REVOLVER REVOLVER - We're a young, creative, award-winning, graphic & web design studio

New Logo Design for Planning Design

Posted on 07.11.11 by Chris

We have been working with town planning and architectural consultancy; Planning Design over the last few weeks to develop a new identity system and logo design.  The outcome shows the practices solid and practical nature, using a device based around traditional drawing tools.  The logo will initially be rolled out over business cards, stationery and internal documents, plans and roll banners for exhibitions.  Whilst the new design was not what the client had expected they are pleased with the outcome and it has received numerous compliments. More of our logo design work

We’ve been recommended again!

Posted on 31.10.11 by Chris

We’re pleased to announce that we have been recommended by the Recommended Agency Registar (RAR- http://www.recommendedagencies.com/) once again.  We are now recommended until October 2012.  As a creative agency it’s vital that our clients see the benefit of our input and this is just one of the ways that we show it.

Our report shows that we have also been recommended for more categories than last year and these now include Branding Design, Print Design, Web Design, Presentation Design, Advertising, and Direct Mail. You can view our profile on the RAR site at www.recommendedagencies.com/revolverrevolver/.

Hiring a creative agency

Posted on 26.10.11 by Chris

Appointing a creative agency or design team to work with you on developing your brand can be difficult, with so many options it can be a daunting prospect.  I’ve been working in the design industry for nearly ten years and have seen a huge variety of approaches that marketing teams take, some more successful than others. There is also much written on the traditional ‘pitch process’ where agencies are asked to show all their ideas and hope they get picked. Here is my opinion on how I think it should be done.

1. Write a brief. If you don’t have one already get a brief together that details everything you expect your creative partner to work on.  Outline the aims of your company and what your marketing strategy is over the coming months or years, how much market share you have and expect to take in that time and any particular challenges your organisation or industry faces.  All this information will help each agency decide if it’s the kind of work they want to take on or are comfortable with, and give you a clear picture of what type of agency will work for you.

2.  Do your research. As with any major decision, always do your research.  There are thousands of agencies nationally who offer a range of services, most of the smaller ones however have a particular talent they lead with, be it design, web design, packaging etc.

Ask around, see who people in your sector are using, who is getting the best results and who is doing something different.  Ask your own contacts who they use and who they would recommend and what they do for their organisation.

Use google to find talent both locally and nationally, most agencies are more than happy to show their portfolios online and will have an array of projects for you to look through.  See what kind of work they have produced in the past and if it fits with your plans.

Use http://www.recommendedagencies.com/. They have anonymous reports on hundreds of agencies nationwide with examples of the sectors they have worked in and a scoring system that lets you compare specific agency skill sets as rated by their clients.

3.  Narrow your list. Once you have a list of people you want to talk to, get a list of questions together to try and establish which partners will work best for you.  Try to consider agency size and ability to complete the amount of work you need doing, where they are based, how often will you need to visit and discuss with your team.  Aim for a list of three agencies to approach and get credentials from, usually a document which talks through the company, it’s set up, values and a case study or two.  This will give you a really good idea of how each agency would respond to your brief.

4.  Keep it equal. Ask your chosen agencies to read through your brief and arrange a meeting to discuss their thoughts and how they would approach the project and what advice they can add.  Be prepared to have an open mind regarding their thoughts and suggested plan of action.  Make sure you give all the agencies the same information and stick to the same response methods, be it written or verbal ideas to keep the process equal.  Try and avoid asking agencies to do all the work and present it to you.  Your creative partner should be chosen on track record, ability and your judgement.

5.  The final test. Once you’ve met your shortlist and have a good idea of personalities and the standard of their work, pick one and run with it.  If you need one more test give them a project or part of a project, agree a fee and let them get on with it.  This means you only have to make a small commitment up front until you have seen some finished work.

Congratulations Oviso!

Posted on 05.10.11 by Alan

Specialist financial advisers Oviso have been named Winners of the Derbyshire Chamber of Commerce Award for Most Promising New Business. They have also been shortlisted for the Best Protection Intermediary award in the Health Insurance Magazine Awards. We’ve been working closely with Oviso for nearly 2 years, and hope that this relationship continues long into the future!

We are three

Posted on 26.09.11 by Chris

It’s three years almost to the day when Revolver Revolver was born (1.10.08).  We continue to grow since we started in 2008, it’s hard to believe it has been three years, it feels like just yesterday we got our letter from companies house.  The advice, help and support of many of you has been invaluable, there are too many to name but you know who you are!  Of course none of this is possible without our clients, so thank you to everyone who has trusted us with working on their brands.

There are tons of facts and figures on the web showing how long a small business survives, the average seems to be about half of all small businesses crumble within 3 years.  How accurate that is, is open for debate, either way it feels like a significant milestone at Revolver Revolver.  We look forward to the next three years.

Derby Feste Brochures

Posted on 14.09.11 by Chris

We’ve been working closely with the organisers of this years Feste to produce the printed materials for the event.  The Feste which takes place on the 23rd and 24th of September 2011 see’s the return of Sarruga who thrilled audiences in 2007 and 2008, with another of their jaw-dropping acts.

The brochure can be seen in full on the publishing site Issuu, complete with listings for Saturday and Sunday’s events.  Sarruga will present Peixos, which will see the city centre transformed into a spectacular seabed where giant illuminated fish and creatures from the deep represent the inhabitants of the sea as they move through the streets of Derby. Allow yourself to be lured into the experience by vivid colours and special effects, as music, sound and light immerse you in the beautiful ocean. Join the parade towards a fantastic finale at Cathedral Green.

There will be events all over the city so stay up to date by visiting the website derbyfeste.co.uk, or following on Facebook and Twitter.

Uniting Derbyshire Festivals

Posted on 15.08.11 by Chris

With a huge range of festival and event offerings across Derbyshire and all of them marketing and promoting themselves independently, we were asked to develop an identity that unites all that is good throughout Derbyshire under one banner.  Festivity was born in July and will be rolled out to help all of the events around Derbyshire attract more people from within the county and further afield.  The logo developed will be used in printed material and online and features typeface Pimlico a suitably fun and friendly face with bags of character and a wonderful style.

Identity design for Red Blue Phoenix

Posted on 03.08.11 by Chris

New company Red Blue Phoenix offer a range of consultant, coaching and mentoring services helping to nurture creatives in a relaxed but professional style.  We were asked to produce a logo and identity style for this new company.  We used a creative combination of the letterforms to create a simple but unique icon for Red Blue Phoenix.  We’ll be working closely with them over the next couple of months to produce their website due for launch at the start of October.

Cocoa Works Brochure Arrives

Posted on 15.07.11 by Chris

To say we’re chuffed with the results really doesn’t do this brochure justice.  Sometimes a project just clicks and all the elements come together at just the right time, and this is a great example.  The stunning photography provided by Tristan Poyser which made the layout really shine, the amazing results of the foil blocked cover from A14, a client who ‘gets it’, and of course our hard work has made this project a real success.  You can download a copy from here although the printed version is the real star.

First Movement Literature Design

Posted on 06.07.11 by Chris

New prints for First Movement arrived in the studio this morning.  We have produced a set of three leaflets to help promote The Level Centre and The Mobile Level Centre.  The design uses an innovative folding technique, allowing the leaflet to be folded to A6 for easy postage. We also commissioned bespoke envelopes to be made in a translucent paper that allow for teasing amount of information to be shown as it arrives on a desk.  For more information on First movement you can visit First Movement.