brandopus

We picked up three awards at last night's Design Effectiveness Awards, hosted by the Design Business Association.  Our work with Twinings landed two silver awards, whilst our redesign of UK's leading honey brand Rowse scooped us a bronze in the branded packaging design category.

We also celebrated making a massive jump forward in the effectiveness league tables.  We are now among the five most financially effective agencies in the UK, meaning that when clients choose to work with us they know that they are getting the all important return on investment that great design strategy can achieve.

For those not in the know, the DBA's annual Design Effectiveness Awards are the most prestigious accolade in design, being the only award scheme that uses commercial data as a key judging criteria.  We're particularly proud of the wins, which are the design industry's equivalent of the advertising industry's IPA awards, because all entries had undergone two stages of rigorous judging by business leaders, including company directors from Lloyds TSB, Sainsbury's, Samsung and GlaxoSmithKline.

In terms of results Twinings Florals, the limited edition range of four fragrant blends that we created, overachieved first year sales forecasts by 157.7%. Whilst Twinings Earl Grey became the number one selling Earl Grey blend across all retailers following our redesign, allowing a 29% increase in the rate of sale of Twinings Earl Grey and helping the brand to achieved it's highest weekly share for three years in both the speciality and Earl Grey markets. Rowse honey benefitted from 11% increase in distribution across major accounts and a 28% increase in consumer brand awareness following relaunch with new designs created by us.

For more examples of our award winning work, take a peek at a few case studies, if you want to find out more about how BrandOpus can create effective design for your brand drop Avril Tooley a line avrilt@brandopus.com

After seeing the Cirque du Soleil 5 years ago I couldn't resist seeing them again when I found out the new tour Totem was at the Royal Albert Hall. (I have a personal penchant for the Royal Albert Hall after singing with none other than Jason Donovan in Joseph and his Technicolour Dreamcoat when I was only 10 years old)

Totem- where do I begin? Microbes and monkeys, swamps and springboards, lasers and lotharios: welcome to the latest Cirque du Soleil! The opening is wonderful: a spangled man (Joseph David Putignano) descends from the hall's highest point and descends into what appears to be a huge tortoise shell where frogs appear to leap and perform the most amazing acrobatics.

The many highlights for me included a Native American woman being spun around by her neck from a man on roller stakes and Chinese women kicking and catching bowls on their heads, whilst managing to ride around on tall unicycles.  At the culmination I counted a grand total of nine bowls and a teapot. Then there's the team of eight Russian men... One guy holds a pole steady on his shoulders as a team of acrobats slither up it, then the pole is then transferred to his forehead whilst the guy at the top does a headstand. Incredible!

The costume design is amazing too. From dazzling Swarovski crystal-encrusting to glittery frogs and unusual clowns, providing a nice twist on the classic circus.

The graphics projected onto the stage are amazingly effective at making the performers and stage become one; Film projections flow across a sloping platform at the back of the stage, suggesting waterfalls or lapping waves. In one sequence, the water retreats creating a beach, with the stage becoming the shimmering surface of the ocean. In another, filmed figures swim into view, emerging from the screen as actual performers.  I can't fathom the amount of time it took to imagine and technically work out the set design.

In all, Totem is a visual sensation and such a slick performance that really doesn't fail to amaze and keep you on the edge of your seat! 

We've just put the final touches to a new brand identity and packaging design for Pipers Crisps Co. The Lincolnshire based company approached us looking to reinforce the perception of Pipers as the tastiest crisp brand in Britain by discovering what makes the brand unique, allowing Pipers to own the 'out of home' crisp market. 

The new pack design, which draws out the unique, quirky elements that make Pipers recognisable and distinctive, is available now from over 1400 of the best outlets throughout the UK, with the refreshed brand identity rolling out shortly across the website and other brand touch-points.

Alex Albone, CEO, Pipers Crisp Co. says, "We're thrilled with the new identity and pack design that BrandOpus have created for our brand.  Pipers now boasts better stand out on shelf, with a design that reinforces our approach: making Britain's tastiest crisps through teamwork and the best quality ingredients."

With most of my dreams being about the sandwich eating me, I thought it a great opportunity to hear Harry Pearce talk about his dream diaries he has been keeping for over a decade. His presentation was the concluding part of the first 5x15 event of 2012. 5x15 is a TED-like event providing a platform for diverse and interesting people to detail their experience and passion, 5 people, 15 minutes each.

Prior to Pearce we heard Martin Gayford's upbeat and personal accounts of his conversations with David Hockney. Turkish novelist Elif Shafak delivered a powerful and poetic episode in her life that dealt with artistic faith, while Simon Mann scared me to death, divulging his dealings with abduction, imprisonment and madness. Also, Nigeria was presented fully and passionately for a change thanks to Noo Saro-Wiwa.

Pearce began his 15 minutes with the customary technical issues inherent with Mac-toting designers and standard projection systems. Though not before long we were viewing the highlights of a long, lustrous career in design as he introduced his subject.

I found his thoughts on dreams and dreaming illuminating, the notion that we have a vast, untapped creative resource within us is a beautiful idea. What makes it even more seductive is that it's effortless (and free). He continued to explain how dreams had an impact on both his personal and professional life, benefitting both. There were moments when he leaned toward the idea that his dreams had a prophetic quality. This mysteriously caused my brow to furrow, but maybe it's because I'm a Gemini and we don't believe in that sort of thing. Anyway, I was willing to overlook this because the main point was much grander.

The point is, that there is worth in taking notice of your sub-conscious. And if you want, record and document these occurrences, because they will come in handy - if only for entertainment.

http://www.5x15stories.com/

We've brought a dash of the Far East to the Twinings portfolio, delving into the Orient to create striking new designs for the iconic British tea manufacturer's range of Green Teas.

Briefed to enhance the brands leadership position in the Green Tea category through a range of more confident and modern designs, we commissioned fashion illustrator Tobie Giddio to create the unique ink drawings in vibrant colours across the range of fifteen packs, bringing to life the quality ingredients which go into making each cup of Twinings Green Tea.

It's not just the pack designs that are new - the relaunch also sees the introduction of six exciting new blends, including three new fruity blend Green Teas with a contemporary twist: Mango & Lychee Green Tea, Tangerine & Verbena Green Tea and Peach & Cherry Blossom Green Tea.