Category: Managing design & print

Telling your organisation’s story

An annual review is, of course, the perfect opportunity to reflect on the year gone by and to pull together all your successes into one place. This year I introduced a new format for NYMAZ’s annual review – the aim was to make the most of the updated image library as well as the raft of positive quotes from participants and their parents/carers.

The 16/17 review  highlights the positive changes that NYMAZ’s music activities have made to the lives of children in rural areas as well as how the charity has supported and influenced the wider music education sector.

Read more here: https://issuu.com/nymaz/docs/nymaz_annual_review_2016-17

Laying the foundations for Sculptors

I’ve recently started working with the Royal British Society of Sculptors – they have been somewhat under the radar but that is all set to change with a new director at the helm. Based in South Kensington, the Society has bold ambitions for the years ahead.

I am very excited to be involved at the early stages, working with the team to identify their brand values, develop a SWOT analysis, get under the skin of their target audiences and wordsmith a narrative which neatly explains their direction of travel…of which more, at a later date!

Investing time and effort in getting the building blocks right is essential. It sets the framework for future communications and basically makes life easier in the long run. I find running brand workshops really rewarding and interesting. Participants always comment on how much they appreciate having some time away from their desk to properly think about their organisation and what it stands for.

Celebrating modern childhoods

I’m delighted to tell you about my latest project –  the NYMAZ Early Years Songbook: Songs for Modern Childhoods which is designed to celebrate the diverse lifestyles of children in contemporary Britain, and is accompanied by a CD featuring children from early years settings across North Yorkshire.

The new commissions mirror modern, everyday life: a long journey to see relatives becomes an adventure; festivals from Diwali to Chinese New Year are observed; a curiosity in exploring the great outdoors is fostered; cross-cultural friendships are celebrated; and the concept of a ‘family’ and its different forms is neatly explained.

I thoroughly enjoyed drafting the introductory copy for each of the twelve new, original songs and putting together a playful design brief. The end result has had a fantastic response from young children so far – and also provided rich content for social media and PR.

A series of CPD workshops for music practitioners will take place in November 2017 to demonstrate creative ways of engaging the under-fives with the songs. The songbook can also be purchased from Harrogate International Festivals’ web site. http://harrogateinternationalfestivals.com/festival-events-2017/nymaz-songbook-workshop/

 

 

Campaigning for better broadband

For the past couple of years I have been working with youth music charity NYMAZ to brand and promote their pioneering project Connect: Resound. It was conceived to overcome the problem of providing a well-rounded music education offer to rural schools when they are often time-consuming and expensive to travel to. The answer lay in technology.

Connect: Resound explored with primary schools how technology could provide a high-quality, cost-effective way of offering virtual, real-time instrumental tuition and live-streamed professional performances to pupils in isolated areas. The results have been tremendous: from Cumbria to Cornwall, children and music teachers alike have quickly become advocates for this new type of music lesson. Yet, there’s still one big sticking point: reliable, superfast broadband access.

Although digital technology could revolutionise the way schools provide music tuition, poor broadband in rural areas is limiting young people’s access to equal life opportunities. Superfast connections need to become the norm in order for virtual music tuition to fill the gap in provision for remote schools.

I created an easy-to-read summary of the latest phase of Connect: Resound and leveraged the publication of the report to add NYMAZ’s voice to the growing campaign for better broadband.

See the report here: https://issuu.com/nymaz/docs/connect_resound_findings_from_the_n

Launch of #PlayFarAwayDay

Do you think that everyone should have access to music, no matter where they live? Youth music charity NYMAZ champions the power of music to change lives, with a particular focus on ensuring that children in rural areas don’t miss out. To spread this message, we recently launched #PlayFarAwayDay with Yorkshire Festival.

On 18 June 2016, twenty-five music groups played in remote locations across North Yorkshire to promote the benefits of participatory music in rural areas. We shared the video footage and photos across social media, receiving over 43000 impressions on Twitter in one week plus retweets from mighty musicians such as Ruby Turner and Kate Rusby.

It’s all Gone in the Air

Longstanding client, the youth music development charity NYMAZ, conducted research into the opportunities and challenges faced by young people living in rural areas and of the particular benefits that out-of-school music activities can offer to their life chances.

Made by Marketing was responsible for launching the report, titled ‘Gone in the Air’ – from proofing the report and managing design, through to PR and social media. Our highlights? Securing an opinion piece in Yorkshire Post, hearing the story on breakfast radio and creating a real buzz online.

NYMAZ has made six policy and practice recommendations to spark discussion and influence the way this type of music project is both funded and delivered. One thing is for sure: this debate is only just getting started.

To see the summary of findings, visit http://www.nymaz.org.uk/news-and-views/post/gone-in-the-air-summary-of-findings

 

One Historic Garden

One Historic Garden is a collection of seven special parks, woodlands and gardens in South and West Wales. Each partner has received significant funding to undertake capital works to increase their appeal. I was commissioned by Blue Sail to deliver the marketing campaign designed to raise the profile of the gardens and attract more visitors.

My role focused on developing a brand identity; creating a visitor leaflet and managing its distribution; managing the advertising campaign; setting up a new web site; and raising awareness of the gardens amongst the travel trade.

www.onehistoricgarden.co.uk

NYMAZ

NYMAZ is a youth music development charity which champions the transformative potential of music for children and young people. Working with partners, such as Harrogate Festivals, it delivers high-quality music-making activities across North Yorkshire. In parallel, it runs professional networks to enable musicians and practitioners to develop their skills and learn one another.

Made by Marketing was appointed to manage the marketing for the charity, which was going through a period of change brought about by changes to its funding conditions. Having drafted a detailed communications strategy, hand-on activity has included: refreshing the brand to broaden its appeal; setting up a brand new web site and suite of stationery; updating its social media presences and other digital communications; creating new print promotional materials; drafting press releases and setting up journalist briefings.

www.nymaz.org.uk

Cheshire West & Chester Council

The £300 million Northgate leisure and retail redevelopment scheme is proposed to transform the economic future of the historic city of Chester, creating some 1600 jobs as well as significantly increasing annual spend.

Made by Marketing was commissioned by Blue Sail to lead on the creation of public consultation materials, notably an information leaflet to be distributed across the region and exhibition panels, working closely with the Council team and ACME architects.

www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk

churncote jpeg

Churncote Farm Shop & Butchery

Churncote Farm Shop & Butchery is a thriving family business based on the outskirts of Shrewsbury which prides itself on quality home-grown and locally produced food as well as a welcoming shopping environment.  The owners, Sue and David Clarke, were keen to undertake marketing activity to attract new customers. Their previous leaflet was a simple text-only affair and didn’t communicate the real appeal of the shop: the beauty of the building (a converted cowshed), the friendliness of the team and the freshness of the produce. Since opening, Churncote has also grown its butchery counter which is now hugely popular and needed to be part of the business name.

The project focused on creating a new brand, visitor signage and a leaflet.

We now have a stronger profile and have enjoyed a direct increase in shoppers. Elizabeth understood our business and day-to-day challenges and she responded with practical support which has made a real difference.
Sue Clarke | Churncote Farm Shop & Butchery

www.churncote.co.uk