News

“The Independent Group” rebrand as the Nice and Open party

Williams Murray Hamm has imagined what a political party from newly created The Independent Group might brand itself – and has created a witty pair of ‘campaign’ posters around both the names it conjured up.

At_present, The Independent Group (often referred to as TIG) which launched earlier this month (18 February), is an 11-strong group of centrist, anti-Brexit and pro-EU MPs, but is not yet registered as a political party and has no leader or manifesto.

However, one of its founders, Chuka Umunna, says it plans on launching as a party later this year – so just for fun, we have come up with two ideas for a name – the Nice Party and the Open Party.

We also created some ads that the possible party could potentially use to frame its new names and agenda – free of charge. As TIG desperately needs to decide what it stands for as a brand, and fast.

The Nice Party idea builds on TIG’s insistence that they are outside of the mainstream political parties’ shouting match of negativity – that they are bunch of good, polite people moving forward in a nice way.

So the ad shows a politician who has a Nice biscuit rather than a traditional party rosette pinned to his lapel, with the catchphrase: “When everybody takes the biscuit, we are Nice.”

The second looks at the fact that TIG’s MPs have joined together across party lines. So, The Open Party is a group that’s open for everyone and is pushing for an open United Kingdom. The ad uses solid block of phrases featuring the words ‘closing’ and ‘closed’ including “closing borders, closing healthcare, closed opinions, closing shops” and finishes with the line “Don’t lock Britain up – The Open Party”, with the ‘O’ of ‘Open’ resembling an unlocked padlock.

The need for a purpose.

We might have created the posters for a hypothetical take on one of the hottest news stories to hit British politics of late and how it might develop.

However, both fantasy campaign posters carry an underlying serious message about the importance of branding in Britain’s political landscape, with a population increasingly sensitive to optics, as well as celebrating Britain’s long-standing reputation of producing brilliant political campaign posters.

Wybe Magermans, managing director of WMH, explained: “Currently, TIG talk a lot about what they don’t like – but we still don’t really know what they actually stand for. As with any brand, they need to define a purpose that people will believe in and get behind. It can’t just be anti-Brexit.

“People need a positive reason for what your plans for the country are. At the moment, TIG are very vanilla or else they’re sending out mixed messages, and if you don’t have a punchy, singleminded brand, you’re going to get lost in today’s political cacophony. They very quickly need to define what their purpose is and what they stand for – or else they will die before they’re even born.

“As a branding agency, we understand the importance of finding a purpose behind brands – and in this case a political party. That’s what the posters are all about – showing how vital it is for anyone in politics to have a strong brand, or else, they are doomed to fail.”

Currently, The Independent Group parliamentary team has the catchphrase: “Politics is broken. Let’s change it.”

Eight of its members resigned as Labour Party members and three from the Conservative Party this week to join the movement – but it has yet to unveil its manifesto, or announce concrete plans to create a political party.

In the meantime, we were more than happy to step into the breach and use its collective political crystal balls to see how TIG might develop as a brand.

 

Author: Wybe Magermans – Managing Director

For any press enquiries email press@wmhagency.com  or call +44 (0) 20 3217 0000.
Unless otherwise cited, © copyright 2019 Williams Murray Hamm, all rights reserved.

The method behind Zara’s logo madness

Zara’s new logo is proving controversial. ‘Claustrophobic’ and ‘pointless’ are just two of the criticisms levelled at it by fans on Twitter, thus fuelling media headlines. But people are getting hung up about logos without trying to understand the broader picture.

Aesthetically, the new mark bears similarities to Zara’s previous one, launched in 2011. Both comprise four capitalised letters of the brand’s name in a serif font. The new one differs by squashing the letters together which, to some, makes it feel tangled and hard to read. A typographic approach reminiscent of iconic (and much loved) French cosmetic brand NARS.

It has been criticised, too, for being ill-considered for digital platforms and poorly drawn. It is, however, a move away from what Fast Company recently called one of the biggest design trends of 2018: sans-serif logos with too much white space between the letters – a style that’s now so ubiquitous it’s become almost generic.

Some have suggested Zara’s new logo is an indication of the brand seeking to claim its place among the visual style of older, more established world brands. By bucking the trend, Zara’s new design may help it stand out.

Masters of premium mediocracy

Back in 2017, writer and consultant Venkatesh Rao coined the phrase ‘premium mediocre’. He was referring to the product development tactic of giving mass market consumers the illusion that they are consuming luxury when they are not. McDonald’s Signature Burger Collection is a prime example. It’s all about providing an air of exclusivity without excluding anyone, much like the concept, and my pet hate, of ‘affordable luxury’. From Tommy Hilfiger watches to Balenciaga baseball hats and Gucci headbands, this has become ubiquitous in fashion.

The masters of premium mediocre fashion often come from the United States. Brands like Michael Kors and Kate Spade have mastered the art of selling an averagely made bag with enough superficial touches to give the appearance of a premium product. It is often the small accessory items that work particularly well here in selling consumers a little piece of affordable luxury. Buying into the illusion makes us feel good for a moment and we are increasingly receptive. According to Euromonitor, small leather luxury goods are expected to grow to $7.5bn for 2020, from $5.7bn in 2015.

Look beyond the logo

Back to Zara and the designer of its new logo; Fabien Baron. Baron is an art director well-known for iconic ad campaigns; designing Madonna’s 1992 Sex book along with product and packaging for CK One; being creative director for Harper’s Bazaar and reinventing Italian Vogue in the late 1980s. He has been instrumental in the look of fashion since the 1990. As it happens, he has also worked with many of the premium mediocre brands like Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren and Michael Kors. Zara is also an old client of his agency.

Whether Baron will have further involvement in Zara’s actual brand identity and is not yet clear. Might he set out the wider creative direction for the brand? In using Fabien Baron, Zara is trying to close the gap between its fast fashion proposition and premium mediocre brands such as Klein, Kors and Kane. At a time of growing online sales, this can only be a wise move. If a consumer can’t see or feel the physical difference between products, then to visually match or, even become better than your more expensive competitors can only be a good idea.

Author: Wybe Magermans – Managing Director

For any press enquiries email press@wmhagency.com  or call +44 (0) 20 3217 0000.
Unless otherwise cited, © copyright 2019 Williams Murray Hamm, all rights reserved.

What does the millennial shift away from drinking mean for alcohol brands

Dry January

Dry January is no longer about just recovering from excess. It’s a complete behavioural shift from millennials, often lasting more than four weeks. Williams Murray Hamm’s Wybe Magermans looks at the implications of this generational change mean for alcohol brands?

Brexit woes, Trump troubles, gilets jaunes, Putin’s plots and global warming – the state of world politics could easily drive us to drink, but instead it seems we are consuming less alcohol than ever before.

Dry January is becoming a positive start to the New Year rather than a way to punish ourselves for festive excess, and abstinence is now mainstream among millennials, with 29% claiming to be non-drinkers, according to the British Medical Council.

But just because we are drinking less doesn’t mean we enjoy alcohol any less: we are indulging more sparingly but more mindfully, drawn to brands that create superior products, even if they cost a bit more.

Consumers are making a conscious decision to drink less, but at the same time, they are willing to pay more for premium drinks. The message for marketers is clear: go for quality over quantity, and be bold when creating new products in response to this trend.

For a lot of brands, the knee-jerk reaction is to make alcohol “less bad” by reducing alcohol or sugar content, but the more innovative companies are making it “more good” by delivering positive benefits for drinkers.

Brands for the conscious drinker

The conscious drinkers are turning to brands like California based Boochcraft – a “hard kombucha”, which claims to provide “The happiest buzz on earth,” thanks to its organic, gluten-free, fair trade drinks that contain (along with the alcohol) probiotics, vitamins and minerals.

Consumers who are willing to pay more turn to premium brands like Chase Distillery, created by Will Chase, the founder of Tyrrell’s Crisps. Working from his Herefordshire farm, he makes vodka and gin using apples and potatoes that go direct “From farm to bottle.”

Likewise, Mesh & Bone in Chicago has had success crafting its own premium versions of niche drinks from around the world, including Mexico’s Sotol, which is made from a plant that takes 15 years to mature.

These premium products, which we glug less and appreciate more, are invariably made by ambitious entrepreneurs, often with minimal experience. Consumers are losing faith in big corporations, which appear to lack heart and purpose, and instead seek out local, independent alternatives.

The rise of global cynicism about the multinationals means that consumers are likely to reject efforts by mainstream brands to tap into the artisanal trend. They are willing to pay extra, but in return they want more than Diageo’s spin on premiumisation: Jack Daniel’s Gentleman Jack does nothing more than put a gloss on a mass-market brand, and is not going to cut it when Mesh & Bone are waiting 15 years for one botanical to reach maturity.

Giants like Diageo could learn from innovators like Chase Distilleries and Mesh & Bone, which are taking a new approach to specialist alcohols by creating a brand that works horizontally across categories instead of just layering on verticals to extend the brand into premium territory.

Big nights in

The trend towards more restrained alcohol consumption isn’t just about premiumisation and health. It’s also – let’s face it – about financial insecurity. The demise of chain restaurants, a poor Christmas for retailers, and the job cuts at Land Rover and Ford are all recent indicators of a shaky UK economy that is driving people to stay at home instead of splurging on big nights out.

Staying in is not about compromising on the experience, however, which is another reason why premium alcohol is growing in popularity. According to Nielsen, the value of off-trade alcohol sales grew 4.6 per cent last year, while the volume of alcohol sales remained flat, showing that the growth is coming from people who are willing to pay more for their booze.

Successful brands are celebrating and elevating the night in, making it even better than going out.

Wahaca has an “At Home” range to recreate the restaurant experience in your own kitchen, following a trend pioneered by the many recipe boxes vying for our custom, and alcohol is following suit, with premium offerings to help wash down the gourmet, home-prepared food.

Cocktail-making kits – containing artisanal ingredients and bespoke tools for home mixologists – can be delivered to your door courtesy of And Pour, Tipple Box and The Cocktail Man. Meanwhile, Marks & Spencer has embraced “staying in” with its Instagrammable “Colour It” gin range, created in partnership with The Old Curiosity Distillery, which changes colour when tonic is added

Consumer trends are moving towards this kind of “less is more” approach to many aspects of our lives – including plastics and fast fashion as well as alcohol – as waste and excess become distasteful.

For alcohol, whether inspired by health and wellness, cost-consciousness, global cynicism, or millennial peer pressure, the trend for cutting back is manifested in more mindful consumption that allows you to enjoy a drink with less of the angst – and potentially less of a hangover too.

 

Author: Wybe Magermans – Managing Director

As published on WARC

For any press enquiries email press@wmhagency.com  or call +44 (0) 20 3217 0000.
Unless otherwise cited, © copyright 2019 Williams Murray Hamm, all rights reserved.

Hirsh London hires Williams Murray Hamm for rebrand

Hirsh London, Mayfair’s luxury jewellery house, has appointed Williams Murray Hamm to handle its rebrand ahead of its 40th birthday celebrations in 2020.

Founded in 1980 by Anthony and Diane Hirsh, today the business is run by their son Jason Hirsh and his wife Sophia. Whilst the company is thriving, it was felt that their existing identity and communications failed to capture the attitude and essential Britishness of the business. Consequently, WMH was appointed to create a sharper, better defined brand essence and to reflect it in completely new creative work.

Hirsh is one of the London’s most respected jewellery boutiques.

Its speciality is in its large variety of unusual, natural coloured gemstones which it goes to extraordinary lengths to source. All its one-of-a-kind pieces are designed around an individual gem and handmade in its London atelier.

Hirsh’s devotion to coloured gems chimes with the current trend towards coloured engagement rings and the very personalised nature of its service means that customers find exactly the right piece of jewellery and gem to suit them perfectly.

WMH was introduced to Hirsh through a former client and won the project through a chemistry meeting and subsequent competitive proposal. Its creative input will stretch across advertising, packaging, website and a new logo. First fruits of the relationship will be seen in January 2019.

Garrick Hamm, WMH’s creative director, says “Hirsh imagines and produces the most exquisite and joyous colour driven jewellery in town. They have a wonderful British quirk to them, and our new brand identity and campaign captures this spirit at the same time as giving them visibility and cut through in a sea of mainstream, luxury jewellery sameness.”

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For any press enquiries email press@wmhagency.com  or call +44 (0) 20 3217 0000.
Unless otherwise cited, © copyright 2019 Williams Murray Hamm, all rights reserved.

Real reasons why Gillette #metoo toxic masculinity got it wrong

We all have hair. Thus we are all equal.
We all have hair. Thus we are all equal.

I’m sure you’ve seen all the brouhaha by now about the new advert for men’s razors Gillette, which hitches a ride on the #MeToo movement to riff on its ‘the best a man can get’ tagline in a bid to tackle toxic masculinity.

Just search Gillette on Twitter if not – it’s divided between those praising the long-form ad for putting a positive spin on masculinity, and the massive backlash from those bristling that it puts all men in a bad light, to the extent they’re now pledging to boycott any products from makers Procter & Gamble.

Piers Morgan has been one of the most vocal critics so far, Tweeting: “I’ve used @Gillette razors my entire adult life but this absurd virtue-signalling PC guff may drive me away to a company less eager to fuel the current pathetic global assault on masculinity. Let boys be damn boys. Let men be damn men.”

GiletteOne of the most high profile defenders of the spot meanwhile has been Bernice King, daughter of late civil rights activist Martin Luther King. She Tweeted: “This commercial isn’t anti-male. It’s pro-humanity. And it demonstrates that character can step up to change conditions.”

In case you haven’t seen it, the ad called ‘We Believe: The Best A Man Can Be’ starts with news clips referencing the #MeToo movement, toxic masculinity and sexual harassment, before moving on to bullying, sexism on TV, fighting between boys and mansplaining in the boardroom while a voice intones: “Is this the best a man can get?”

Still that ancient binary

The overall message the ad gives out that being the best a man can be is about respecting others is actually a really good one. And I admire Gillette taking a stand on this. But the ad fails because it is still using outdated, old-fashioned tropes about what being a man is as well as demonstrating a very heterosexual male, middle-class view of what respect should mean. It’s saying that men have a certain amount of power over women and they should just use it more respectfully. This only further emphasises the ancient binary that it’s Men Versus Women.

It’s saying you must be soft and gentle to respect others – to ‘feminise’ what being respectful means via the ancient lens of gender stereotypes. They’ve failed to keep up with the times and have fallen back onto an old, typical vocabulary that masculinity is x,y and z and therefore wrong. They’re trying to resolve current gender issues by using the same old metaphors and cliches that created the inequality in the first place. You should use a new language to move this conversation along.

Don’t you lecture me!

The lecturing tone is all wrong too which is particularly disingenuous when it comes from P&G, who’ve spent decades marketing cleaning products specifically to women or saying women have to look a certain way with their beauty products, while flogging their pink Venus women’s razor range for more money than their men’s.

But then, by and large, advertisers are massively behind the times, and they often trip themselves when they try to tackle (or benefit from) societal issues – just look at the disastrous Kendall Jenner Pepsi ad from a couple of years back which tried to piggyback on #BlackLivesMatter.

Gilette #metooThe advertising industry has huge power to contribute to societal change, but it still doesn’t seem to have the language to describe the new normal. TV soaps on the other hand have historically been far better at challenging stereotypes about gender and sexuality, from the first gay soap kiss in 1987 on EastEnders, to the first transgender character in Coronation Street in 1998, who was the world’s first permanent transgender character in a serialised drama. Even more recently, look at the amazing way EastEnders tackled rape and issues around consent at the end of last year.

The big missed opportunity

Gillette missed a trick – they could have done it so well to bring the gender equality conversation bang up to date. As a brand, they have a right to re-evaluate what masculinity means in the modern age. But not in this way. The real opportunity for Gillette would have been that, as a brand that makes both men and women’s products, to announce that they’re making their products gender neutral. That would make a true statement about respect and equality.

Or at the very least, before putting this ad together, they could have taken some inspiration from British soap operas to see out how it can be done when it comes to tackling current social issues on our screens.

 

Author: Wybe Magermans – Managing Director

For any press enquiries email press@wmhagency.com  or call +44 (0) 20 3217 0000.
Unless otherwise cited, © copyright 2019 Williams Murray Hamm, all rights reserved.

The rise of the mega-own-brand

The Christmas figures are in, and it’s not a pretty sight when you’re a retailer. Except for Tesco and Selfridges, most retailers in the UK had their worst Christmas in a decade.

Yet, this does not mean retail is dead. The growth of own label has been a veritable phenomenon. Once a low brow, copycat operation in the 1970s and 1980s, it has become a multi-layered offering for almost every major retailer. Just because it is familiar doesn’t mean it has reached its full potential, however. There is still more that can be done, so long as any further development is imbued with purpose and meaning.

Own label across Europe is increasing its share and outperforming brands in most European markets. According to the IRi report from last October, own label shows over 4% growth year on year, whilst its share in value reached 39.4% across major Western markets (UK, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, Netherlands).

With consumers now happy to buy own label in most categories and fast-growing Lidl and Aldi completely own label, the question is what the future holds for many once loved but sometimes unexciting brands. Why buy Bird’s Eye over Tesco’s frozen fish?

Consolidation across the nation

Own label will peak some time – possibly sometime soon. Yet there is a change in the retail landscape that offers one more big win, and that’s through consolidation. In the UK, for instance, Sainsbury’s and Argos share products, whilst they are also planning to hook up with ASDA. Elsewhere, Carrefour, one of the largest retailer in the world, now owns chains across the globe. Belgium’s Delhaize has joined forces with The Netherlands’ Ahold; both have interests across Europe and the USA and make up an own brand market worth €21M.

Consolidation also affects own label. Value brand Euroshopper, for example, was available in Esselunga (Italy), Ahold (The Netherlands, Belgium and Germany) and Morrisons (UK), but is slowly being phased out. In the US, meanwhile, own label SE Grocers is available in Southeastern Grocers’ four-strong portfolio of branded stores.

From own label to own brand

All these retail mergers are primarily about simplicity and cost reduction, of course. Yet they also offer a chance to build hugely powerful worldwide own label brands. If retailers could navigate through cultural differences they could create larger, own brands across multiple store brands and markets.

Currently almost none of the own label seem to mean as much to consumers as they could do. But with consumer-led strategic thinking, building a purpose for these mega-own brands, they could grow further at the expense of laggard global brand owners.

Own brands for a better planet

Another great opportunity from creating expansive own brands on this scale is the positive inroads that could be achieved tackling over-packaging. Since retailers don’t own factories, they could blaze a trail by demanding their suppliers completely rethink their use of plastics and the disposal of packaging waste as increasingly powerful global brands make sustainability the centrepiece of their activities.

Already, Kingfisher – the owner of DIY stores across ten countries under the B&Q, ScrewFix, Castorama, Brico Depot and Koçta? brands – is moving towards ‘One Kingfisher’. Many of their own brand products on sale will be sold under the GoodHome brand, which directly reflects Kingfisher’s commitment to sustainability.

This could be the dawning of another retail revolution: the arrival of the mega-own-brand.

 

Author: Wybe Magermans – Managing Director

For any press enquiries email press@wmhagency.com  or call +44 (0) 20 3217 0000.
Unless otherwise cited, © copyright 2019 Williams Murray Hamm, all rights reserved.

Italian Hand Gestures and Traditional Etchings Inspire Design for 21 Sid

Brand strategy and design agency Williams Murray Hamm (WMH) has designed a visual identity for London-based coffee shop and bakery 21 Sid, which builds on the importance of hand gestures in Italian communication.

21 Sid, near London Fields in East London, is run by self-taught baker Laura Giovanna Lo Faro, who supplies baked goods to numerous cafes around London and bakes goods for her café on site.

With a myriad of independent coffee shops in London, creating a personal and unique brand for Laura’s business that went beyond a simple typeface or set of colours and was capable of not just standing out but engaging customers emotionally was key.

WMH’s solution is a visual identity based on the theme ‘Dolce Handmade’ – to reflect Laura’s handy skills both as a cook and also a passionate communicator – and ‘Liquid Perfection’.

The agency commissioned Italian illustrator Gabriele Grassi to capture, in a series of unique illustrations, a wide range of Laura’s hand gestures which are typical of the exuberance of Italian communications.

The hand-drawn, monochrome, illustrative style is inspired by traditional etchings and encyclopaedias.

The branding comprises dozens of illustrated hand signals, such as a raised hand with a raised forefinger (denoting ‘Just a second I need a coffee’); a closed hand with a raised pinkie (‘A latte skinnier than this’); and two hands rubbing together (‘Get excited, cake inside’).

The designs – which were done pro bono by the WMH team, who are regulars at 21 Sid – is being used across a wide array of items including badges; bills; staff aprons; cups and wrapping as well as in-store.

Garrick Hamm from WMH commented: “Hand signals can communicate as much as words, especially in Italian culture. Having bought our morning coffees from Laura for many months, we immediately knew that the branding for her coffee shop would need to reflect her personality, her Italian heritage, her passion and her charisma.”

Laura added: “Williams Murray Hamm has created a beautiful visual identity for the business, with the iconic hang gestures helping to convey the trust and the affection that we hope our customers feel when they walk into 21 Sid.”

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For any press enquiries email press@wmhagency.com  or call +44 (0) 20 3217 0000.
Unless otherwise cited, © copyright 2019 Williams Murray Hamm, all rights reserved.

The Ghost

A new film by WMH creative director, Garrick Hamm, “The Ghost” starring Emilia Fox and new comer, 9-year old, Felix Jamieson.

The Ghost

Garrick has been making short films for the past ten years, but he fell in love with visual storytelling while studying to become a graphic designer at Somerset College of Arts. His film school training was watching films with his father and reading every screenplay book he could lay his hands on.

Garrick’s first film was silent movie, shot on 35mm, over 14 weekends as they waited for the best weather. His latest “The Ghost”, is based on the tragic true story of John White, a Spurs footballer who was killed after being hit by lightning in 1964. He was just 27 years old. His son, Rob, was only six months old. The story is told from his perspective, who never had a chance to know his father – examining themes of loss.

The film has already racked up many awards including Best British Short and Best Director at the London Independent Film Awards last July. Whilst it will also feature at LA Shorts Fest, one of the most prestigious and largest international short film festivals in the world.

WMH will be screening the film to a select audience in Central London this evening, 20th September.

A royal plaque

Williams Murray Hamm has designed the plaque to commemorate the re-opening of London Bridge station, after a £1bn revamp.

Commemorating the re-opening of London Bridge station

London Bridge Station – London’s oldest train terminal – brings around 56 million passengers into the city each year. Over the centuries, the station has been renovated, reimagined and rebuilt. And now, a new concourse bigger than the pitch at Wembley Stadium together with over 70 new retail and restaurants have opened. This is a huge milestone for the Thameslink Train Programme and signals the end of this 8 year station upgrade.

The plaque is part of a wider Thameslink campaign that WMH is working on with our sister agency; Magnet Harlequin. To celebrate the reopening of the station we wanted to have a plaque that fits the modern look & feel of the new station, yet with a nod to its more-than-a-century long past. The ‘cutting of the ribbon’ and celebration of the commemorative plaque was done by Prince William earlier this week.

The eye-catching design is in the shape of an iconic railway sleeper. The text is cut out of a red cedar wood, with polished aluminium rails holding the original opening, and new re-opening date. The plaque was realised by the South London based craftsmen Jailmake. This is not your normal commemorative plaque, but a rather different and meaningful way to pay tribute to the re-opening of one of London’s busiest transport hubs.

 

 

When ciders become wine

WMH takes Somersby from orchard to glass.

Somersby is one of the world’s largest and fastest growing cider brands and the only global cider brand in the Carlsberg Group portfolio. It is successful within the younger, fast-living consumer market; however, it had limited appeal to the wider, mature audience who prefer to savour a more sophisticated tipple.

The innovation of a new premium range called ‘Somersby Orchard Selection’ focused on the sense of occasion for the more evolved palate. Positioned as a premium light social drink, these apple ciders have been crafted especially with the same grown-up flavours and structures of wine, but are lighter and more refreshing.

Like an Estate or Vineyard Selection, this creative idea communicates provenance and authenticity in a ‘new world wine’ style. WMH took the existing Somersby logo, and puts it back into the orchard. The three flavours – Secco, Sparkling Rose and White Dry – are launched in the Nordics.

 

 

Leading the world

Williams Murray Hamm is honoured to be selected for the 2018’s edition of World’s Leading Agencies.

We join a great collection of outstanding agencies from UK, Germany, USA, China, India, Korea, South Africa amongst others.

Since 2007 this publication is issued annually on a non-profit basis by “thenetworkone”, the world’s leading independent agencies organisation, in association with Campaign magazine, London.

The publication is not a ranking by size, or success in awards festivals; but rather, a series of inspirational articles written by fourteen agencies, from around the world. Inclusion is by invitation only, and decided by a joint editorial board of thenetworkone and Campaign.

Wybe Magermans, WMH client services director, wrote about the agency’s view that “Fake News Isn’t New”. You can read this article in the printed publication of Campaign. To see the full list of agencies and their work you can visit the dedicated website.  https://leadingindependents.com/

 

 

Making chocolate even more irresistible

With Easter here, we can finally welcome the spring season. A perfect time to share with you some WMH news that involves chocolate.

Fortnum & Mason is Britain’s most famous luxury department store. As part of the significant rebrand a few years ago, WMH created the original designs for Fortnum’s enormous ‘Chocolossus’ biscuits. A seriously indulgent biscuit that’s double-coated in chocolate. These became famous for being a favourite of President Obama. So successful had they become, that two new variants were planned and we returned to create the packaging for them.

WMH’s work focused on a strong idea that customers might ponder as they enjoyed the product at home – that idea was about the biscuits’ irresistibility.

The new variants ‘Sticky Toffee Pudding’ and ‘Morello Cherry’ were, unsurprisingly, renamed by WMH as ‘Toffolossus’ and ‘Cherrilossus’. The packaging is adorned with images of sugar cane and cherry trees respectively. A bird steals cherries from a tree while an elephant, known for its love of sugar cane, drips golden toffee from its tusk.

Toffolossus and Cherrilossus are available to purchase at Fortnum & Mason’s flagship store in Piccadilly, as well as additional stores in St Pancras railway station, Heathrow Airport and Dubai. They’re also available online and at various stockists worldwide.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For any press enquiries email press@wmhagency.com  or call +44 (0) 20 3217 0000.
Unless otherwise cited, © copyright 2018 Williams Murray Hamm, all rights reserved.

Vote 100 Creatives

To mark the celebration of the ‘UK Women’s Vote Centenary’ and International Women’s Day, WMH commissioned a set of portraits of 100 female creatives.

Women who, as trailblazers themselves, will all have benefited from and flourished thanks to the suffrage movement. The portraits have been created in close collaboration with illustrator Hiffy Ulrich.

We felt it was important to recognise women who are known for making a meaningful difference in the creative world. They have been chosen from a wide range of creative disciplines, such as illustration, design, architecture, photography and film. We have included some well-known visual artists, as well as some unsung creative heroes, or women who are still early in their career.

This project is a collaboration between WMH and Hiffy Ulrich. A designer and illustrator, whose witty and playful work communicates feminist ideas and thoughts.

Over 100 days, we have and will be posting the 100 portraits on the various WMH social media channels, and a specially created Instagram “Vote 100 Creatives” account.

http://instagram.com/vote100creatives

In addition, WMH’s studio has a street level window, which is updated every month. In the window, we showcase a host of different projects, from photographers we admire, to collaborations with the local primary school. For this initiative we have installed 20 of Hiffy’s portraits, in combination with her own hand lettering work. The “Vote 100 Creatives” installation will remain at WMH’s studio window until the end of March.

You can check out more of Hiffy’s work at: www.hiffyulrich.com

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For any press enquiries email press@wmhagency.com  or call +44 (0) 20 3217 0000.
Unless otherwise cited, © copyright 2018 Williams Murray Hamm, all rights reserved.

The power of creativity in delivering change

On 21 February, Wybe Magermans will be speaking at an evening by the Change Management Institute.

There are countless theoretical models about how an organisation can transform successfully. Yet for all the good these models do to structure change, the crux of successful transformation is centred around how people feel and behave differently. A rational approach alone isn’t sufficient.

Make sure to join Wybe, as he will be sharing key insights on how creativity helped Lamb Weston reshape from a company processing potatoes, to a $3,2bn multinational brand. One that is on now firmly on its way becoming the world’s No.1.

Wybe will be joined on stage by Leon Labovitch. An experienced business change and transformation consultant who has worked at the likes of KMPG, Shell and Sema Group, before setting up his own consultancy.

Register for tickets here!

The event is in partnership with King’s College London. The venue will be the remarkable Bush House in Aldwych, Central London. This iconic building has seen some huge changes since its opening in 1925. The Grade II listed building was originally an American-owned trade centre before becoming the headquarters of BBC World Service. Bush House’s latest purpose is that of higher education. King’s College moved in 2016, this time transforming the building into a centre of knowledge, learning and creativity.

An award-winning start of 2018

Williams Murray Hamm wins Best Of Show at Mobius Awards.

The new year kicks off in a celebratory fashion, with trophies for our work on Aberlour and RCS at this year’s Mobius Awards. Aberlour is awarded First Place statuette and Best of Show in the Brand Identity category. Whilst our work for RCS Advertising takes Second place ‘Certificate for Outstanding Creativity’ in the same category.

For Aberlour single malt whisky, WMH created a new brand world. Despite growing to the 6th position in the global market, Aberlour was relatively unknown. Equally, they hadn’t changed their communication much since their inception in 1879.

WMH looked at Aberlour’s long legacy, only to discover the founding family’s motto, ‘Let The Deed Show’, meaning ‘actions speak louder than words’. It’s the people, process and place surrounding Aberlour that create a whisky with such distinct character. WMH unearthed these deeds and, working closely with Scottish artist Liz Myhill, brought them to life. We used traditional lino cutting and printing techniques, to create original illustrations gleaned from books of storytelling in the 1900.

RCS came to WMH earlier in 2017. A 20-year-old Japanese advertising agency had metamorphosed into a brilliant new offering. They needed a new positioning and identity to reflect this. RCS helps clients identify, understand and optimise cultural differences. WMH called this ‘cross-cultural marketing’. The identity was built around a globe because RCS deals in global differences. It’s a cultural maze out there, so the ‘globe’ was fine-tuned to reflect this and a magenta ‘dot’ was created at the very core, to represent RCS – a point of consistency in unfamiliar territory.

“When I first met with WMH, I knew they ‘got’ who we were. They were able to interpret who we are, what we do and what makes us special in a way that went well beyond my imagination.”

Ron C Sternberg, Founder, RCS Advertising
For press enquires please contact:
Telephone: +44 (0)  20 3217 0000
Email: info@wmhagency.com

It’s a wrap!

Williams Murray Hamm, WMH, Network Rail

This Christmas, Williams Murray Hamm was tasked by Network Rail to create a campaign telling people about the many great shops at Glasgow, Victoria and Waterloo stations across various dates throughout December.

We created Wrapland, a free gift-wrapping service in the shape of a giant present tied up with a bright red ribbon and accompanied by a Christmas Pudding head-in-hole stand.

The project was done in collaboration with the production team at Magnet Harlequin, and the campaign itself is in partnership with Barnardo’s.

From all of us at Williams Murray Hamm, a very Happy Holidays and we look forward to seeing you in the New Year!

 

 

 

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For any press enquiries email press@wmhagency.com  or call +44 (0) 20 3217 0000.
Unless otherwise cited, © copyright 2017 Williams Murray Hamm, all rights reserved.

Five ways to spot a business trend

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Ed Hebblethwaite joins Nick Harrison (co-lead of Oliver Wyman’s Retail Practice), Hayley Ard (head of consumer lifestyle at innovation research and trends company Stylus) and Mark Wright (founder of SEO agency Climb Online) to discuss spotting business trends that will last.

>>>>>See full article in The Guardian here. <<<<<

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For any press enquiries email press@wmhagency.com or call +44 (0) 20 3217 0000.
Unless otherwise cited, © copyright 2017 Williams Murray Hamm, all rights reserved.

Facebook Live interview with Richard Williams

FUTURE LONDON ACADEMY FACEBOOK LIVE INTERVIEW WITH RICHARD WILLIAMS – Wednesday, May 31st at 16.00 UK time (GMT+1)

Our esteemed and humble Co-Founder, Richard Williams, had the privilege of taking part in the very first WMH Facebook Live interview with Future London Academy.

Sharing anecdotes and advice from WMH’s 20-year history, Richard talks about creating difference, first bosses, starting your own creative agency and inspirations.

Future London Academy provides immersive courses for like-minded creative professionals to broaden their horizons, expand their personal networks and find inspiration in one of the world’s most exciting cities.

Through practical experiential learning, their mission is simply this to erase borders between creative communities from different countries –­ and to inspire people around the world to achieve more every single day.

Williams Murray Hamm is a brand innovation, design & strategy agency. We have 20-years’ award-winning, creative expertise of inventing and reinventing brands. Clients include Castrol, Jamie Oliver, Barclays, Fortnum & Mason, Carlsberg, Absolut and many others.

For any press enquiries email press@wmhagency.com  or call +44 (0) 20 3217 0000.
Unless otherwise cited, © copyright 2017 Williams Murray Hamm, all rights reserved.

Point of Light shortlisted for Design Week Award 2017

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We are excited to be shortlisted for a Design Week Award in the Poster Design category for our B2B work with Point of Light.WMH-DESIGN-WEEK-AWARDS-POINT-OF-LIGHT-POSTER-SERIES-WEBThe series of posters form part of the overall Point of Light brand identity.  The brand mission to “tell extraordinary stories with light” is brought to life using evocative and mysterious monochrome illustrations in the purest 2D presentation of light and shadows.

Click here to see the full case study.

 

For any press enquiries email press@wmhagency.com  or call +44 (0) 20 3217 0000.

Unless otherwise cited, © copyright 2017 Williams Murray Hamm, all rights reserved.

 

Small Business Disruptors

WMH-Small-SME-business-disruptors-the-guardain-richard-williams© copyright Alamy Stock Photo, all rights reserved.

Startups change the world. But what happens when big brands bite back?

Richard Williams joins Adam Morgan (Founder of strategic brand consultancy eatbigfish), David Harold (VP Marketing & Communications, Imagination Technologies), Lee Thompson (Founder of travel company Flash Pack) and Dana Tobak (CEO of fibre broadband provider Hyperoptic) to discuss small business disruptors.

>>>>>See full article in The Guardian here. <<<<<

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For any press enquiries email press@wmhagency.com  or call +44 (0) 20 3217 0000.
Unless otherwise cited, © copyright 2017 Williams Murray Hamm, all rights reserved.

Garrick Hamm judges the Creativepool Awards 2017

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This February, Garrick Hamm formed part of the judging panel for the Creativepool Awards 2017 in the Graphic Design category.

Garrick joined a panel of 165 leading industry judges, from 22 countries, across 33 categories, with representatives from Bloomberg, Bupa, Deluxe, Facebook, FCB, Getty, Guinness World Records, IKEA, Ogilvy, Phaidon, Publicis and Saatchi & Saatchi.

About the Creativepool Awards

Creativepool is the largest creative industry network, connecting global creatives to generate business through discovery and inspiration. It endeavours to set higher benchmarks for creativity and to inspire learning, interaction and debate.

Looking back on what has been a particularly strong, though demanding, year for creative work, the theme for this year’s awards was ‘Creativity will save us’.  Winners are selected in a fairer competition that awards companies and individuals separately. It is this diversity and the democratisation of the returning People’s Choice winners, that will once again set the Annual apart from other creative awards.

As one of the most widely distributed creative award publications, Creativepool prints 15,000 perfectly bound copies of the Annual which are received by industry leaders at some of the most significant creative events of the year, including the Cannes Lions Festival, Clerkenwell Design Week and the London Design Festival.

WMH-GARRICK-HAMM-PROFILE-WEBUpon completion of his judging duties, Garrick said: “This year’s entries demonstrated a renewed optimism and appreciation of craft, with clients opting for the bigger, braver solutions.  People are seeing the benefit of creativity and how it can play an important role in being the key differentiator.  Against the current backdrop of uncertainty, it is good to see clients embracing fresh, bold and brave design.”

 

 

Alexandra-Schott-Managing-Editor-Creativepool-WMHCreativepool’s Managing Editor, Alexandra Schott, said: “Given how uncertain our future now seems to be, both politically and technologically, it is a powerful time to be a part of the creative industry. The bravery and innovation we have seen this year has been eye-opening and empowering for the team, who have assembled an incredible judging panel. We can’t wait to see who our community name as their People’s Choice. We hope the bonds formed through the Annual act as a catalyst for the year ahead. Creativity will save us.”

 

To download your copy of the Creativepool Annual for 2017 click here.

The Annual winners will be announced on 29th March 2017 at Protein Studios in Shoreditch. To get your tickets click here.

 

For any press enquiries email press@wmhagency.com  or call +44 (0) 20 3217 0000.
Unless otherwise cited, © copyright 2017 Williams Murray Hamm, all rights reserved.

Castrol Bio-Synthetic wins at TDC 2017

We are pleased to announce that Castrol Bio- Synthetic, our entry in the TDC Communication Design Competition has won a ‘Certificate of Typographic Excellence’

The work was selected from from over eighteen hundred entries from fifty countries.

A high performing job all round.

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For any press enquiries email press@wmhagency.com  or call +44 (0) 20 3217 0000.
Unless otherwise cited, © copyright 2017 Williams Murray Hamm, all rights reserved.

Castrol Bio-Synthetic

WMH has launched a new ‘bio’ variant of the Castrol EDGE and Castrol MAGNATEC brands that includes 25% of oil derived from plant sources.


Whilst this is not the first launch of a bio-derived oil, it is the first by a global major company. Castrol’s clever engineering and cutting edge technology have made it possible to take plant oil (and its natural lubricating qualities) in combination with traditional fossil-based oils to create a bio-lubricant that protects as well as standard Castrol EDGE or MAGNATEC.

“Pioneering with plants” – we brought together this natural tension creating a world and visual language unique to Castrol Bio-Synthetic oils. The new design stretches across film, packaging and web banners.

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For any press enquiries email press@wmhagency.com or call +44 (0) 20 3217 0000.
Unless otherwise cited, © copyright 2016 Williams Murray Hamm, all rights reserved.

In Fondest Memory of Geoff Appleton: 1950 – 2016

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A celebration of an infectious spirit and an incredible talent.

Today, it is with great sadness and a heavy heart that we bid a final farewell to our beloved friend and illustrator extraordinaire, Geoff Appleton, following a battle with pancreatic cancer. During a year that has seen the loss of many great talents, we will remember and celebrate Geoff’s memory as one of the greatest.

Williams Murray Hamm co-founder, Richard Williams, remembers Geoff’s infectious spirit:

“I’ve been at Williams Murray Hamm for 20 years and I can honestly say that I’ve not seen a freelancer more loved by our people and our clients than Geoff.

 They broke the mould when they made him. He was the last of a breed of artists who could earn a good living by drawing on paper and never doing stuff he didn’t want to do.

 We’ll miss his jolly banter and his great work and, in particular, I’ll miss talking to him about the finer points of Bob Dylan…” 

Our thoughts are with Geoff’s family and to commemorate his legacy WMH has made a donation to his nominated charity, Children and the Arts.

Children & the Arts is an independent educational charity that engages with disadvantaged children nationwide who do not have access to high-quality arts activity because of either social or economic barriers… [read more]

If you wish to make a donation in memory of Geoff, please visit www.childrenandarts.org.uk.

 

For any press enquiries email press@wmhagency.com  or call +44 (0) 20 3217 0000.
Unless otherwise cited, © copyright 2016 Williams Murray Hamm, all rights reserved.

Lamb Weston Innovation Centre

WILLIAMS MURRAY HAMM DESIGNS STATE OF THE ART INNOVATION CENTRE FOR LAMB WESTON.

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Following the creation of a new brand purpose and visual identity for Lamb Weston’s global business, WMH was asked to design the interior of an innovation centre where possibilities become reality. 

Lamb Weston, a ConAgra Foods brand, has more than 60 years’ experience as one of the world’s leading suppliers of frozen potato products to restaurants and consumers. An industry pioneer, the company planned a new, state of the art, innovation centre with co-creation spaces, fully functioning kitchens, pilot line, interactive areas and a resource for employees; in short a place where possibilities could become reality.

Having already started the building phase for the project, Lamb Weston approached long time collaborating agency WMH in March 2016 to create the overall theme and interiors. The Centre opened to employees on 24 June and to Lamb Weston customers soon after.

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WMH had previously helped Lamb Weston relaunch its new global positioning and identity: to be the most inventive potato company in the world. The Innovation Centre would express this purpose and help find new, more inventive ways of collaboration between customers and Lamb Weston staff.

Intended as a flagship Lamb Weston US building, the Innovation Centre needed to be a place that captured the imagination and be worthy of the claim ‘if you dream it, you can make it here’.

Deborah L. Dihel, Ph.D. Senior Director Research and Innovation at Lamb Weston said:

“Our new Innovation Centre is absolutely incredible. WMH was the perfect partner to help us communicate Lamb Weston’s brand promise throughout the building in a distinctive and memorable way. The design elements set the stage as soon as our visitors see us from the street, and their experiences are enhanced further as they enter and work in the space. WMH’s design communicates our history of successful innovation, yet at the same time, inspires all who enter to be futuristic, be inventive and make their potato dreams a reality.”

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Using the playful design it had created for the brand identity, WMH produced a fully sensory experience for the many spaces in the Centre.  Bright and light, visitors encounter witty and striking wall graphics at every turn. Interactive areas have been created to bring to life the history of the business, its vision and values and to relate employee stories.  Breakout rooms inspire new and innovative ways of working together.

On the experience, Garrick Hamm, Creative Director of Williams Murray Hamm said:

“We love working with Lamb Weston.  Once again, WMH has been there to help them bring their Innovation Centre to life.  Their strength of purpose, reflected in the Innovation Centre design, really encourages their employees and customers to be as inventive and imaginative as they like – the possibilities are endless”.

The Innovation Centre launched on 24 June.

 

For any press enquiries email press@wmhagency.com  or call +44 (0) 20 3217 0000.
Unless otherwise cited, © copyright 2016 Williams Murray Hamm, all rights reserved.

Graduate opportunity within client services and strategy…

Are you a curious, resourceful and ingenious graduate with plenty of common sense and initiative?

Williams Murray Hamm are offering a six month graduate opportunity within our client services and strategy department.

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Join the Rebel Alliance

We are looking for a graduate to help us in our client services and strategy team for a 6 month contract with the possibility to extend. The right candidate will share our passion for creativity, our wish to give clients a view they can’t get from anywhere else and a solution that does extraordinary things for their brand.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking more for a mindset, for someone who is curious, resourceful and ingenious with plenty of common sense and wants to get on with it.

How do you apply?

If you are interested in applying for this opportunity, send us your CV and tell us in a picture (email friendly) and/or in less than 150 words, why we should consider you for the position to email address recruitment@wmhagency.com.

Deadline for submissions: 31st August 2016

WMH wins Silver at FAB Awards for Penny Market ‘Orto Mio’ redesign

Williams Murray Hamm’s brave, bold and engaging design for Penny Market’s ‘Orto Mio’ antipasti range was awarded a Silver at last night’s International Food & Beverage Awards.

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Now in their 18th year, the FAB Awards are focused entirely on work done for Food and Beverage brands. They recognise the critical contribution that outstanding creative work makes in building brands, identifying and rewarding leading practitioners from over 60 countries.

Rewe owned, Penny operates 3,550 stores in Europe. Having won a written competitive pitch against two other agencies, WMH was appointed to rejuvenate the 45+ antipasti range to reflect a more unconventional and approachable image for Orto Mio.

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WMH’s new design embodies the relaxed, sociable style of eating antipasti. It suggests that the food can barely be restrained by its packaging and is bursting to get out with colour and flavour

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The illustrations work in unison with lively, colourful hand drawn typefaces. Each product carries a witty copyline, such as ‘oh la la olives’, ‘we are the champignons’ and ‘you make me blush’, continuing the promise of an enjoyable eating experience.

On winning the award Garrick Hamm, Creative Director at WMH said:

“We are overjoyed that our work on ‘Orto Mio’ has been recognised by the FAB Awards.  Hopefully, the witty design raised as much of a smile on the judges’ faces, as the award has on ours!”

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WMH hosts ‘Everything We Touch’ with Paula Zuccotti.

Ethnographer and author describes her work at a private breakfast briefing

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On Wednesday 24th May, Williams Murray Hamm hosted a breakfast briefing with Paula Zuccotti, an industrial designer, trends forecaster and ethnographer.

Her latest book project, “Everything We Touch” has received rapturous applause from around the globe, leading to radio appearances and full-page spreads in, amongst others, The Guardian, The Sun and the Sunday Telegraph.

 What if everything you touched in one day were brought together in one place? What story would they tell? 

Paula travelled around the world asking people to document every object they touched in 24 hours. She then gathered those objects together and photographed them in a single shot.

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From a toddler in Tokyo to a cowboy in Arizona, from a cleaner in London to a cloister nun in Madrid, Every Thing We Touch is their story told through the objects they own, consume, need, choose, treasure and can’t let go.

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To hear the inside story of peoples’ lives through the things they use everyday, check out the trailer below:

For more information you can purchase the book directly from Penguin and you can check her out on tumblr.

 

Please note that the copyright of all imagery within this article belongs to Paula Zuccotti, all rights reserved 2016.