Swain Architecture Website
Website design and brand management for a Nottingham architectural practice
Project
We created the Swain Architecture website as well as designed their marketing materials including brochures, stationery, signage and the curation of their social media. In short we ensure that everything presented to the public is on-brand and represents their business.
We are proud brand directors and agency partners of Swain Architecture, a Nottingham based architectural practice. We monitor and apply their brand design to all their external communications in a way that expresses Swain Architecture’s design credentials and positions the business as being both professional and approachable.
Swain Architecture Website
User Experience
Simpkin Burley created a new digital user experience for Swain Architecture. As a design business, it was key that the visual feel of this website was representative of their high design standards.
Website Design
We created a clean layout in which we could add rich lifestyle imagery (courtesy of photographers Emily + Katy). Our design was based around explaining how to work with a residential architect and inspiring residential and commercial clients alike.
Positive Results
A Marketing Tool
As standard for Simpkin Burley websites, we ensured that Google Analytics were installed so that monitoring of marketing and campaign results can be monitored. We trained the Swain team to use the content management system and Analytics so that they can review our performance themselves.
Return on Investment
Within the first few months of launching the website visitor figures have more than doubled. Search engine listing has also improved, and Swain now rank on the first page in many searches. In turn this has meant more and better quality enquiries for our client and their growing business.
Office Signage Design
Simpkin Burley designed bespoke signage to be applied throughout Swain Architecture’s creative studio in Derby. The signage was designed to reflect the Swain brand as well as be a striking backdrop for video conferences and photography.
Brand Guardians
Simpkin Burley have been acting as Swain Architectures brand director for a number of years. We manage their marketing suite of materials including brochures that explain their services to potential clients and business stationery for the Nottingham based architectural practice.
Social Media
For visual businesses Simpkin Burley can provide social media management. Swain Architecture have a large back catalogue of fantastic imagery and a target audience who are eager to new ‘house inspo’. We post monthly digital campaigns, showing case studies and giving insights into the people and process behind the designs. We manage Instagram, Facebook and Linked In, and have grown their following as well as driven engagement which has led to strong growth of new enquiries.
Pell Frischmann
Brand evolution and website design for this UK-based international engineering practice
Project
Pell Frischmann is a top ten, UK-based international engineering practice with over 90 years of experience within the built environment sector. Simpkin Burley was initially asked to review and consolidate the marketing collateral of the firm. The brand evolution was focussed on supplying a suite of marketing templates that improved consistency and clarity of message. This demonstrated the scale of knowledge and experience that is one of the major assets of the businesses.
Following on from the brand evolution, we were also engaged to upgrade the business’s online presence with a new website. The initial work focussed on improving the website navigation and consolidation of the site map. A later phase of this digital project has also introduced better Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), improved user experience and better functionality as the business grows its services and specialisms.
Digital Partner
A Growing Online Presence
Simpkin Burley was asked to update the navigation and functionality of Pell Frischmann’s website. Over a period of time this relationship has grown and we are now on-hand as the firm’s online and digital consultant.
A Comprehensive Marketing and PR Tool
The website has grown to include greater coverage of Pell Frischmann’s specialisms and skillsets. The site is now a resource for the business’s HR department as well as providing a contact interface for all its UK offices. The SEO of the website has been improved to drive traffic to the relevant specialist services.
Brand Positioning
Evolution not Revolution
We reviewed Pell Frischmann’s brand positioning, consolidating and defining their suite of marketing collateral. This ensured their brand was consistent, clear and communicated their messages well. Brand evolution can be a cost-effective method of ensuring a business’s communications are fit for purpose without a full company rebrand.
Consistent Marketing Collateral
Simpkin Burley produced templates that could be easily used by Pell Frischmann’s UK-wide team. Brand assets included new presentations, printed collateral, photography and colour guidelines, as well as a digital newsletter. We packaged the brand in a simple guidelines’ presentation, allowing the whole team to produce a cohesive brand image in all their work.
Thrive
Brand design and promotional literature for a financial investment product
Project
We designed a new brand design and promotional literature for a financial investment product. Thrive is a financial wealth business, aiming to prove that you can be caring when thinking about money. Simpkin Burley was initially asked to create a brochure explaining the offer. The brief developed and we also designed a new brand identity and associated marketing suite.
We focused on simple, personal messages to make potential customers think about why they might want to save. Instead of using the topic of making money, we used the concepts of real people, personal connections, and relationships. We did this to tell a story about how a secure financial future can transform lives.
Manning Holden Architects Branding
Branding for Manning Holden Architects, a Derbyshire architectural practice
Project
We created a brand design and naming for Manning Holden, a Derbyshire architectural practice specialising in residential design. The business specialises in sustainable building practices and is family run. We steered the client to a name that included the founder and lead designers’ names. For a client to be working with a director whose name is ‘above the door of the company’ makes them feel like they are talking to a senior architect and that their project is important. It also suggests collaboration and partnership within the practice.
Manning Holden Architects is growing in recognition and have been commissioned to design many residential buildings in their target Derbyshire area. The practice continues to expand both in the scope of their projects and by employing local talent.
Brand Concept
Inspired by Materiality
Simpkin Burley chose to work with the business owners’ natural visual style and created a palette inspired by local architectural materials. We complemented this with simple but classic typography that reflects the business type and its aspirations to be an environmentally considerate designer.
A Brand Application Suite
As well as brand guidelines we produced a pocket-sized brochure to communicate the process of working with an architect. We also created a quality business card and site gear so that our client has a consistent look and feel at every touch point of their customers touch points.
The Alternative Adviser
A bold and distinctive financial services brand design for a wealth planning business.
Project
Simpkin Burley designed a visually strong brand for this financial planning business. We used contemporary type combined with a black and white colour palette to demonstrate our clients clarity of message. The bold style of the brand instils a strong sense of quality and trust. The concept of plain-speaking advice is conveyed by a graphic device inspired by a keyboard shortcut.
The identity was applied to an extensive suite of applications. This included stationery, corporate literature, a website, video marketing, office signage and advertising campaigns as well as a monthly lifestyle magazine.
A Complete Brand Suite
Consistency
One aspect of brand design that we’re passionate about is ‘message’. By ensuring all business communications are ‘on brand’, a business looks professional, consistent with good attention to detail. We believe consistency leads to brand recognition.
Comprehensive Brand Suite
For this project we created brand guidelines to ensure the identity was applied consistently. For the brand launch, a full set of stationery was created which demonstrated the high-end nature of the business. Business cards, letterheads and postcards were all produced by A14 Print Finishing and used quality, embossed, GF Smith paper.
Agency Partners
On-call Support
Simpkin Burley is on call for The Alternative Adviser for adhoc marketing and design campaigns. This can be as simple as occasional advertising for forthcoming events or the production of their monthly lifestyle magazine.
Escape Magazine
Escape Magazine contains articles that relate to the lifestyles of our client’s customers. Rather than a typical e-newsletter, our client wanted to share something that was special and tailored to their clients. The format of the magazine demonstrates a personal touch and attention to detail the business has designed into every step of their customer journey.
