Chris has over 20 years’ experience as a graphic designer and creative problem solver. He works with clients to gain meaningful insights and turn creative ideas into beautifully designed, engaging communications. Chris has led design teams to deliver creative projects for a diverse range of B2B, B2C businesses and organisations, across: Construction, Engineering, Education, not for profit, Property, Public Sector and Retail. Comprehensive knowledge and experience of design and production processes allows Chris to deliver challenging projects on time, on budget whilst still pushing the creative process.

 

Chris’s specialisms

As a multi-disciplinary designer Chris has made a difference to his clients’ businesses through intelligent, creative communications applied across; Identity design, Brand strategy, Print, Digital – online and mobile, Advertising, Packaging, Exhibition design and Signage. Chris has developed brand strategies, full identity schemes, brand guidelines, and managed their application across the full breadth of comms channels and media. This deep understanding and experience enable him to work with new and existing identity schemes to deliver creative outcomes which support clients’ business strategies and goals.

 

Projects

Vino Direct

Thinking fast, from naming to designing and launching an online wine retail business in the face of a global pandemic.

The Vino Direct journey began with a love of wine and a global medical emergency which turned the world upside down. Already an established wine merchant operating across England’s South West the unfolding pandemic meant our clients needed to pivot quickly and establish new routes to market. I worked with the team to create the brand strategy, customer analysis and identity design and roll-out across print and digital media, including a full commerce website.

Brand identity programme / Customer journey analysis / Brand proposition / Engagement strategy and implementation / Design and Art Direction / Website design and development / Full design implementation across all communication channels

 

Howkins & Harrison

Taking 125 years of history and revitalising its identity for the next 125 years.

A rapidly changing and competitive marketplace using new technologies created a need to package over 125 years of business in a diverse, contemporary, flexible and engaging identity scheme. Howkins & Harrison had seen a huge growth in their business and were seeing stress points in their existing identity. Traditional methods of communication were needing to work alongside new digital channels. The Howkins & Harrison identity development had to feel modern without losing over 125 years of heritage. The logotype and its application needed to align with customers in a range of sectors. The design process resulted in a strong, assured and contemporary mark which could be applied across all media. The logotype was supported by a diverse visual language which allows for the tone-of-voice of the comms materials to be tailored to support the business units their activity and effectively communicate with their customers.

Developing corporate and brand identity programmes / Analysing the customer journey / Brand proposition renewal / Engagement strategy and implementation / Full design implementation across all elements of communication

 

Design Council

Building an Associate network to deliver better outcomes for business through design

Designing Demand, was the Design Council’s business support programme, acting as a key tool to improve competitiveness within UK business, and SMEs in particular. Following the Cox Review, The Designing Demand programme was to be made widely available to SMEs nationwide, with dedicated resources to support regional activity. To meet the resource requirement, the success of the programme, was largely dependent on the quality and supply of Associates. Working alongside the internal team and existing identity Chris developed extensive comms materials across print and digital media along with event and spatial design. A key element of these materials was an online resource tool that also managed the recruitment and induction process. We also managed the delivery of CPD for Design Associates, using the resource tool to build, manage and maintain the client management system for the Network.

Brand communications / Campaigns / Design development and implementation / Design communications / Design structures / Online resource and associate community hub / Internal communications / Exhibition and Event design

 

Keepmoat

Building a brand to serve neighbourhoods through community regeneration

Keepmoat was going through a period of strategic change; at the time, it was active in the house construction market, with three operating companies Bramall Construction, Frank Haslam Milan and Haslam Homes – Keepmoat being the ‘holding’ company. The Government promoted a commitment to bring all social housing up to 21st century standards, predominately, through public private partnerships (PPP’s). Through PPP’s, Keepmoat pioneered regeneration partnerships by joining forces with the public sector to meet the government’s agenda. In the marketplace, Keepmoat was known mainly through its operating companies. With the change in focus to PPP’s, Keepmoat needed to move away from its operating companies leading the brand positioning, to Keepmoat being the main projection, in order to build an image that reflected the financial stability and confidence of the combined group. The design team created a brand proposition to position Keepmoat as ‘Leaders in Community Regeneration’. The identity was implemented across the operating group, with application onto vehicles, uniforms, site signage, tenant and contractor information. Their communications strategy has been rationalised through corporate literature, annual report and accounts, website, newsletters and signage, held together through integrated PR activity.

Articulating brand strategy across external and internal audiences / Delivery of online and offline brand communications / Comprehensive brand implementation programme over a 10-year period / Full design implementation across all elements of the marketing and communications mix.