WELCOME

Designstone has been busy developing new brands for businesses to align their identities with target markets.

The fundamentals that underpin all successful brands are understanding who your target customer is, what you tell that target customer in order to make them purchase from you, in what manner (tone, colour, style, presentation, essence) that message is communicated and when to present the message for best effect.

The same goes for schools – see the concluding article 'Changing the Face of Public Education Across Australia' that was presented to the NSW State Schools Assembly late last year at the University of Technology Sydney.

ROYAL CANBERRA SHOW EVENT PR

Brief
The Canberra Show commissioned Designstone to work closely with its CEO and Marketing Manager to produce its Canberra Times Feature, press ads, television commercials and radio ads.

Result
The design style is different yet consistent with the promotional material of previous years. The results of an all day photoshoot from last year were utilised to bring fun, noise and colour into the layout.

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RHUBARB & ME BUSINESS BRANDING

Brief
The ‘Rhubarb & Me Hair Boutique’ brand required an update to suit the ideas of its new owner and promote its new Lucky 13 product range. Rhubarb & Me's target market is current clientele, residents of the inner north and the alternative, unique sub-culture of Canberra.

Result
A logo, shop front signage and business cards were developed in black and metalic silver. A set of three full page press ads were produced to link the old brand and unveil the new.

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NEXIS CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WEBSITE

Brief
Nexis required a website that is editable in-house and consistent with their redeveloped brand. Their primary target market is self-employed business people of Canberra.

Result
Using Designstone's content management system, www.nexis.net.au enables staff to update text, images, sign-up forms, video and newsletters. They can quickly add contact forms, surveys, registrations and calendars.

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KITE COMMUNICATION BUSINESS BRANDING

Brief
A start-up communications business required a modern logo and stationery to target leaders within the local training industry and government.

Result
The simple solution of using free-flowing form and colour was employed to develop an attractive and dominant brand.

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CATHOLIC CARE ANNUAL REPORT PUBLICATION

Brief
The target market for this report is government and policy advisors as well as prospective and current staff. The colours needed to be bright and bold and had to include a corporate blue and green plus bright green and orange. The style required was both corporate and community as well as having a Canberra feel.

Result
The annual report lifts the professionalism of Catholic Care’s image by using a bright, positive and professional editorial and design style. The cover illustrates the shape of the Australian Capital Territories borders.

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SUMM CONSULTANTS BUSINESS BRANDING

Brief
The reason for this logo was to brand the promotions and products of a start-up consultancy.

Result
The friendly and tech savy design style targets small to medium enterprises with its interesting typography and colourful icon.

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EE-OZ CONFERENCE ADVERTISING

Brief
Titled 'Workforce Development and Productivity - The Training Challenge' EE-Oz required a suite of materials to promote its conference.

Result
In partnership with the EE-Oz leadership team and Kite Communications, Designstone developed a brochure, flyer, poster and email footer plus an electronic and printed registration form. By using the results of a photoshoot and stock images, the energetic layout captures 'an education in advanced technology' theme.

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GOLD CREEK SCHOOL ADVERTISING

Brief
Goldcreek School is a stable, responsible and proactive environment. The target audience for this project was staff, prospective and current students and parents, and the community. 

Result
Designstone worked with Principal Sue Jose and her executive to produce presentation folders, a banner and letterhead template. The maroon, blue and white layout uses flowing elements to portray cooperation, transition and long-term links with family.

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DOWNER COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION PUBLICATION

Brief
The reason for this project is to celebrate the Canberra suburb of Downer's 50th birthday.

Result
This beautiful 148 page book was designed, assembled and packaged to print within five working days. The publication will be launched and sold at an event attended by approximately 1,000 past and present residents.

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CHANGING THE FACE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION ACROSS AUSTRALIA 

A couple of years ago we became frustrated with the negative spin in the media towards state schools and decided to do something about it.

There are three steps to align your brand with its target market and change the voice of your school:
1. Develop a design brief
2. Collect content
3. Design and deliver refreshed communication collateral.

Developing the brief is a two-part process. Describe your identity then look at the current material you use to communicate with your staff, community, current or (more importantly) prospective student, parent or carer.

Collect the text and images to develop a new design concept for your school. The primary text that commonly appears on, for example presentation folders, roll-up banners and newsletter templates, are school values, a slogan and contact details. Some schools over the years may have developed a photo library, however, we’ve found that the best way to capture an honest and up-to-date reflection of your school's curriculum, multiculturalism, location and (most importantly) smiling faces is to commission a professional half-day photo shoot.

Design layout concepts and revise to gain approval by your staff, deputy or executive team. Then assemble your materials, remembering that Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither will your communications suite. With the major investment of effort developing, for example a presentation folder out of the way, slowly but surely over the years your design can be updated consistently across other materials.

Three quotes from printers are collected and the raw materials are delivered, with the adobe artwork on disc, making your schools new brand accessible by students and staff.

It’s simple really – three steps to view your school as a commercial enterprise and align it with your prospective enrolment.

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