designed, written, photographed and built by Garda, the new site is a powerful sales tool for John Anthony Signs, clearly setting them apart from their competitors.

» Read more about the new brand »

See the logo in action
» www.johnanthonysigns.com »

Summer’s back

saram — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 12:45:14 +0000

With offices right by the sea, we are making the most of the sunshine today. We are also practicing what we preach by making the most of all marketing opportunities. So here’s today’s Facebook ad…

Facebook and Twitter are helping us to raise our profile in the local business community. It is also proving to be a great place to meet up with other talented individuals; copywriters, photographers and designers. Why not ‘Like’ or tweet us today – we’d love to say hello.

@GardaDesign
www.facebook.com/pages/Garda-Design