In the midst of the COVID 19 crises, Estonia’s Tallink | Silja Line asked us to refresh their cruise and fast ferries design systems based on the repositioning work completed by our friends at Hensley Partners. We created two clearly defined design frameworks for their cruise and fast ferry fast brand communications respectively.

Due to their historic biases and the cost of repainting ships, the two cruise names Tallink and Silja Line continue to be used while we worked on aligning their design systems for all communications. We then created identity guidelines to cover everything from outdoor advertising to onboard screens and menus. We performed a similar task for the fast ferry business Tallink Shuttle and finally created a set of retail guidelines to cover the entire business.

Simplifying and aligning the communications for both brands has avoided unnecessary costs, and the clearly defined Tallink Shuttle brand has helped the business emerge from the shadow of the pandemic.

PUNCH Torino wanted to create two distinct subdivisions to help them target specific automotive manufacturing sectors. Known for their design and engineering capabilities, separating these out from their electronic engine management systems and revolutionary hydrogen engine designs was important.

Based on this clear strategic pathway, set out by our friends at Hensley Partners we were tasked with defining each of the two new businesses while sitting within the existing PUNCH design framework. Our solution was to create a lead illustration for each along with supporting colour palettes.

This redefinition has given PUNCH Hydrocells clear visibility and enabled it to push ahead with its ambitions to ensure hydrogen combustion engines can provide a real alternative to the fossil fuel intensive automotive industry.

When we started our journey to certify as a B Corporation in January 2018 it was a relatively unknown brand in the UK. It took us almost a year to complete the process and make it across the qualification score line. Our motivation was and is, to show that business can be a force for good – it’s what it was set up to do after all remember? It’s also about joining a network of businesses with shared values who together can create real change motivated by a philosophy to balance profit with people and planet.

Sadly, the pandemic put a halt to much of the networking, and yet gradually the B Corp brand has gathered momentum and visibility. Being a B Corp has opened many conversations for us and added credibility in our work with Creative Conscience, where we have run panel discussions on B Corp and spread the B Corp mantra as best we can. Ironically, in the week that we finally completed the (appropriately) arduous process of re-certifying three years on, we have won our first client directly as a result of being a certified B Corp, with a business who wants to work with an agency that share their values.

B Corp is not perfect, there have been controversies involving B Corporations falling short of a range of standards – BrewDog, Nespresso to name a couple. However, our belief is that as a B Corp agency, the greatest impact we can have is in supporting clients who share our values and refusing to work with those who don’t. Yes, we need more politicians with conviction who back laws to harness the blind growth and greed of capitalism, but it’s a start and so for now, we are happy to stand up and be counted and wear our B Corp badge with pride.

We recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of Creative Conscience, at a charity fundraiser and auction at Spiritland Kings Cross.

Founded by Chrissy Levett with support from Barlow and the L&Co team and an amazing network of helpers and volunteers, Creative Conscience has been the catalyst for more than 6,000 creatives from 96 countries to deliver 5,000 high impact projects that improve the health of the environment and society. In addition to our annual awards we have run events, workshops, talks and courses and influenced the wider creative community to take on some of society and the planet’s greatest challenges.

It was an inspiring evening which included a typically rousing speech by one of our ambassador’s Sir Jonathon Porritt, an art auction run by Mark Shayler and a call to action from Chrissy.

To cap the evening we had entertainment from Danielle from Crazy P, DJ statesman Seb Fontaine and rising stars Javi Rodriguez and D’Oli Disco (yes, his real name). Guests left with a pledge to make at least one change that would positively impact our world and a goody bag of ethical, low impact (of course) goodies.

We have just completed the #36daysoftype challenge to create an alphabet (and numerals) in 36 days, designing and posting a new character on 36 consecutive days. Starting with sketches and creating several alternatives for each letterform to enable us to avoid too many repetitions when we start to create words and sentences. It has been a reminder of the craft that lies at the heart of our studio, as well as an opportunity to create some contrasting personalities. Now to have some fun with our new friends…

The first day was held at The Design Museum and focused on mental health with a range of speakers and panel discussions. Day two took us to Havas KX (Kings Cross) where we heard impassioned presentations from Sir Jonathon Porritt (Forum for the Future), Sian Sutherland (A Plastic Planet), a B Corp panel, Extinction Rebellion, and Trylife’s Paul Irwin amongst others.

Founder and the driving force behind Creative Conscience, Chrissy Levett, shared some thoughts and issues to ponder, urging us all to take action “Imagine a world where every single thing we create serves us and our planet” she posed.

The final day and a half were hosted at Ravensbourne University and included a touch of inspiration from an impressive film & photography panel including BBC and Guardian journalists. Anthony Burrill shared some of his recent campaigning bold typographic prints and Pentagram’s Naresh Ramchandani ran a workshop focused on environmental messages.

#bcorporation #bcorps

At times of crises, information graphics can be used to powerful effect. The four projects we have been involved with all use graphic design to cut-through the noise and re-assure the viewer. ‘Death by numbers’ (above) is a graphic we created, looking back on 2020 and comparing deaths from Covid with other annual causes.

HCA Healthcare (below) run London’s leading private hospitals. For most of lockdown their facilities became part of the NHS with equipment supplied to the Nightingale Hospital London. The challenge they faced coming out of lockdown was to encourage people back into treatment centres – many with more life-threatening conditions than Covid-19. We designed a safety campaign, to re-assure patients that HCA facilities are among the safest in the world that has been rolled out across their London treatment centres.

He!p? (below) is a typographic social media post we designed to illustrate a positive message, a lovely idea that we simply passed on.

Defeated (below) is a project to dispel fear around the world in the wake of the pandemic. Creative Conscience teamed up with Nicole Yershon to launch a brief for creative students asking for ideas on a positive campaign based around Covid-19.

The winning idea was by recent graduate Megan Williams, who studied creative advertising at Leeds University and focuses on the number of recoveries based on live data from Johns Hopkins University. As part of the Creative Conscience team we collaborated with Voodoo, Broadsign and Orb, the campaign was successfully launched in Ireland and will go out worldwide on available digital advertising screens.

As a keen supporter of sustainable, environmental and socially valuable causes, and a member of the B Corporation® community, we declare a climate emergency.

We are aligned with Extinction Rebellion’s view that this involves three key elements:

• Tell the truth: we acknowledge this is an emergency and we will treat it as one.
• Act now: take radical steps to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2030.
• Work together: we are stronger working with others to create new solutions.

We acknowledge the scientific facts behind this existential crisis and aim to be bold in our ambitions to embrace new practices and business models that offer solutions to the climate breakdown.

We pledge to become a net carbon neutral business by 2025 or sooner. We will work with our partners, clients, friends and wider community to drive wider economic change and create new solutions together to urgently reduce carbon emissions.

Download our full climate emergency declaration