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GDA GET ON THE BUSES!
GDA arrived exactly on time and to budget when Stagecoach Sheffield were in need of some creative expertise to help push their '50p student travel' promotion.
Running a fleet of around 7,000 buses and coaches in over 100 towns and cities across the UK, Stagecoach is one of the largest travel operators in the country. Intending to boost its profile within Sheffield and increase awareness of the numerous discounted student routes available, GDA were asked to help with achieving this objective.
Relishing the chance to flex our creative skills, the imminent Freshers fairs provided an ideal opportunity to target our young audience with an attention-grabbing campaign - and the promise of some appealing goodies!
With the huge barrage of gimmicks and literature that students would be greeted with at the fairs, Stagecoach's challenge was to avoid getting their message lost in the throng; or worse, overlooked in favour of a competitor. One way to prevent this from happening was to incorporate an incentive - no student would throw away an opportunity to win a prize, particularly if they couldn't lose!
GDA devised a 'Scratch & Win' competition, offering students the chance of winning a year's free travel with Stagecoach Sheffield; an iPod Shuffle; £15 worth of iTunes Vouchers or a Bottle Opener Key-ring. Distributed alongside strikingly designed supporting material, all bearing Stagecoach's corporate logo and distinctive colours, Stagecoach's stand was one of the busiest at both events.
Mark Dale at GDA comments: "The 50p Student Travel promotion is only one of the many on-going projects on which GDA work with Stagecoach Sheffield marketing department. We regularly design and deliver creative marketing and customer information material that successfully supports and promotes Stagecoach Sheffield."
SHEFFIELD UNIVERSITY WAS 'WITHUS' ALL THE WAY!
Sheffield based design agency, GDA, 'edged' out all competition when it came to creating a distinctive brand identity for the new student village and conferencing facilities at The University of Sheffield.
'The Edge' is an innovative and stylish new building that nestles within scenic parkland in the heart of Endcliffe Village. Developed as an enterprise to attract and accommodate the ever-increasing influx of students from the UK and abroad, The Edge also extends hosting and hospitality services for a wide variety of corporate events.
Lacking a cohesive identity that could effectively unite the dual nature of its purpose, the university commissioned GDA's creative vision and talent in graphic design to successfully integrate each element of its newest venture.
Devising a sassy and appealing brand image for The Edge's public persona, our aim was to simply communicate the vibrant yet relaxing ambience inherent within the numerous recreational areas. Themed around the Peak District, contemporary-style green banding was utilised for all external signage and on a range of promotional marketing material, including coasters and direct mail literature.
As the university's conferencing clientele would be frequenting the same restaurant, cafe, bar and IT facilities as its resident students, GDA's next challenge was to create a sub-brand - 'withUs' - at The Edge that could easily distinguish the services available, without alienating either essential client-base.
The simple internal sub-sections: 'eatwithUs', 'conferencewithUs', 'drinkwithUs' and 'eventswithUs', each incorporating identical banded illustration in alternating colours, work effortlessly in tandem with The Edge. Fully branded marketing material, including pens, stationery, brochures, badges and conference table seating planners were all produced in completion of the project.
GDA's Managing Director, Jonathan Gibb said: "We were thrilled to be given the opportunity of getting creatively involved with such an exciting development at the University. There is no doubt that the identity we have created for The Edge and its facilities will succeed in enhancing the profile of the University and, by extension Sheffield as a whole."
CUTTING-EDGE NEW LOOK FOR CITY LANDMARKS
Some of Sheffield's most recognisable landmarks have been given a fresh new look thanks to a top city design specialist.
GDA Sheffield linked up with Sheffield International Venues (SIV), the largest leisure company in the North, to create a unique design identity for the organisation and its world famous sport and leisure facilities.
The transformation included a new umbrella brand identity for the whole organisation as well as creating a strong and innovative alliance with its diverse portfolio of venues and products across the city. These include Sheffield City Hall, Ponds Forge International Sports Centre, Hillsborough Leisure Centre, iceSheffield, and Don Valley Stadium.
Aiming to raise the profile of SIV and to show association between the company and its venues, the new brand has also been applied to SIV products such as Fitness Unlimited, the city wide membership scheme.
Paul Green, Group Marketing Manager at SIV, said: "We needed a cutting edge new look for the facilities as we move into a new era of sport and leisure in the build-up to 2012.
"IV is looking into other business development opportunities outside the Sheffield area so it is vital we have a strong identity as we expand on this work.
Maggie Freeborn, Director at GDA, said: "After extensive consultation with staff, users and non-users of SIV services and venues, we approached the company with a range of ideas based on the perceptions people have of SIV. Also key to this work was gaining an understanding of SIV's vision and where it wants to position itself at all levels, in association with its key facilities and products.
"We worked with them to create a strong identity that raises the profile of SIV, promotes a contemporary image whilst developing a consistent feel across the group. The brand deliberately retains some of the characteristics of the old logo whilst creating longevity in the new brand."
GDA SKILLS PUT UNDER THE MICROSCOPE
GDA is putting its creative skills to the test - all in the name of science. Working with ALcontrol Laboratories to re-brand their on-site services literature and updating the company's image in branches across the UK and Europe.
Rotherham-based ALcontrol has challenged GDA to modernise their on-site services leaflets, to reflect the diverse nature of their work in the food and environmental testing industry and to increase their market awareness.
The updated promotional literature is photography led and uses a number of striking images to represent ALcontrol's air, asbestos and occupational hygiene services. It will be used to promote the company to a wide range of industries and to compile analysis reports for clients.
GDA director, Jonathan Gibb, said: "We have worked with ALcontrol for two years now and have used our understanding of their business to produce a suite of literature that reflects their aims and objectives. The new look leaflets have been extremely well received by staff and in the short time they have been available to customers, the feedback has been very positive."
GDA's previous work with ALcontrol has included the production of adverts for magazines, exhibition material, pop-up banners, folder inserts and direct mailers.
GDA CHECKS IN WITH ALPHAROOMS
GDA has put a face to the name of a rising star in internet holiday accommodation by creating a consistent brand identity for Alpharooms.com, a web-based agent for discount hotels and apartments across the world.
After seeing off competition from four other agencies, GDA was charged with creating a corporate image for Alpharooms, which included a guideline manual for staff and suppliers, company literature and online materials.
Jonathan Gibb from GDA, said: "We are really enjoying working with Alpharooms and are very proud of the corporate image we have created for them. Our complete understanding of their design brief and the ongoing needs of their marketing department was key to our success in this project and has formed the basis of our relationship with them.
"Alpharooms has one of the most comprehensive ranges of hotels available on the internet and now the company has a corporate face that is more than a match for the excellent name it is forging in the travel industry."
GDA is continuing its work with Alpharooms and has been instrumental in creating the branding for its sister company Transferstore.com. Additional projects are ongoing, which will further boost the company's presence in the web-based travel market.
DECEMBER 2006
GDA DESIGN STANLEY CUTTING EDGE IDENTITY
Sheffield-based GDA has been chosen by local tooling giant, Stanley, to create a unique brand identity for its UK products.
The marketing and brand development agency has produced specific packaging designs to be used in the UK only - a first in Stanley's history.
GDA was charged with developing packaging for the DIY and trade markets that was both unique to the UK and to the products' individual applications. It will be rolled out in major multiples across Stanley's XL and Fat Max ranges and its Application Specific Blades for the world renowned 'Stanley Knife' from November 15.
Gary Wainwright, Stanley Tool's senior packaging designer, said: "We have worked with GDA for several years and have always been very pleased with the results. This ongoing relationship gives the agency a deeper understanding of our requirements and those of our customers and I am confident that our first foray into UK-specific packaging will be a success."
Whilst creating the UK packaging, GDA was also asked to develop designs for the same products that could be used across Europe, which required the translation and incorporation of text in 15 languages.
Jonathan Gibb from GDA, added: "We are really pleased to be helping Stanley break new ground in their packaging design and we are confident that the new look products have a much stronger message, that will strike a chord with UK buyers. Working on a brand as well known as Stanley brings with it a certain level of expectation, but we have proved our designs are more than capable of meeting the challenge.
October 2006
GDA HELP VILEDA SPREAD A TOUCH OF MAGIC
GDA Sheffield has won the job of coming up with the new packaging design for Vileda's latest product to hit the high street the - New Angle Magic Mop. The international brand has been working closely with GDA as part of a successful ongoing relationship and has tasked the agency with the graphic design and look of the packaging solution.
Vileda's existing Magic Mop is the UK's number one product in this arena, with a 72% market share. In order to maintain innovation in this field Vileda have updated the Magic Mop and will launch the New Angle Magic Mop in 2006.
GDA have worked closely with the product designers to come up with the effective ergonomic design solution. The agency is also responsible for the print management in 7 different languages.
YORKSHIRE FINANCE DIRECTORS AWARDS 2006
Yorkshire Finance Director Awards 2006 have received a new look. Creative agency GDA Sheffield was commissioned to develop a new identity for these prestigious awards.
Working in partnership with Sewell Moorhouse, one of the regions leading recruitment consultancy, the brief was to celebrate the fifth year of the awards and develop a modern and vibrant look, which will promise to attract both a high calibre of entrant and high profile media coverage.
GDA Sheffield created a unique and diverse identity, which has been applied to advertising, direct marketing, literature and web where nominations can be completed online.
Award nominations are open until 2nd May 2006 which will then be short listed and interviewed by a panel of judges from the sponsors, Barclays, Sewell Moorhouse, Ernst & Young and Hammonds. An exclusive awards dinner will be held at Rudding Park, Harrogate on the evening of Thursday 14th September 2006.
NEW BRAND IDENTITY FOR SEWELL MOORHOUSE
Sewell Moorhouse the recruitment specialists for the administration and financial sector are launching their new brand identity this month. The project that has been created and managed by Sheffield design agency G Design & Advertising Ltd have created a new colour scheme and corporate design for all their marketing requirements. Such an extensive portfolio includes a new logo, stationery, marketing literature, website design (due to go live end of November 2005) and external signage.
GDA Sheffield won the Sewell Moorhouse pitch in June earlier this year by beating four other advertising agencies. Jonathan Gibb GDA Sheffield said "The new design works so effectively. It is simple and modern yet effortlessly striking and compliments all types of marketing literature and promotion".
"We've had such a fantastic experience working with GDA Sheffield" explains Sewell Moorhouse's Joint Managing Director. "There is a great amount of excitement and a real buzz throughout our three regional offices. GDA Sheffield have gone beyond all our expectations and we are thrilled with the finished design."
October 2005
OW'S THAT...FOR CHARITY!
Posters of Sheffield's Ashes hero Michael Vaughan, produced by two Sheffield companies to be auctioned at special events, are expected to raise thousands of pounds for the city's Children's Hospital.
England's victorious cricket captain signed 50 posters printed by Pro Co Print and designed by GDA Sheffield.
Both companies provided their service free of charge to maximise the benefits for Vaughan's chosen charity.
GDA Sheffield's Managing Director, Jonathan Gibb said, "We are delighted to be a part of such a worth while cause. Cricket really has come home this year and that's why we are pleased to be working alongside local companies for a charity in our region."
Most of the posters went to organisations throughout the country to be sold to the highest bidder.
Sheffield Star October 2005
GDA BEATS OFF DESIGN RIVALS
Sheffield-based design agency GDA beat off three out of town competitors to clinch a contract with local authority software and systems specialist Civica, which has operations at Catcliffe.
Civica appointed GDA to rebrand its local government management software, Authority. Sarah Turton, Civica's Senior Marketing Executive, said: GDA has helped Civica Systems keep one step ahead of it's competition in a cautious market sector.
They have impressively taken the time to understand our business and environment, creating a distinct and vibrant identity above and beyond our expectations. GDA are a friendly and trusted team who are a pleasure to work with.
Maggie Freeborn of GDA said "Civica have been a delight to work with"
Sheffield Star March 2005
