Nortech IT is one of the leading IT Providers in the North East of Ireland providing a range of IT Solutions to Schools & Colleges in Ireland.

Nortech IT approached 10thstep with a brief to redevelop the businesses corporate brand identity and design and produce a brochure which could help take the business forward. As always at 10thstep our creative department stepped right up to the challenge and started off with a workshop with the client to really find out just what made the company tick and just want they wanted from their new identity. Once we had helped the client get the vision in place we began our creative process and as our clients know this is a step by step process. One of our main goals with the Brand Refresh was to develop a new identity to reflect the new business proposition, which focuses on the benefits Nortech IT can deliver to its growing client base.

Everything from the typography used to the tone of voice in the brochure copy relates to the audience’s business needs and supports the message ‘Bringing Lessons to Life’

At 10thstep we’re passionate for working with new and exciting small businesses looking to make their mark and stand out from the crowd.  We love nothing more than rolling up our sleeves, sitting down with our clients and getting stuck and coming up with creative branding concepts.  Our latest client Local Deal Detector had been on the look out for a design agency with a difference and one which could make ideas become reality all qualities which they found in us.

The Brief

Sometimes the simplest of briefs from our clients are the best to work with.  In a nutshell we had to develop brand positioning with an offline and on-line visual identity.  With anything we do we like to take it back to basics and our creative team set 3 goals to be acheived;

1. Create a new brand identity
2. Write & deliver brand guidelines for our clients business
3. Apply the new brand identity to a set of marketing communications such as business cards, stationery and signage.

Due to the competitive nature of our client’s businesses it was paramount that we delivered a brand identity which stood out from the crowd in its overall look, feel and tone as well as effectively communicating the Local Deal Detector message “We do the looking so you don’t have to”

Our Solution

As with all our clients we like to start off with a workshop our creative team and client so from the very start we can both be on the same page this helps focus what it is they want from their new brand identity, how it’s to represent and just how they want it to look.  We then set off as we always do mixing up a variety of options, Typography, Colour palette, as well as Tone of voice and brought it all together as one complete brand identity.  The result was a bright, clear illustrative style, brand identity which our client was extremely proud and pleased.

Warrenpoint Harbour Authority approached us with one task.  It was quite a big one.   To refresh and brand their 2010 Annual Report.  We kicked off with a number of consultancy sessions to allow the 10thstep team to get a complete understanding of the output which the Harbour required from their 2010 report.  We proposed an overall new look and feel and we led from the outset the creative direction.  Due to the locality of the Harbour we aimed for big impacting imagery while forging the start of a new brand identity.

We love nothing more than coming up with new and innovative ways for our clients to communicate with their customers so when our latest client Jump for Joy asked us to come up with a creative, colourful print campaign for them to be distributed to a 4000 strong Bounty Pack  for new parents to be in Craigavon Area Hospital we got so excited.   We decided to get stuck right in and like any project we undertake we wanted to get into our clients head and indeed the target audience for something which would engage and provoke a reaction

We identified a key image to build our campaign design around one which would connect with new to be parents and something which they would soon relate to.  On the reverse of the design the campaign showcased some of the core brands which our client carried.  As a little something extra knowing just how expensive a new arrival can be we came up with the concept of offering new parents 10% off everything in-store for babies first year.

At 10thstep we are passionate about working with exciting new clients with promising businesses in need of a nudge in the right direction. We are always eager to expand our portfolio and with Personal Best PT we have extended our reach into the Fitness market. When Odhran McCorry, a young and determined personal trainer, came to us with a problem, we were very keen to solve it for him.

The brand identity of the business was in a limbo of sorts and what 10thstep set out to do was help to focus this identity. We needed to match the brand to the service and experience on offer; a modern, forward thinking and professional personal trainer.

To begin this process we met with Odhran and listened to him. Client happiness and agreement is imperative to our mantra at 10thstep in order to build long term customer value and loyalty. We listened to the needs of the client and most importantly, made sure we understood the exact information to be conveyed to the public. After this we began to work on a clear and concise colour scheme for the brand as a whole. For this we chose an organic bright green, with more solid and dynamic blue and black colouring. We felt this reflected the professionalism, energy and pioneering nature with which the client approaches his work and business. On the back of the stationery too; there was concise and easily transmittable information of what the business offers, the clients information and an inspiring photograph of a fit and trim individual.

Outcome

Odhran loved the final design of the business cards and with the new branding created, and wanted us to move forward straight away designing and developing a website based on the strong new brand we created for Personal Best to enhance this identity and further the growth of the business. We are positive about the future progress of the branding for Personal Best PT and look forward to working on more exciting projects for our latest client.

]]> http://www.10thstep.com/2011/04/21/brand-identity-personal-best/feed/ 0 http://www.10thstep.com/2011/04/14/saints-scholars-10th-anniversary/ http://www.10thstep.com/2011/04/14/saints-scholars-10th-anniversary/#comments Thu, 14 Apr 2011 11:19:28 +0000 Wayne http://www.10thstep.com/?p=1702 Medium: Design Concept | Print Advert Design

We where thrilled recently when working on another project for our latest client Saints and Scholars to be asked if we could come up with a print advertisement to be featured in press to announce their big 10^th Anniversary.  Of course we couldn’t wait to get straight down to work to create a simple clean effective advertisement to promote awareness of this milestone in our clients business.

The Outcome

We not only created a visually compelling advertisement for our client, exceeding expectation but a simple, built in campaign monitor consisting of  vouchers with a twist (using a child’s perspective) which offers new and existing customers a little something back with 10% off everything in store for 10 days.

We were recently commissioned to develop the artwork for the launch of Invest Northern Ireland’s highly anticipated 2011 Propel Programme.  This leading programme enables innovative entrepreneurs oozing with potential to start up and fast track to a significant export focused business.  We got a real kick out of leading the creative direction for two key NI business groups – Xcell Partners and Invest Northern Ireland.

The job allowed us to get completely involved with the design as we managed everything from how to display the logo, the format, size and copy layout.  We were also asked to research and select a piece of imagery that would grab attention, speak directly to potential applicants and represent the essence of Propel.  Our client felt that our ‘brain cog’ image was so impacting that they have decided to use it on all material – from exhibition graphics, adverts and the Propel website.

The job included design and print of a Propel brochure and business cards, along with the design and management of a launch email campaign.

For more information on the Propel Programme click here.

We are very excited to unveil the new branding for iconic Irish Architecture practice, Rhatigan Architects, based in Co. Sligo.  Established way back in the 1930s, the company is renowned across Ireland for designing and developing inspirational spaces.  Keen to maintain the core heritage whilst introducing a radical, fresh new concept, Rhatigan Architects now have a timeless, confident brand.

Creative Overview

The newly evolved Rhatigan brand demonstrates how the company pushes the boundaries of convention with the ‘R’ and ‘N’ exceeding the edging and forcing itself out the side of the ‘box’ or square.  The pushed boundaries is also suggestive of ‘think outside the box’ which is exactly what Rhatigan Architects do.  The square shape is solid, and building-like, representative of the industry.  Rhatigan as the established name demands attention, sustaining the rich heritage that has been built over the past 70+ years.  The colouring is bold and vibrant yet symbolic of the company’s focus on sustainability and the environment which in itself is innovative.  The font is strong and confident highlighting the design engineering experience shared by the team.

Background

The needs of our client were diverse but this only made the project even more exciting for our team.  Our challenge was to evolve the brand identity to reflect the new ownership of the company – to ensure it was an evolved process we needed to create and refine a distinctive new identity that synthesises the company’s rich heritage with contemporary innovation. Within that mix we were also asked to convey sustainability and environmental consideration  which plays a huge part in how the company operates.  To ensure we got a feel for the  Directors values and vision, we jumped in the car and drove to their beautiful offices in Sligo town.  Once we were sure we understood what was needed for the re-brand we continued with the design, creating multiple relevant identities which immediately refreshed the company image.

We couldn’t wait to get our hands and minds on the branding project for Taskmaestro – the revolutionary biometric software that transforms how businesses operate and manage staff.  With a leading client to impress and a brief bursting with innovation we had to ensure that our concept was strong, game changing and essentially effective.

Like any brand project we undertake we started this one by delving deep into research with our client.  Taking inspiration from industry giants like Apple and Microsoft, we put pen to paper and evolved the brand story for Taskmaestro.  After careful consideration and exploration we refined our many ideas and concepts until we were entirely satisfied – and trust us, we aren’t easy to please.

The result is a mirror of the product, simple yet undoubtedly strong, robust and a true transformation.  Taking spatial inspiration from application icons, we created a brand symbol that reiterates the core value of the product – simple staff management for increased productivity and customer experience.  Despite intricate design the concept remains simplistic and friendly, and instantly gives the product global industry appeal.

As if that wasn’t enough our team are now creating the online identity for Taskmaestro starting with the new website which will be live soon!

Team 10thstep’s latest task for Frontline Energy & Environmental was to redevelop the company’s website in line with the new look brand created by our design team.  As innovators and leaders of their field, we immediately understood the importance of creating an online presence for our client that would essentially set the trend for the entire facilities and energy management industry.

The result did exactly that.

Visually demanding, sleek to navigate and strikingly powerful.  Highly efficient for the user and ultra effective for our client.

So how did we do it? Creative and strategic thinking, intelligent development and real consideration for our client’s objectives.  Using a mix of tools including Ajax and JQuery we delivered optimum effectiveness including a right hand side contact form on every inner page, newsletter sign up module, visible accreditations, a light box image gallery, news section, rotating testimonials and slick navigation.

To see the new site in action, click here.

click here.