New Year, New News

And The Winners Are….

It has been a source of distraction for many, but our 2016 calendar 'Silver Quiz' is now over and it’s time to reveal the winners. Thanks to everyone that entered, you all did a sterling job (OK, so maybe not all of you…) but there can only be five winners. Big congrats to 
Francesca Bozzard, Nick Somers, David Reid, Hayley Dove and Louise Errington. Your prize will be winging its way to you. Thanks for helping us start our 25th year with a bang.

Simon says: 

Be a Brand, not bland

The world of branding is forever changing, with trends and out-dated styles just like any other creative industry (and, indeed, the rest of the world!). However, it’s important to step back and make sure these trends are the right move for your business and its brand. Does the latest trend dilute your message, or maybe even give the wrong impression? In Simon’s article 'Be a Brand, not bland' he explores a few of the current trends and the impact these can have on a brand.

GSOH a must

This month we've been on the hunt for an eligible Senior/Mid Weight Account Manager to join the fold. It's a great opportunity for someone (even if we do say so ourselves), with some lovely clients and big projects on the horizon! If you know anyone with a passion for paper, a digital disposition and a cracking sense of humour then let us know. The full job ad is here.

 

Better backside

The NYE hangover has finally faded, the gluttony of Christmas seems a distant memory. Now as the new year stretches out in front of you, you may be forgiven for uttering that common phrase ‘this year will be different’. Don’t worry, we did the same and some of us have managed to live true to it thanks to our friends at Better Bankside, who put on a plethora of fitness extravaganzas that local businesses could take part in for free! This month Charlie, Katie and Lizzie have been hitting the mean streets of SE1 and joining in with Streetgym. Not as scary as it sounds, Streetgym is a workout class that uses the urban environment to put you through your paces. Sound fun? Check out the Streetgym website here.

For those of us that didn’t fancy the urban gym of the Southbank there was always our weekly Yoga session. Since the lovely Flo, of Flo Yoga, has been on maternity leave (pictured here with the lovely Nina) we’ve been downward dogging with Jasmine a.k.a Stretch And The City (we only work with pun loving teachers…).

360 videos

This month while browsing the deepest depths of social media we stumbled across this little gem. We find it amazing and inspiring to see creatives pushing the boundaries of what can be done with video. (If you can’t tell, we are really impressed with just how immersive these videos are on our smartphones.) It’s also worth watching how they do it! take a look on our Facebook page for both videos.

Pressing Issues

We’re always harping on about the value of the design process. Well this month we’ve taken it to another level, getting our hands mucky by learning how to use letterpress. A course at the New North Press, where we hand typeset a sentence, made us appreciate the speed and ease of our beloved macs while giving us a deeper knowledge and love of typography. A skill/process where making it ‘a little bigger’ is not a quick click away.

Valentines Quiz

And finally, with 14th Feb just round the corner you may fancy having a go at our Quote Bank Valentine Quiz from last year - it's still here for you to play. If we get time we may add some new quotes to freshen it up but for now the competition is back on and there's a bottle of bubbly up for grabs for the winner.