From a work point of view, it’s been pretty busy. We’re thrilled with the feedback we’ve had to all the Barnaby Festival work,almost all of which has now broken cover, including the event brochure and the website, designed by us and built by the indefatigable Andrew McCully. Top work Andrew! (unlucky with the Premier League though. But more of that later…)

Barnaby work...

Continuing with the work theme, we’ve been working hard on a couple of exhibition projects for long standing client, Imperial War Museums. We’re particularly thrilled with the fact we’ve been working at IWM London on ‘Build The Truce’, which opens next week.

Here’s a couple of ‘work in progress’ shots, which, seeing as it still is a work in progress and, at the time of writing, IWM’s graphics contractors are due on site in about 20 minutes, it’s as close as you can get to the finished thing. Which is very BLUE. Unless you come down here and have a look, of course. And we strongly suggest you do.

Building The Truce

Building The Truce 02

Over and above this, we’re looking forward to progressing some significant new projects for the two schools in our lives, namely Cheadle Hulme and Manchester Business, plus a really nice piece of branding for a performing arts company. So it’s all go!

Away from the office, our glorious leader’s quest to break every bone in his body on a mountain bike continues. A recent spill did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm, and every Monday morning brings new tales of his and Graham’s exploits down hills and on assorted journeys.

One Manchester ride a couple of weeks back seemingly took him through Tatton Park (and part of a plane, bizarrely) past most of our clients, and into Media City, as you can see from the pictures. Continuing the blue theme, what did he happen to see on the BBC’s large screen? Yup, you guessed…

This (Media) City is Ours...

Media City by bike. And Instagram...

As some of you may know, the biking is all for a good cause, namely raising money for the NSPCC on a ride from Manchester to Liverpool on June 3rd. Visit Paul’s just giving page by clicking here…

In other news, here’s a few random images captured on our travels, including a particularly intriguing bus shelter ad for a beer with a BLUE related name…

Typography on a bench, Salford Quays

We saw it standing alone...

Imperial War Museum, May 2012

So, finally, why the blue references? Well, those of you untouched by the beautiful game may be unaware that our leader’s beloved Manchester City recently won a little cup known as the Barclays Premier League. Now, for some football teams winning things is perhaps expected, or even demanded, every season, but City fans are a little different. The last time a similar triumph was claimed by City was so long ago, he wasn’t even born. (Yes, THAT long ago) so to see it happen, and on his son’s birthday as well, was something special. He was over the (blue) moon, you might say.

He must have been, because he’s scarcely stopped going on about it since…

Happy Birthday Son!

When we’ve not been moving in, we’ve been working hard on a number of interesting and creatively rewarding pitches. One in particular has had the glorious leader hand rendering type, amid mutterings of “takes me back, this…” Bless him. Ongoing work has also seen us busy, plus we’ve finally got some Barnaby Festival stuff out there, so it’s been good to see the fruits of everyone’s labours start to be seen around the town.

Just like the old days...

Barnaby 'save the date' cards @ Treacle Market

We’ve also been pressing on with new work for heritage car parts business Leacy Classics. We got some great new stuff through to shoot last week, including these retro oil cans, perfect for sitting next to your cloth cap and string backed driving gloves. (they give you a bit more ‘purchase’, according to Alan Partridge) Away from oily rags, we’ve been busy working on a branding project for a performing arts company, printed literature for Manchester Jewish Museum and a really nice project for the Development Office at Cheadle Hulme School.

Back to the future...

Lastly, whilst on our travels, we’ve been getting all “instagrammy” it’s becoming a bit of an addiction (to be fair, there’s worse ones to have!) and here are a few of our favourites…

Town Square, Macclesfield

Imperial War Museum, London

University of Manchester

Charles Street, Manchester

It’s another busy week post Easter, but despite this the glorious leader’s off to Devon with his family in a 1967 ‘splitty’ (a Volkswagen camper van to the rest of us!) so expect the Ingenious twitter to be commandeered with images of a ‘surf’s up’ nature. Or not, as the weather may well dictate…

In addition to the IWM project, the studio is crackling away under a heavy but interesting workload, most notably new projects for the ever-interesting Cheadle Hulme School and also a pair of brochures we’re presenting to a new client next week. Perfect time for our colour printer to start being difficult. Not. That, plus a few other ‘admin’ issues will be tackled over the weekend, giving us a decent start to the week. In terms of recently completed work, it’s print all the way, with a couple of Manchester Business School brochures and this nice little piece for CHS, which outlines the future long term strategy of the School.

Forward thinking...

We have also recently completed the CHS former pupils yearbook, known as The Old Waconian (Waconian being the name for pupils of the school – see previous blog entries for a history lesson!)

WAC - Warehousmen & Clerks, dontchaknow...

The ongoing refurb of Jordangate House continues in conjunction with our neighbours, Axis Accounting. We’ve been working together over the last two years to bring our home up to scratch, and the next phase is about to commence. We’re going to be splitting the floorspace equally, and we’ll be moving to the top floor (always thought we’d get to the top one day!) to give us amongst other things, more space, a better view and importantly, closer proximity to the kitchen! All this means that the legend that is ‘Derek the Decorator’ will soon be back in, and to match the new interior, we’re getting the front of the building refurbed and painted, to match the back that was done last year. The front is slightly more problematic in that we need to get scaffolding erected, but it’ll be worth it when it’s finished, as the saying goes. Whilst we’re up there, we’re also going to be putting a flag on our tragically unadorned flagpole. Watch this space!

Soon to be painted!

Lastly, and to celebrate our glorious leader’s discovery of this new thing called instagram (he’s only just found out the Titanic has sunk!) here’s one of his latest masterpieces, of a bright yet moody Macclesfield. Hidden talents, you see…

Market Place, Macclesfield. March 2012

Mugs, pads and pencils. All stuff we like...

Speaking of age, (well we kind of were) last night our glorious leader went off to Manchester Photographic to relive his youth, and listen to a talk by Kevin Cummins and Peter Hook, and see Kevin’s exhibition of Joy Division photographs. Once again, retail was involved, with a wonderful book making an appearance in the studio this morning, signed no less. He also got his “we’re not really here” signed, as of course Paul and Mr Cummins share a love of Man City.

Great band, great club, great photographer. Manchester, so much to answer for...

Back on the work front, we’ve had a few great meetings recently, all leading to new work for Ingenious. We’re going to be working on branding projects for a Community Arts organisation and also a Commercial Property developer, and also some wonderful new pieces of design, both digital and print, for Cheadle Hulme School. Since being appointed by CHS in mid 2011, we’ve spent the first six months of our relationship refining and implementing our brand refresh and rolling out some wonderful pieces of work, some of which you can see below. The focus for the next six months is to move things forward, both strategically and creatively. We’re fortunate indeed that we’ve a client that trusts us and allows us to be custodians of such a renowned brand, and it’s a challenge we continue to relish.

A selection of CHS print work

As ever, we’ve got a diverse spread of ongoing work, but two projects in particular stand out. Both museum installations, but of very different types and for clients old and new – Imperial War Museum North and Manchester Jewish Museum.

The IWM project is all about creating a brand and environment in which a specially commissioned piece of film will be displayed. The MJM piece aims to engage with children and teach them all about different items of Jewish religious clothing. As we type, the MJM install will have begun, so we’ll be able to show some shots of that next time, whereas the IWM project is in the very early stages, and will see us work on it throughout 2012 at both IWM North and IWM London. So lots to get on with!

Closer to home, but just as close to our hearts, we’ve been working hard with the good people from Macclesfield Barnaby Festival, and following a meeting last week have all but signed off on the look and feel of the 2012 event. Again, we’ll be putting visuals of this work up as soon as we’re able. The initial roll-out will be around the end of March, so you’ll be able to see a sneak preview here soon!

The glorious leader had birthday earlier in the month, and is now teetering on the brink of middle age. It’s kind of appropriate (and funny) that his rediscovered passion for mountain biking neatly mirrors his age, as they both involve rapid descents from here on in. Well, not so rapid, in the case of the biking…all joking aside, happy birthday boss, and thanks to the rest of the Hartley’s for the MCFC inspired cakes.

The Fire Brigade advised against a candle for every year...

Moving on to more important matters, the studio has been really busy recently, working on some major publications for our two School clients (Cheadle Hulme and Manchester Business) plus a lovely brochure for the equally lovely Eclectic Hotels. A marathon signing off session last week saw those all safely off to print, so we’re looking forward to seeing them completed and delivered shortly. We’ve also made some really strong progress on our work with Macclesfield’s Barnaby Festival, working up two creative routes – one evolutionary, one more revolutionary, so it’ll be interesting to see how far we can take things. Either way, we can’t wait to get the final work out in the Town over the coming weeks. Let us know what you think!

Sneak preview 1: Eclectic Hotels brochure

Sneak preview 2: Cheadle Hulme School magazine, "Vision"

A sea of proofs. Kevin Cummins' book isn't a job, it's just lovely to look at...

We’ve just finished off (at long last – sorry Mike!) a nice little website for prestige builder and all round good bloke, Mike Fairhurst. We did Mike’s corporate identity last year, so the website was the next stage. Whilst we’re always thrilled to work on large projects for big clients, we also love creating work for smaller businesses and actually help them grow. Here’s a quick screengrab (and link) to JM Fairhurst.

Finally it's live! www.JMFairhurst.com

Forthcoming work is equally exciting, with a number of museum and exhibition projects on the horizon for clients both old and new. As those of you who know us and our work will understand, we really enjoy working in “the built environment”, particularly when there’s an immovable deadline – usually a preview evening or press launch – that means project management is as crucial as creative execution. It’s early days for these projects so we can’t say much at the moment, but as ever, the combination of great subject matter and a good clients who understand the creative process means it’s up to us to deliver. No pressure then!

We’re also proving very popular with our suppliers at the moment – we’ve had a number of referrals from various sources, which is very welcome and gives us encouragement that we’re doing our job properly if people are prepared to recommend us. Furthermore, we’re already seeing significant growth with existing clients, so we’re thrilled with how 2012 is shaping up, but mindful that it’s only February!

A recent trip to London saw us pop into the Museum of Brands in Notting Hill. It’s a real treasure trove of memories, and what the place perhaps lacks in interactivity or a cutting edge museum ‘experience’, it makes up for in sheer depth of content. Particularly interesting (apart from the many “I remember that!” moments) were the displays that charted the evolution of a brand through the ages. Well worth a visit if you’ve an hour to kill between meetings, as we had. Paul also found time to take a photo of a Scooby Doo wrapped Porsche on the Portobello Road, but that’s probably just the mid life crisis kicking in…

Childhood memories (if you're as old as Paul...)

Johnson's Baby Powder

Fizzzzzzzzz...

"Yikes" indeed...

Happily for all, Paul has been out more than he’s been in (!) meeting with clients old and new. By the time you read this he’ll be wandering round (sorry, working at) the Autosport Show at the NEC with our good friend James Pickford. Nice work if you can get it…

Away from fast machines, and onto slightly slower ones. Regular readers of our blog will recall certain members of the Ingenious team were planning to return to mountain biking. Well, surprisingly, this has actually happened, with the good Mr H leading the “charge”.

The Middlewood Way has been selected as a ‘training route’ and you can often find Macclesfield’s leading creative team (plus Paul) charging up and down it. Below is photographic evidence to support the claim, and furthermore we can confirm the new bike is slightly less clean now than it appears here, so it’s been used more than once. Aches and pains have been fairly minimal, so much so that a foolhardy plan to take part in a cycle ride from Manchester to Liverpool has been hatched. More news nearer the time, but if anyone wants to join in and / or sponsor the attempt (the event raises money for the NSPCC) then let us know. Click here for more info.

Shiny thing 1: The trusty steed. Rider not pictured (probably collapsed behind the camera)

Returning to our work, we’re pleased to report that our key clients are keeping us busy, and before long, we’ll be able to reveal new work for Manchester Business School, Cheadle Hulme School and Leacy Classics, to name but three. The latter involves some really nice packaging for their ‘premium’ range of classic car accessories, and follows on from the new advertising we implemented towards the end of last year.

Shiny thing 2: Currently waiting for a nice box to live in...

We’re also working on a piece of self promotion, which as you might imagine, is always a tricky brief. Plus, it’s always the first thing to get parked when we get busy! Cobbler’s shoes syndrome, apparently. Nevertheless, we’re scheduled to get it ready by the end of Feb, so if you’d like a copy (it’s a good old fashioned piece of print, this time!) just drop us a line.

Lastly for now, we’ve been working with Macclesfield’s Barnaby Festival recently, and before the end of the month we’ll be presenting our concepts for the 2012 event to them. This project has almost exclusively been handled by our very own Louise Murphy who has been a long time “Barnabist” (is that even a word?) even before her time with Ingenious. That passion and enthusiasm shows in the lovely ideas she’s come up with. We’re all looking forward to seeing what the client thinks. Well done Lou!

Oh, and it’s SNOWING in Macclesfield. Sledges at the ready!

It’d be far too straightforward if we were able to wind down well in advance of Christmas, wouldn’t it? In true Ingenious style we’re still flat out in the studio with a number of weighty projects that have early January deadlines. Great stuff to work on, so it’s no hardship really, plus of course we consider ourselves very fortunate that we’re in such a strong position in otherwise challenging times.

Go on, you know you want to...

This week we finally completed our annual Manchester Business School festive game, “Let there be light”. In just four days it’s attracted over 2,000 hits from outside the initial distribution list, so the client is very pleased with how it’s gone. Can you help Santa by harnessing the power of the magic Christmas Tree and lighting up Manchester? Well, can you??!  Why not try it and find out? Click here to play…

Wednesday saw us enjoy an evening with clients at the lovely Didsbury House Hotel, which as some of you may know, belongs to one of our clients, Eclectic Hotels. As usual, they looked after us wonderfully well, and despite some people not being able to join us, a great evening was had by all.

The Lovely Didsbury House

Hic!

The equally lovely Snow Goose Cafe

However, those who missed it have another opportunity for festive cheer on Thursday 22nd when we venture out to the equally lovely Snow Goose Café Bar in Macclesfield. Nearby? Come and say hi…

It'll look a lot tidier soon!

We’re taking the opportunity to rearrange our studio over the holidays. Oh, we know how to live…Well, a change is as good as a rest, as they say. Plus, we need to create a bit more space to allow for expansion early in the New Year. More details soon…

There’s been much talk this week about new year’s resolutions, and even more talk amongst certain people about ‘getting back in the saddle’. Literally. Grown men (who really should know better) have been getting overly excited about bikes and the riding thereof. It seems to be more of a gadget fest than anything, with hydraulic brakes, lock out forks and the like being scrutinised, so it remains to be seen if this ‘top trumps’ bike fest translates into pedalling activity. Our glorious leader has a ‘fitting’ for a bike (yes, really) next Friday, so expect to hear more about this in the New Year. Anyone wishing to donate bandages, plasters and soft cushions to help patch up and comfort our intrepid bikers, please get in touch…

The Ingenious boys in training...

Astonishingly, it’s nearly Christmas and we’ve been hard at work on a number of festive projects. In a bizarre and badly conceived play on words, it’s been ‘the analogue and the digital’ rather than ‘the holly and the ivy’ here, with briefs such as the ‘traditional’ Christmas Concert programme for Cheadle Hulme School and, at the third time of asking, a festive game “Let there be light!” for Manchester Business School. You can see both below, but by next week we’ll be able to send you a link to the latter so you can play the MBS game for yourselves.

Online and offline festivities...

Stepping away from the festive season slightly, we’ve been working on some new stuff for Classic car parts business Leacy Classics. There’s a really interesting story developing with this recently relaunched business. Authenticity is key for many classic car enthusiasts, so the fact that Leacy are effectively preserving as much as they can of the British automotive industry by sourcing original tooling and pressings from the ‘old’ car manufacturers, is helping them stand apart from their competitors.

From our glorious leader’s point of view, anything to do with cars is a good thing, but even he was stumped when a box of what we shall call ‘bits’ or ‘stuff’ appeared in the office. Just how do you make a wiper motor look interesting? Well, the short answer is you can’t, but when you get a Paul Smith designed ‘Great Britain’ badge in the same box, that’s pretty cool. They’re very big in Mini circles, apparently…

Badge by Paul Smith. Spitfire door tether by, errr, Leacy Classics.

"stuff" and "bits" waiting to be photographed...

It was on the way to Leacy last week that Paul nearly met his maker. He was involved in a very close near miss on the M6, which resulted in a crash involving six cars. Paul was in the middle of it all, and believes he used his ‘other worldly car control’ and ‘huge natural talent’ to thread through the carnage and stop on the hard shoulder. We’re not convinced (if you’ve been in a car with him, you’ll know what we mean!) but needless to say we were pleased that he (and everyone else involved) was unhurt. Not least because we all went to our favourite bar, the Snow Goose, to celebrate ‘not being dead’, as he quaintly put it.

Paul, pictured relaxing in the office, yesterday...

Back on the work front, our first few projects for the lovely Barnaby Festival have started to filter through. At this stage we’re picking up on the final elements of the 2011 festival, such as the review document pictured below, before rolling out our new 2012 work, but it’s great stuff to be involved in, and we’re thrilled to be working with such a prominent part of Macclesfield’s cultural year. It’s a great fit for us, as well as being an ideal way to help us raise our profile regionally, and so it’s a project we’re keen to put as much into as possible. Our very own Louise has taken this very much to her heart, and is doing some sterling work on it. Keep it up, Lou!!

2011 Barnaby Festival Evaluation Report

We headed off to People’s History Museum in Spinningfields, Manchester, for the opening of ‘Picturing Politics’, their latest changing exhibition. It’s the third one we’ve worked on for PHM, and follows ‘Death and the Working Class’ and ‘On the March’. Here’s the exhibition identity and also our lovely little postcards in the museum shop.

Exhibition Identity as soon on the preview evening invitation

Get your postcards here...

From an advertising perspective, perhaps the most iconic piece of work on display was this Saatchi & Saatchi poster designed for the Conservative party for the 1979 general election.

Good ideas never date...

Moving on, we’ve been busy this week on work for Manchester Business School’s Executive Education team. It’s been almost a year since we started working with ‘Exec Ed’ and we’re delighted to report that, following a successful review meeting, we’re to continue doing more of the same in 2012. Phew! Always nice to have a happy client, and we’re just as pleased with how things are going as they are. Here’s a quick shot of a double gatefold brochure we’re putting together, with more stuff in the pipeline, not least the annual Christmas interactive game, which will be coming to a screen near you soon…

Another client we’re really pleased with is Cheadle Hulme School. We’re very fortunate that we’ve a client that trusts us with their brand, and are happy to sit back and let us deliver the strategy that won us the pitch earlier in the year. It’s really starting to come together now, and over the next few months we’ll be rolling out some more new work that represents a significant leap forwards creatively from where they were. But we can’t show it you yet. Sorry…

The ever lovely environment that is Cheadle Hulme School

We’re also really enjoying working on the Barnaby festival brand. Regular readers of our blog will recall we were appointed a couple of weeks ago, and work has already begun! At present we’re delivering the last of the 2011 festival documents, but are also looking towards 2012 and an evolved look and feel. There are a number of potential creative directions we’re developing before presenting to the Barnaby Committee next month, so yet again, would love to show you, but can’t. Oooh, aren’t we secretive!!!?

Barnaby the Bear, not the Festival. Apologies in advance to the under 25's...

We got out and about in Macc this week, when we headed over to The Snow Goose for the second Digital Edge meeting. This is a great initiative, set up by local developer Chris Garrett, for like minded digital / design types (plus the odd photographer and account manager for balance!) to meet up for a drink and a chat. Top idea, and one we’re happy to support. Visit here for more info…

So, lots going on, but not much to show. ‘Twas ever thus! The next couple of weeks will see some fairly major pieces of work completed, so we’ll return to a more visually stimulating blog. Promise. In the meantime, we’re delighted to see Christmas officially begin in Macclesfield. We know this is true, because…

1. The tree’s gone up! (see below)
2. Costa have those red cups out again
3. We saw a busker in a Santa hat.

It's Chrrrrrrriiiiiiisssssttttttmmmmmaaaaaasssss!!!!!!! Apparently.

The weekend sees (some of) us working, so whatever you do, enjoy yours. We will!

As you may have noticed, the week began with Halloween. Committed Daddy that he is, our glorious leader pressed his creative skills into service in a slightly different direction. Making pumpkins. The world-class results can be seen below…

Creative departure #1

Moving on, yet another Daddy related story from Paul. We marvelled as he told of his cake icing exploits. Yup, Man City supporting, fast car loving Mancunian, turning his hand to icing a ‘Hello Kitty’ cake for his daughter’s sixth birthday. Ahhhhhh… Just goes to show, creative skills and an eye for detail really can transfer from one discipline to another.

Creative departure #2

Away from the oven, as mentioned above we’re starting to work on a number of different festive projects, most notably for Manchester Business School. For the last two years we’ve designed and produced an interactive game, and the same will be true this year. The 2010 production – ‘carrots for questions’ – was particularly well received, so no pressure then…bah humbug!

Appropriately in a week that contained Halloween, someone had a shock this week when they went into Jordangate House’s cellar, to be confronted with a selection of body parts. No, it’s nothing to worry about, and no, the police weren’t called, as it was simply due to our new neighbour and photographer Damien storing some mannequins down there. But hey, picture the scene. Early morning, no-one else in the (apparently haunted) building, “just down to the cellar to reboot the server, aaarrrrgggghhhh!!!!” For the sake of decency, expletives have been deleted…

Body parts. Terrified person not pictured...

We’re in the process of creating a new mailer, which will be out before the end of the year. As part of that we had a bit of a tidy up and put some of our most recent work together to be photographed. Work such as this press advertising for classic car parts brand Leacy, which we think looks pretty effective in print.

Flagging up decent work...

Lastly, those of you that follow us on Twitter may have seen this already, but Paul’s meeting with MBS this week took him past the old Factory Records offices on Charles Street, Manchester. Saddo (sorry, committed Manc and typography fan) that he is, he couldn’t resist taking a quick picture, and tweeting to remind everyone that the font was the same as one of the corporate fonts we use for Cheadle Hulme School. Your hash tag said it all, fella…

It's a derivative of 'Rotis' you know...