GRAPHIC DESIGN Archives

08
Jan

Obesity Action Scotland are an organisation which helps to promote healthier lifestyle habits. They had carried out a significant piece of research, over several years, and were looking to showcase their results to the Scottish Government. We were asked to create a memorable health campaign which would include an eye-catching infographic.

SOLUTION

The main findings from the organisation’s research was that being over-weight had an overall effect on many different parts of people’s health – obviously the heart, lungs, stomach, etc but also unexpectedly on organs such as the brain and even eyes. There were also wider dangers such as with diabetes and cancer.

We presented many different ideas but eventually were asked to develop one of the more humorous concepts. ‘The Organg’ was a collection of over-worked organs with their own personalities. Bonnie Brain, Hamish Heart and co were joined by nasty characters such as Devlin Diabetes, etc.

A range of materials were created including a ‘Top-Trumps’ inspired infographic.

RESULT

A tremendous result.

“Obesity Action Scotland worked with the loft to develop a series of graphics aimed to deliver health messages. The whole process from presenting wide range of ideas to choose from, to narrowing down the concepts, to fine tuning the final product, was easy and enjoyable. the team was very professional, approachable and easy going with plenty of initiative. Working with the loft team was a pleasure, thank you!”

Dr Anna Strachan, Policy Officer of Obesity Action Scotland

15
Nov

PMA RECRUITMENT SERVICES, KEEPING IT SIMPLE

Posted by benbordone

BRIEF

PMA Recruitment Services are a fast-growing, service-led and construction-focussed recruitment company. As the creators of their original brand and website, we were thrilled when asked to design a series of communications to showcase their new process ‘Keeping It Simple.’

SOLUTION

PMA wanted to showcase the dynamic process that quickly and efficiently helped both their employers and employees find who they are looking for.

The loft built on the bold brand colours with a simple chevron graphic to symbolise the 6 steps of the process. Special efforts were taken to ensure that graphics looked like they were moving even when stationary.

Once a design was selected by PMA Recruitment, we were delighted to create multiple versions for their website, as a digital/print brochure, for PPT and social media. Finally, a special reverse-colour version was created so clients and partners could more easily print a copy without using too much printer ink.

RESULT

We were delighted with the final results as were PMA Recruitment Services.

“Thanks as always to Benedetto and the loft for our new ‘Recruitment Process’ creative designs. Tremendous work as always!”

Craig Kenny, Co-Founder of PMA Recruitment Services

13
Nov

Grand Gates

Posted by benbordone

BRIEF

Grand Gates design, manufacture and install beautiful hand-crafted gates. The company has an exceptional portfolio with a wide range of stunning gate designs, crafted in a variety of fine metals. A long-term client, we were delighted to be given the opportunity to help develop a new identity for the brand which was fresh, modern and showcased the craftsmanship of their work.

SOLUTION

A dream brief, we instantly explored creative ways to showcase the idea of fine craftsmanship with our original sketches and ideas. We honed in on the idea of using a metallic finish for the main concept, and after much exploration, selected a pale gold.

The logo itself was kept simple, with the letters GG being used back-to-back, and the words being written with a modern typeface. We worked closely with the client to develop the tagline ‘Safety, Security and Style.’ Finally, the pale gold finish was carried through into a complimentary icon set.

The identity was brought to life in a number of ways including with a series of exquisitely crafted business cards from Glasgow Letterpress.

RESULT

A tremendous result.

“We’ve been working with the loft for many years and in that time they have helped us to develop our values, brand our company and assisted with a series of different communications. It’s always a pleasure to work with them and see what magic they will create next. The team is inspiring with their creative talents and how they pull it all together to make sense. Highly recommended.”

Jamie Doak, Managing Director of Grand Gates Ltd

29
Oct

Glasgow Chamber of Commerce COP26

Posted by benbordone

BRIEF

The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26 ) in 2021 was a significant event for the city of Glasgow, as well as for all of the various organisations in the city. The Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, in particular, had an important role to play in welcoming delegates from all over the world, making them feel at home in our city.

We were delighted to be asked to help by designing a special COP26 graphic. We were asked to create something bold, which included all of the countries attending, and obviously tie in some of the main themes of the conference.

SOLUTION

We wanted to create something which had real personality, and alongside the great folks at The Chamber, decided to create a bespoke COP26 skyline.

The skyline would include landmarks from all the countries who were coming to Glasgow. We created icons for each of the landmarks and laid them out in a line, the backdrop was re-created to incorporate multiple themes of sustainability emphasising the climate change message.

To add a little extra personality, Nessie was included to remind everybody of the host country.

RESULT

The illustration has been wonderfully well-received by everybody from The Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, as well as their partners.

“I’ve known Benedetto and the loft for the best part of 10 years and they positively brim with innovation, attention to detail and enthusiasm. They have a rare ability to turn creative outputs around very quickly and effectively. They intuitively understands us as clients and have been instrumental in creating one of our key identities and some vital member communications.”

Richard Muir, Deputy CEO of Glasgow Chamber Of Commerce

24
Nov

Drink Baotic

Posted by benbordone

BRIEF

Drink Baotic is an African-inspired, pre-biotic drink, based on the Baobab super-fruit from The Gambia. Coming in four unique flavours, the dairy & gluten-free refreshment has a distinctive taste and is packed with nutrients exceptional for gut health. In addition to the unique story of the drink, company founders Paul and Isatou, work closely with local communities in The Gambia.

We were delighted to be given the opportunity to work with Drink Baotic on the design of their new brand. We were asked to create a new series of packaging designs, updated identity design and revised brand theme.

SOLUTION

We started by exploring all of the potential brand messages for Drink Baotic. We wanted to create something which could equally showcase the distinctive taste of the drink, the health benefits and most importantly Gambian culture.

Exploring the beauty of Gambian culture was our starting point, we wanted to capture this beauty but in a contemporary way. We created a distinctive pattern inspired by traditional cave scribings, a pattern that was a key feature of the overall design.

For the identity, the design was gently updated with the t and i in Baotic re-formatted as a mother touching her child’s head.

Finally, there was a wide range of additional packaging solutions with all of the creative ideas re-purposed for social media.

RESULT

Everybody involved was delighted with the final results. Most importantly, Paul and Isatou, have been on an incredible journey since the release of the product. They’ve met Sir Richard Branson, the famous Founder of Virgin and Richard Reed, the Founder of Innocent Smoothies. Both seem to be fans of the brand we co-created. Also, the company have won a wide range of awards and have been featured nationally and internationally for their success.

24
Nov

Alistair Walker Whisky

Posted by benbordone

BRIEF

Alistair Walker Whisky is an independent bottling company, selling rare whisky expressions from distilleries all over Scotland. Alistair was creating a new company and launching his first whisky called ‘Infrequent Flyers.’

The whisky would come in both single malt and single grain variations with a wide range of casks from different distilleries. Alistair wanted a retro feel to the packaging design as well as real flexibility with the labelling.

SOLUTION

We wanted to create something which was of another glorious age – the days when flying was still seen as a luxurious experience. We created an illustration of a classic propellor aircraft flying over some mountains. This was inspired from classic postcards & flight tickets.

The design was prepared in several different colours. We created a range of other items for Alistair including a bespoke age statement, wallpaper-like wraparound for the whisky tube of the whisky and a crest-like logo for the brand identity.

RESULT

A tremendous success and we continue to work with Alistair to this day.

“Coming up with a design for both our company logo and our flagship brand (Infrequent Flyers) from scratch was no mean feat; The Loft were great to work with, both creatively and in terms of execution. They delivered an end-result that I am delighted with, and which many of our customers have been very complimentary towards. Importantly, their ‘after-sales’ service has also been exemplary – they are always happy to help with those little details.”

Alistair Walker, Founder of Alistair Walker Whisky

15
Nov

BBC OWN IT

Posted by benbordone

BRIEF

It’s always a pleasure to win competitive pitches, and winning one with the BBC was a real high-point for our studio. As many know, the BBC has a large number of brands, sub-brands, local brands, etc. We were asked to work with BBC Scotland on one of their digital brands ‘BBC OWN IT.’

BBC OWN IT gives advice to teenagers about ‘bossing their lives online.’ Large companies currently have unprecedented levels of access into the lives of young people, through digital devices. We were asked to look at ways to raise awareness about smartphone privacy for those young people who use the site.

SOLUTION

We wanted something that was fun and memorable. Alongside the team at the BBC, we came up with a customised comic script showing a smartphone as a bad actor/actress in a range of compromising scenes. We had Mister/Mrs Smartphone as Sherlock homes tracking your every move, as a security steward not letting you in without your e-mail address, as a salesperson shamelessly selling merchandise on your social channels.

All fun ways to generate awareness of how large organisations get access to your data. The illustrations were great fun to create and were further personalised to suit the BBC OWN IT brand style.

RESULT

A tremendous result. The BBC were delighted with the final visuals, which were used throughout their website and social channels. The idea of using smartphone characters has been continued by the organisation to this day.

25
Jul

AQUALISA CONTRACTS BROCHURE

Posted by benbordone

BRIEF

Aqualisa are one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high-quality showers. Founded in 1976 and based in Kent, the company was growing rapidly. They were looking to increase their ‘B2B’ revenue and were planning to sell directly to home-builders. They required a brochure which would showcase the style of their products, the quality of showering experience and the ‘ease of installation’ for contractors too.

SOLUTION

We wanted the brochure to showcase the quality of Aqualisa’s stunning shower range. We selected a variety of beautiful images from the Aqualisa photographic library including dramatic images of people using the showers, the units in a wet environment and stunning detail shots. Finally, clear graphics were used to demonstrate the ‘easy-assembly’ and ‘superior environmental performance’ of Aqualisa products. Incredibly important for home-builders.

RESULT

“Aqualisa has been working with the loft for several years now on a huge range of projects — everything from packaging concepts to brochure designs, sales-decks, photography and other marketing communications. The team provides creative solutions, sometimes to extremely tight deadlines, which has helped our company to drive forward with its own commercial objectives, essentially they are an extended part of our team. Highly recommended.”

Simon Cornelius, Senior Product Manager of Aqualisa

25
Jul

YES STRATEGIC PLAN

Posted by benbordone

BRIEF

We were delighted to work again with long-standing client and friend ‘Young Enterprise Scotland.’ YES Scotland is a charitable organisation that inspires young people to learn and succeed through enterprise.

We were delighted to be asked by CEO Geoff Leask to bring their ‘three-year strategic plan’ to life in the most imaginative way possible. We were asked to create something completely different to the standard corporate plan, something that could win hearts and minds while appealing to all of the key stakeholders of the organisation – board members, sponsors, volunteers, apprentices, school pupils, teachers and staff.

SOLUTION

We explored a vast number of ideas, we considered creating a newspaper with the desired headlines in three years time, we looked at infographics, etc. We had been asked for something that was truly innovative and eventually decided upon creating a set of bespoke playing cards.

Short and punchy, their designs would include the main points of the three-year plan, but more importantly how it would individually impact and help key stakeholders. For the design, we featured each of those stakeholders, combining photos with eye-catching graphical backdrops and, as a surprising twist, the backs of the cards use the organisation’s own tartan.

The cards were given in a subtle black envelope.

RESULT

“When you approach a design agency with a wish, you never know where you will land with the ideas generated and ultimately the effectiveness of the suggested proposal for your organisation. Working with the loft I had no fear and no doubt about the innovation, the communication, the deadlines being met and most important having something that worked for us and our audience. At the end of the day it is what the public perception is of what the loft created THAT IS IMPORTANT – in a nutshell they love our Strategic Plan in a set of playing cards and we cannot thank them enough for having their ideas and following through to production – HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!”

Geoff Leask, CEO of Young Enterprise Scotland

25
Jul

ALTIA SOLUTIONS PRODUCT BROCHURE

Posted by benbordone

BRIEF

Altia Solutions are a rapidly growing software company based in Scotland. They serve a number of organisations both nationally and internationally, to help investigators achieve greater efficiency, productivity and accuracy with their investigations.

The company was looking for a new professionally designed, informative and ‘on-brand’ product brochure. A document that would help with the sales process and improve the quality of presentation of both the company and its products.

SOLUTION

We showcased each of the products on individual spreads and used a series of words – like an elevator pitch – to introduce them. We broke down the sub-brand identities to demonstrate what each element of the product does and included user benefits and key testimonials too.

We were asked to show that Altia have a solution for all investigator requirements so we used the front cover and positioned each of the various identities in a large circle with the Altia brand at the centre and the words ‘When The Results Matter’ underneath.

With a special spot UV front cover finish, for a super high-quality look and feel, this carefully crafted brochure has an exceptional finish.

RESULT

We’re very proud of the final results as were Altia.

“Working from the ground up and engaging everyone at Altia, the entire team at the loft have built a strong understanding of our business which they apply to new projects, subsequently presenting the end product remarkably quickly and accurately. Long may our collaboration continue.”

Paul Miller, Sales Manager of Altia Solutions

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