Andy Bairstow is Communications Director for Nexus, the Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive. Nexus provides, plans and promotes public transport to improve the economic prosperity of the area and the daily lives of its people.
"Design is absolutely essential to a public transport system for several reasons. We are a service that every member of the public can use, so are completely inclusive – we help people with different levels of understanding, reading abilities and disabilities. Design allows us to communicate in the most succinct way that we can.
"A good design helps to improve the image of public transport. If we can attract more people to public transport it’s better for both the economy and the environment. Our delivery is compared with service environments – the way that we use light, colours and materials. It’s all to do with attracting and retaining customers on public transport and showing that we compete with others in the service sector in terms of design and image.
"Design cuts across everything we do – from leaflets to signage, there needs to be consistency which branding achieves across the board. Metro is an iconic North East brand and the design of Metro uses an iconic font from the 1970’s – the Calvert font. Everyone associates this with Metro and sees the brand as being a reliable, strong part of the North East. We will continue to use the Calvert font in our design as it represents what we stand for as a business."
"Design is absolutely essential to a public transport system for several reasons. We are a service that every member of the public can use, so are completely inclusive – we help people with different levels of understanding, reading abilities and disabilities. Design allows us to communicate in the most succinct way that we can.
"A good design helps to improve the image of public transport. If we can attract more people to public transport it’s better for both the economy and the environment. Our delivery is compared with service environments – the way that we use light, colours and materials. It’s all to do with attracting and retaining customers on public transport and showing that we compete with others in the service sector in terms of design and image.
"Design cuts across everything we do – from leaflets to signage, there needs to be consistency which branding achieves across the board. Metro is an iconic North East brand and the design of Metro uses an iconic font from the 1970’s – the Calvert font. Everyone associates this with Metro and sees the brand as being a reliable, strong part of the North East. We will continue to use the Calvert font in our design as it represents what we stand for as a business."
Mark Leach is Marketing Manager at Hadrian’s Wall Heritage, the organisation which realises the economic, social and cultural regeneration potential of the Hadrian’s Wall World Heritage Site.
"Media relations is critical, especially for an organisation like ourselves which doesn’t have major budgets for advertising. Regionally, nationally and internationally, it has helped to put us on the map for excellent brand awareness – in particular the broadcast coverage that we’ve achieved.
"As part of our media relations activity, Hadrian’s Wall Heritage runs press trips for national and international journalists, which aids our valuable editorial coverage. If we were to advertise as an alternative, we would be competing with millions of other international messages out there – and a piece of press coverage in one of our target publications is better than paying for advertising. Editorial or word of mouth coverage has much more kudos than paid for space and it proves it’s not just us saying good things about Hadrian’s Wall.
"We do other things like producing print to complement our media relations activity, but another bonus of media relations is that it has helped deliver actual business. For example, Carraw B&B in Northumberland has provided accommodation for press trips and has subsequently featured in the papers. It is now hugely in demand and, when fully booked, is in a position to be able to push business into other B&Bs on the Wall – so good PR has a ripple effect. Media relations activity is great for both short term business and long term brand awareness of Hadrian’s Wall Heritage."
"Media relations is critical, especially for an organisation like ourselves which doesn’t have major budgets for advertising. Regionally, nationally and internationally, it has helped to put us on the map for excellent brand awareness – in particular the broadcast coverage that we’ve achieved.
"As part of our media relations activity, Hadrian’s Wall Heritage runs press trips for national and international journalists, which aids our valuable editorial coverage. If we were to advertise as an alternative, we would be competing with millions of other international messages out there – and a piece of press coverage in one of our target publications is better than paying for advertising. Editorial or word of mouth coverage has much more kudos than paid for space and it proves it’s not just us saying good things about Hadrian’s Wall.
"We do other things like producing print to complement our media relations activity, but another bonus of media relations is that it has helped deliver actual business. For example, Carraw B&B in Northumberland has provided accommodation for press trips and has subsequently featured in the papers. It is now hugely in demand and, when fully booked, is in a position to be able to push business into other B&Bs on the Wall – so good PR has a ripple effect. Media relations activity is great for both short term business and long term brand awareness of Hadrian’s Wall Heritage."
Melissa Duncan is Head of Communications at Traidcraft, which fights poverty through trade, practicing and promoting approaches that help poor people in developing countries transform their lives.
"Our identity clearly communicates our mission and what we stand for. This is critical, as for many of our loyal supporters the Traidcraft brand represents the essence of why they support us in our fight against poverty.
"In terms of being global, we source fair trade products from some 100 producer groups in 30 countries and sell predominantly in the UK. We also have international development offices overseas in Bangladesh, Cambodia and Kenya, with a fourth soon to open in India.
"In the increasingly crowded international fair trade arena, it’s important that Traidcraft’s name and identity gain immediate recognition so that we can continue to grow, influence and attract more supporters to further our mission."
"Our identity clearly communicates our mission and what we stand for. This is critical, as for many of our loyal supporters the Traidcraft brand represents the essence of why they support us in our fight against poverty.
"In terms of being global, we source fair trade products from some 100 producer groups in 30 countries and sell predominantly in the UK. We also have international development offices overseas in Bangladesh, Cambodia and Kenya, with a fourth soon to open in India.
"In the increasingly crowded international fair trade arena, it’s important that Traidcraft’s name and identity gain immediate recognition so that we can continue to grow, influence and attract more supporters to further our mission."
