Case Studies
Brief overviews of past projects
SCTE – Society for Broadband Professionals
Noormahal Sweets
MDS UK Patient Support Group
SCTE™ – The Society for Broadband Professionals
OVERVIEW
The SCTE™ (Society for Broadband Professionals) was founded in 1945. It is a Learned Society and non-profit making organisation whose aim is to raise the standard of broadband engineering in the global telecommunications industry. The Society particularly concerns itself with the training and career advancement of technical professionals in the field. The SCTE also provides accreditation and certification for its members, giving them professional standing within the industry. One of SCTE’s flagship communications medium with all its key stakeholders is its quarterly “Broadband Journal”, which reaches over 7000 global telecommunication professionals.
BACKGROUND
First Challenge: In 2007, the SCTE Board faced the challenge of production of the “Broadband Journal”, as the company who had been managing editorial, advertising, and production decided to retire.
Second Challenge: SCTE needed to get exhibition/stand materials designed, produced and delivered at various exhibitions it participated in the UK, Europe, USA, Middle East and Asia.
Third Challenge: In recent years, the SCTE Board has had to deal with rules that made the export of printed materials more difficult and expensive in a number of countries. SCTE wanted to explore the possibility of printing locally which would result in time savings, costs and simplify the process.
SOLUTION
First Challenge: Working with the SCTE board, a two-part solution was found. In addition to the newly appointed managing editor and marketer, Evolution was contracted to design, print, store and provide fulfilment services of the Journal’s quarterly issues as well as marketing and exhibition materials for the UK and overseas.
Second Challenge: Evolution provides simpler and more cost-effective solution of designing, producing and managing the logistics of getting all exhibition material to various sites on time, on budget and to local specifications.
Third Challenge: By identifying, working with trusted agents in UAE and India and soon in the USA, Evolution manages to provide marketing material for the SCTE where it is needed.
RESULTS
First Challenge: The team at Evolution reviewed every aspect of the Journal, creating new branding for the Society, a fresh look and feel of the Journal which readers found inviting and easy to follow. Evolution help simplify the entire production process which resulted in savings of cost and resource and output and service to agreed levels which has resulted in time and cost savings for SCTE.
Second Challenge: The Evolution team manages all external logistics and communications which reassures the marketing team at SCTE when preparing for their exhibitions.
Third Challenge: With Evolution managing critical contacts directly has freed SCTE’s resource to concentrate on the marketing and content of the exhibitions.
CONCLUSION
The relationship with Evolution’s team started with marketing and administration material in early 1990’s. It has grown over the years and now Evolution provides a one-stop solution to all our print needs, including Broadband Journal which is sent to exhibitions and readers around the world. We know what to expect and have grown to rely heavily on their expertise, advice and service.
Noormahal Sweets
OVERVIEW
NoorMahal Sweets are based in Southall, Middlesex, specialising in Indian sweets, saviours, cakes and catering, with numerous branches in London. New FSA regulations meant that updated packaging had to be created and delivered quickly. We were able to assist with the creation of the new branding and packaging, as well as the printing, finishing and delivery.
BACKGROUND
Noormahal had recently bought an ailing manufacturer; a company for whom we had previously been supplying print services to. We were tasked with creating the artwork for the new packaging, including the design, branding, printing and finishing. The content had to adhere to the new FSA (Food’s Standards Agency) regulations, which meant a number of complicated and important changes had to be implemented. These legally enforceable rules had to be closely followed to ensure the company did not face any issues regarding non-compliance.
SOLUTION
Given the stringent nature of the guidelines, attention to detail and communication was vitally important. The process was patient and considerate, taking into account the large amount of alterations that had to be implemented in the artwork. However, this still meant it had to be completed promptly, so the product could be released to market by the target deadline. We carefully dealt with the large volume of changes, organising the print, gluing and quick despatch of the completed packaging.
RESULTS
The packaging was not only approved by the FSA but just as importantly, the final design was aesthetically pleasing. This set a precedent that enabled NoorMahal to market all their products to the leading retailers, and avoid any legal issues related to non-compliance. The packaging was delivered on time which meant the products were able to be finalised for shipping.
CONCLUSION
NoorMahal were extremely pleased with how we handled both the process and the finished product. We have now continued to help with further packaging projects, and also any associated marketing material they require for the company or their products.
MDS UK Patient Support Group
OVERVIEW
The MDS UK Patient Support Group is a subsidiary of King’s College Hospital’s Haematology Department. The support group consists of numerous MDS experts, with Centres of Excellence located all across the UK and Ireland, working both nationally and internationally with other MDS specialists and support groups. We assisted in developing key marketing and communications collateral across several formats, including design, print and mail order.
BACKGROUND
MDS are a small UK charity which means that resources and budget have to be carefully allocated. The challenge was to not only help create newsletters, leaflets, booklets and banners, but also a detailed Myelodysplastic Syndromes handbook, using existing and new designs. Keeping the branding and message consistent was of upmost importance. As this was intended to create awareness and to provide support and information for patients and carers, the information had to be assimilated from highly technical text into a style that was more patient friendly.
SOLUTION
Working in tandem with a busy administrator, medical writers and a number of different editors, we were able to work out a design and print plan that translated the content across all formats. Time management was key, as the administrator had several other job responsibilities that required her attention. We were able to remove the burden of the entire print process from design through to print, and become a complete 360 supplier by also despatching individually addressed packets to various hospitals and clinics.
RESULTS
After a period of approximately 4 months, we helped to create a new handbook that will form the basis of their ongoing communication material for years to come. We assisted in designing and then printing all of the Clinical Trial booklets, banners, leaflets, factsheets, newsletters and folders to their optimal specifications. All of which successfully ensured it was easy to read, technically correct and ascetically pleasing. In addition to this, we were also able to collate, package and despatch approximately 300 individual packages by either Royal Mail or courier services.
CONCLUSION
MDS were extremely pleased with our assistance during the project and with the finished print products. New research and information is always coming to light in their field of medical expertise, so updates to the collateral that can support patients will be an ongoing requirement. Because we understand their work processes, communication style and brand expectations, we will be entrusted with all future reprints and new material.
Birmingham College & Imperial Press
OVERVIEW
Birmingham College & Imperial Press a specialist English language training centre with expertise in General English, IELTS, English for Academic Purposes, English for Specific Purposes and English for Vocational Purposes. They required a range of critical material for the college in an extremely short space of time, to help them secure further interest with a prospective new partner. A large number of certificates and certificate holders were also requested as part of the brief.
BACKGROUND
The college required 5 GEVB books, each book containing 14 popular topics for easy use for the students to learn English Language. These totalled 846 pages with separate 14 tabs. Just as importantly, they also needed IELTS Focus Banks, which comprised of 19 different subjects. These had to be broken down into 19 separate books, totalling 640 pages. With only 3 days to deliver, they secured a meeting at the Kuwaiti Embassy. The meeting was a success, and at short notice a confirmational visit was arranged by the Kuwaiti Embassy’s Education representative. This left just over 24 hours to receive the second batch of books in time for the visit.
SOLUTION
The books had to have a unique but themed style throughout. As there was no historical document to follow, the entire process of creating visuals, proofs and preparing coloured cover variations was achieved in record time. Due to time constraints, a number of contributors worked on the project which naturally meant some inconsistencies were flagged at the draft stage. Despite the tight deadline, we were able to identify and rectify these before going to press. Both of the back-to-back deadlines were achieved, which included the design, printing, binding and delivery of the books.
RESULTS
Birmingham College were able to attend the first meeting at the Embassy and successfully present the material. The interest generated at this meeting escalated extremely quickly, which meant having the next batch of books ready for the subsequent visit allowed the inspection to create further interest with the Embassy.
CONCLUSION
We have continued to work together since on presentations and similar projects, and with a number in the pipeline, we will be the partner of choice to assist in their creation.
Acorn Fostering Services Ltd
OVERVIEW
Acorn Fostering Services are an independent fostering agency based in Leicester, providing fostering agency services throughout the East and West Midlands and Northern Counties. We assisted in the design, print and delivery of a core 628pp Foster Carer’s Reference Book, divide into 12 colour coded sections, as well as a number of individually designed complementary booklets, banners, posters and conference material.
BACKGROUND
The 628pp book had been something Acorn had wanted to put together for some time but limited staff resources made this task particularly difficult to achieve. A large quantity of documentation in varying formats had been accumulated over time, and the challenge was to find a way to draw all of this material together into one cohesive whole. Given the scale and complex nature of the information, identifying what was to remain and what was to be removed from the book was an overwhelming task. Just as importantly for Acorn, there could be no compromise on quality or design.
SOLUTION
Working together with the Acorn team and a number of professional designers, a vast amount of imagery research had to be undertaken given the sensitive nature of the content. The 6 smaller brochures, also had to individually designed, printed and collated into a folder. A pack was made comprising the 628pp book and the smaller brochures, which we then arranged to be mailed to large quantity of carers simultaneously. Additionally, a large reception area needed to be decorated with an appropriate imagery, for which we also designed, printed and mounted. All of this had to be ready in time for a key conference they were hosting.
RESULTS
Several months were taken to finalise the large book because of the amount of changes required to the design and the text, which left only a week to print and deliver. Because we were able to achieve all of this, Acorn met their handout deadline and were able to successfully hold their conference with up-to-date material available for the attendees to interact with. The end result was not only visually pleasing, but now serves as a useful marketing tool for Acorn.
CONCLUSION
The client was extremely happy with our help and the finished product. As it was designed with easy sections and a binder format, it makes upgrades easy and cost effective for the future. We are now their preferred supplier and continue to help Acorn with all their print requirements.