Bishop’s Waltham gets ‘brand’ new identity
Bishop’s Waltham Town Team has announced the launch of a new identity for the Winchester district market town.
The logo, typeface and associated colours are now set to appear on a variety of communications, from the new Bishop’s Waltham Pocket Guide - to be launched in April - to leaflets, banners and a new website now planned for the town.
With no budget to pay for the work, the Town Team set about contacting local designers with the aim of finding a company willing to undertake the task for free. When they contacted the Droxford-based, award-winning, graphic design practice PMDC Design (www.pmdc.co.uk), Principal Partner Steve Hobbs gave them the answer they had been hoping for.
Steve agreed almost immediately to get involved with this project,
said Town Team Chairman Tony Kippenberger.
When Heidi Isa, our Market Towns Development Officer, and I met him for the first time to discuss the brief, we knew that we had found the right company and the right person for the job. Steve was professional throughout, incredibly patient, and we always felt that the work was receiving his full attention, in spite of the fact that it was being done for free.
In addition to the detailed brief received from the Town Team, PMDC Design conducted their own research into what makes Bishop’s Waltham the town that it is, how local people view their town, and how visitors might perceive it. Using this research, PMDC Design developed five concepts to present to the Town Team, two of which were then chosen for further development.
Asked how he had arrived at the final design, Steve commented:
Drawing inspiration from both the town’s medieval heritage and modern development, we created a ‘BW’ monogram that is simultaneously informal and accessible, yet appropriately respectful. It is a strong and very distinctive visual statement that can be applied equally successfully as either a graphic identity or as a ‘window’ for a montage of images to illustrate the many aspects of town life.
He added:
We are delighted to have been able to support the drive by the Town Team in such a tangible way and wish them every success in promoting Bishop’s Waltham to a wider audience.
Tony Kippenberger said:
PMDC Design has, for nearly 30 years, locally produced creative, award-winning and commercially effective design for its widely varied local, regional and global clients. The Town Team is very appreciative that such a reputable company agreed to donate their time to undertake this work for us.
The final artwork was unanimously approved by the Town Team at their monthly meeting in February, and will begin to appear on communications from the Team from the end of this month.