Get to know us better
Every few weeks we send out a quick email to keep you informed of our latest news and industry observations. If you’d like to be included, sign-up here and we’ll make sure you get a copy.
History
December 2011
We always try to have a bit of fun with our Christmas cards. Last year was all about the festive birds, this year's design has a retro pixel art theme to it. First we produced 3,600 button badges and painstakingly positioned them onto a printed vinyl banner to create a seasonal mosaic. The whole thing took about 5 hours to construct, with no breaks, and we captured the badge fixing on film by taking over 4000 photographs to create this stop-motion movie. You can also see the final printed card and a selection of snap shots on Flickr. Hope you like it!
December 2011
Board with the
board games
We recently designed the European POS campaign for this festive promotion, so if you're stuck for a few stocking fillers take a look at EA's range of Hasbro games. Our favourite is Family Game Night 4, which is the 'Game Show' edition hosted by Mr. Potato Head, building on the traditional board games with stunning visual presentation and a larger than life gaming experience. We wish you a happy Christmas folks!
November 2011
We’re banging
the Drum
Beyond featured in an article showcasing 15 agencies you may not have heard of, but really should have. The final few has been whittled down from a long list of agencies compiled by the combined expertise and insight from The Drum, RAR and MiNetwork. In a short interview with Director, Paul Ringsell, the report charts a brief history of Beyond, examines our approach and our plans for the future.
When did the agency launch?
Beyond was established in 2002. We still maintain some of those client and supplier relationships almost 10 years down the line, and good business is about building long-term relationships.
What big name clients have you worked on over the years?
EA SPORTS, Walt Disney, Cisco, Weight Watchers, Pioneer, Silverstone, Dun & Bradstreet; our client base is probably about as diverse as it gets.
What key things have happened to the agency in 2011?
We moved into our new purpose-built studio at the backend of last year, so 2011 has been all about growing into the new environment. We've added some key personnel to the team and reshaped our business strategy for the next 5 years.
What great things does the agency have planned for 2012?
Our strategic approach to communications means we operate across all media channels, so we're excited by the impact of social media on the marketing strategy. Although our design approach is never led by the technology, there are some fascinating digital innovations happening that we're keen to explore.
How difficult is it for agencies to build a strong profile while still giving clients their utmost attention?
Building your business profile is an ongoing process. It is a difficult balance when you're busy tending to the needs of your clients, so we often find ourselves burning the candle to ensure we get noticed.
What makes a great agency?
Beyond is founded on the simple philosophy that work should be an enjoyable part of our lives. Our satisfaction and success comes from seeing the fruits of our imagination make something happen, which invariably makes for a happy client. If we can smash the client's objectives and everyone enjoys the process, then we've done a great job. If you can deliver a great job every time, then you've nailed it!
Which other agency's work do you most respect?
Individually, the team at Beyond is an eclectic blend of different skills and experience so we all draw influence from different places. Personally, I admire and respect the work of agencies who don't necessarily follow the crowd. Those who are not afraid to stick their heads above the parapet and try something different, which usually requires input from a brave client! Some of the agencies whose body of work stands out in my mind are AirSide, Intro, Love Creative, Designers Republic, and Studio Output are doing some great stuff at the moment.
November 2011
The web is on
the move
With all the media attention currently surrounding the fast growing smart phone market it's easy to assume that everyone should be busy converting their website to display properly on a mobile. At Beyond, we would argue that creating a great mobile version of a site is more about figuring our what to remove rather than simply converting it.
Typically, mobile users want different things than desktop users. When visiting a restaurant website, desktop users may want to view photos of your venue, menus, price lists and some background information. But it's very likely that visitors using smart phones just want your address, contact details and opening hours.
Another example is the Beyond site. iPhone users accessing our URL get a completely different home page to the one they'd receive on their desktop machine. We know that most people viewing our site on their mobile will be either locating our studio or looking to contact us (call or email), so our mobile home page presents these options as three clear buttons with no other distractions.
Of course there are exceptions to this rule, blogs or simple news sites may determine that mobile users really are looking for the same thing as desktop users. However it's important to carefully consider your audience and recognise that many mobile users have very different goals to those browsing in front of their desktop PC.
October 2011
Are you being
rewarded?
If you spend your days in an office environment it's highly likely you'll encounter Avery products at some point during the working week. Beyond is currently working with Avery on a number of different projects, one of which is to evaluate and reposition their customer loyalty programme. The picture shown above forms part of a new campaign initiative involving a number of familiar brands. We created the image using a combination of 3D rendering and photography, consumer advertising rolling out soon…
August 2011
Always a
Pioneer
We seem to have been working on an increasing number of rebranding projects recently, with clients looking to reshape and remodel or appeal to a new audience. Earlier this year Beyond was invited by Pioneer to evaluate their brand positioning for the home entertainment market. After some extensive research we created a new visual identity to better reflect the company's strategic direction. We're currently working on below the line support with consumer press ad's rolling out this month.
July 2011
Time for a
change
We’ve just completed an interesting project involving a rebrand of marketing materials relating to the Weight Watchers meetings. Having attended one of the meetings as part of the research process, Paul is now an expert on the product range and hooked on the new Chocolate Caramel Whip Bars. The new ‘Monthly Pass’ branding has just been rolled out…
March 2011
Space saving
design
Our design team has been working hard on an international Kardex DM campaign this month. The challenge is to increase sales opportunities by educating the audience about the costs of commercial storage space and the Kardex offering. The diversity of the campaign and ensuring its measurability has made this an interesting project, click here to view the story so far.
