It was great to be at @prolific_north Northern Marketing Festival yesterday, taking part in a panel discussion alongside Stephen Ardern from Continuous, Simon Rhodes from Smiling Wolf and Nicola Docking from Poke, chaired by Helen Cross from Growth Platform.
We discussed the city’s agency scene and how regional businesses are competing on a national and global stage.
The clear theme was that geography matters less than mindset. Clients are increasingly open to working with agencies outside London, but the agencies that push beyond their region are the ones that avoid being self-limiting, stay ambitious and prove they can deliver nationally and internationally.
We also heard from Bill Dennett at Uber Advertising on the “now economy” and how brands need to be present at the point of decision, Kimberley Dean from Liverpool Hope University on the role apprenticeships can play in building stronger talent pipelines, and Craig Hannan from The Anfield Wrap on why podcasts should be treated less like an advertising tactic and more like a trusted community.
A great event, with some sharp insights on where the industry is heading and the role Liverpool City Region agencies and businesses can play in that.
Horses, heritage and high-jinks.
In anticipation of Chester Races, we’re taking a look back at the identity we brought to life last year.
Rooted in history and sophistication, and experiential campaigns that capture the excitement, energy and atmosphere of race days and events.
We repositioned Chester Racecourse as the magical maître d’ of race days - a host that’s a warm and charismatic purveyor of fun. The result is a focused proposition and positioning that honours their heritage while expressing their commitment to creating memorable, magical experiences for every visitor.
See how it all came together on our website.
@chesterraces
This year’s field trip was in Copenhagen 🇩🇰
As ever It’s a chance to see different perspectives - a kind of permission to absorb how other cities do things. As committed urban enthusiasts we’re drawn to the usual suspects; architecture, wayfinding, the design grain of the city, food…you notice small things more quickly when you change your routines. None of it is dramatic on its own, but it adds up to make subtle differences you can take influence from.
The simple fact of being somewhere else together, without meetings to get back to and no immediate pressure to turn anything into an outcome, changes the conversations - and the pace of things. It’s good to absorb what’s around us and, best of all, each others company.
We spoke to Oli, the artist behind our Wordmarque.
Focussing on visual expression and character, we knew Oli was the perfect person to collaborate with.
Full story on our website coming soon.
Massive thanks to @olifrape for lending us his time
Silver at the DBA Design Effectiveness Awards for our work with Muse.
Delighted to see the project recognised by the Design Business Association with a Silver for design effectiveness.
The DBA Awards celebrate the real impact of investing in design - and this one recognises the work we’ve done together to reposition Muse as a market-leading placemaker.
It’s been a fantastic collaboration with the Muse team and brilliant to see the brand creating real impact across the business.
@museplaces@designbusinessassociation
The UK has just announced its Eurovision entry - experimental musician and YouTuber @lookmumnocomputer - which has sent us down a little Eurovision memory lane.
And if you take a walk along Jamaica Street, you’ll notice one of Liverpool’s Eurovision leftovers is still very much here.
Echoes & Waves, the black and white graphics across Baltic Creative shutters, hide clues to Liverpool artists who’ve shaped the city’s music scene over the past eight decades.
Created by Liverpool creative agency @smilingwolf , the project delivered by @baltictriangle and @liverpoolcitycouncil , turns the street into a bit of a musical puzzle.
Some are obvious. Others take a bit more decoding. In fact, they’ve been here for nearly two years now, and we’re still regularly asked what they mean…
Think you’ve cracked one? Tell us which artist you’ve spotted 🎵
📸 - @bellboy_studio
#BalticTriangle #Liverpool #LiverpoolMusic #StreetArt #CreativeCommunity #Eurovision #LiverpoolCulture
🤩 Our MA Architecture graduates @poor_collective have transformed Clapham Junction’s Falcon Road rail bridge in London!
Their @wandsworth_council competition winning design for the bridge has transformed this area, opening in December in an event that brought together community and celebrated the history and heritage of Wandsworth in its incredible murals.
The project was a collaboration between @poor_collective , @gpadlondon , MRG Studio, @suttonvaneassociates . The artwork panels were designed by @smilingwolf , the classing panels were installed by @ajwellsltd . The lighting and electrics were installed by Armadillo.
#London #Architecture #Design
In December we quietly marked 25 years.
We’re not a fanfare-heavy studio, and between ongoing projects and limited headspace, the milestone slipped by more quietly than planned – with the focus staying where it usually does: on the work.
When people talk about agency culture, it’s often framed around perks or personality. For us, culture has always been something more practical and more powerful. It’s the engine behind what we do.
For 25 years, our culture has shaped how we collaborate, how we think, and how we deliver. It shows in the reliability of our process, the clarity of our thinking, and the trust we build with clients. It’s why organisations work with us long-term – not just because we’re personable and easy to work with, but because our way of working consistently produces outcomes people believe in.
Curiosity, clarity, craft and collaboration aren’t slogans for us. They’re behaviours, lived daily – whether we’re working on a brand, a digital platform, or a complex place-based project.
As tools and platforms continue to change, culture is what stays. It’s how we adapt without losing our identity.
Today we’re marking the milestone properly, with the launch of our new website – a step towards better sharing not just what we make, but how and why we work.
Here’s to 25 years of evolving, collaborating and staying curious – and to what comes next.
From dark underpass to bold public landmark.
We were down at the opening of the new Falcon Road Bridge installation - artwork by our Jim, rooted in local history and unapologetic colour.
Created with @gpadlondon and @poor_collective for @wandsworth_council and @networkrail , and brought to life with @ajwellsltd after many Isle of Wight visits watching the panels take shape.
Proper team effort. Full case study coming in the new year.
Team: GPAD, POoR Collective, MRG Studio, Sutton Vane Associates, Smiling Wolf and A.J Wells, FM Conway Ltd
The shoppers and keepers of St. Johns
A commission to celebrate the people of the place itself.
Learnt lots along the way, first campaign delivered on film (mostly) which was mega and learnt how to use flash on film too. Also how great a recce can be to get a feel of a place. Thanks to everyone involved for sharing their time with us :)
Comission & concept by @smilingwolf
Big thanks to @alysthewolf for chatting with everyone and being amazing with people and kit
