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National Heritage Award for Castle Howard

Thursday, 1. January, 1970

Cloud Nine Design regularly design and supply exhibition work for Castle Howard - Britain's grandest private residence. In March 2010 we were commissioned to produce a number of display panels illustrating how the residence is kept warm by a heat pump system designed and installed by Ecovision. The heat pumps collect low grade heat from water in a nearby lake and boost it to provide heating and hot water to Castle Howard.

The estate’s Conservation Management Plan, which was entered in the Heritage category of the RTPI’s annual Planning Awards, was praised by the judges who said: “Castle Howard has successfully implemented a dynamic management plan that is rooted in the estate’s significance, values and special qualities as a historic place”. They also said the management plan broke new ground by “dealing with the socio-economic realities of management and for offering a model for other plans”.

The Conservation Management Plan was written in consultation with English Heritage, Ryedale District Council and Natural England. It proposes a number of initiatives the 300 year-old estate can adopt to generate new and significant sources of income to fund the ongoing restoration and conservation of its 200 listed buildings and monuments, and Grade 1 Registered Park and Garden.

The Hon Simon Howard said: “With much of Castle Howard built in the 18th century, we are finding that a lot of our restoration projects need addressing at the same time. This brings with it the unprecedented challenge of seeking a substantial increase in revenue in order that we can carry out this important work.

“This award acknowledges the collaborative approach we undertook in developing our Conservation Management Plan; as well as our dedication to retain the integrity and special qualities of Castle Howard Estate for all who live and work here.”

You can view a video about the installation of this system here

It's Simply Delicious!

Thursday, 1. January, 1970

Work has started on the new branding for a suite of business's - the event catering company 'Simply Delicious' and a thriving retail business called 'Scrumptious Deli'. The task of branding both business's as separate entities, yet tying them together somehow proved to be an interesting exercise. We knuckled down and worked out a solution though. Needless to say, we were very please the initial concept visuals where warmly excepted by Managing Director - Carolyn Easterby and her Daughter Vicky.

Food imagery features on the business stationery, so the next step was a photo shoot which was set-up on location at the Deli. Just over half a day and a huge pile of washing up, we had enough foodie pics to work with. We have now completed the logo's and stationery artwork and are currently just waiting for approval before we go to print.

Hopefully, this will be the start of a long-standing relationship with Carolyn and her team. We look forward to helping out with marketing and advertising which we are confident will help take the business's to a higher level.

Adobe Creative Suite 5 (CS5) announced

Thursday, 1. January, 1970

The imminent release of Creative Suite 5 (Adobe CS5) has been announced by Adobe. The focus of the CS 5 updates is interactivity, especially with regard to marketing campaigns across different digital media. For example, Adobe have announced that, for the first time ever, CS5 applications will have access to Omniture technologies which can allow the capture and analysis of information generated by websites.

Adobe have also announced a brand new application called Flash Catalyst, which is designed at allowing the creation of interactive digital content, without the need to write code. The intention being to improve the collaboration process between creative designers and coders and technical developers.

The various tools and applications are available separately but, as with previous upgrades, Adobe's software programs have been bundled into various packages targeted at different creative industry sectors – design; web and interactive; and video production. As with previous releases of Creative Suite, there is also a Master Collection combining products from across the creative disciplines.

GAP abandons new logo after just one week

Thursday, 1. January, 1970

US clothing giant Gap has scrapped its new corporate logo just a week after its launch, following an overwhelmingly negative reaction from the online community.

The clothes retailer’s original logo has become something of an icon over in the 20 years since it was introduced, with its blue background and simple white ”GAP” text holding an enduring appeal.

According to BBC News, the short-lived new logo – which was introduced to Gap’s US site last week - had the word “Gap” written in black against a white background, with a small blue box in the top right corner.

However, a short time after the logo change, Gap claims to have been deluged with comments from the online community urging the firm to reinstate the old logo.

Marketing news source Marketing Week says that users criticised the new logo for being ”unsophisticated,” “uncreative” and stated that it was “devaluing the brand.”

Gap North America’s president Marka Hansen said that the negative response to the new logo highlights the amount of affection many consumers have for the brand, and admitted that mistakes were made in the design process.

“Ultimately, we’ve learned just how much energy there is around our brand. All roads are leading us back to the blue box,” Retail Week quoted Ms Hansen as saying.

“We’ve learned a lot in this process. And we are clear that we did not go about this in the right way. We recognise that we missed the opportunity to engage with the online community.” she added.

VisitBritain and VisitEngland escape DCMS cuts

Thursday, 1. January, 1970

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has confirmed the marketing bodies VisitBritain and VisitEngland are not included in the 192 public bodies to be scrapped as part of the government's efficiency drive.

In July, when the DCMS announced the UK Film Council would be one of the first bodies to be cut, there was speculation it might merge VisitBritain and VisitEngland by saying it was "considering whether to change the status, role and functions" of the two bodies.

Today the DCMS said it was to retain VisitBritain and VisitEngland because the bodies performed a "technical function" that should remain independent from government.

The DCMS added that it was planning to modify the destinations on the VisitEngland Board.

VisitEngland emerged from within VisitBritain as a consumer brand in its own right, created to market English tourism overseas, after it was handed control of its own marketing budget in late 2008.

In reference to the closure of the UK Film Council, the DCMS said today that the "key mechanisms" that supported the British film industry, including film tax relief, which is worth more than £100m a year, would remain in place.

Since the July announcement, there has been a wide campaign in support of the UK Film Council. A Facebook page to save the body has more than 55,000 fans and UK directors such as Mike Leigh have attacked the decision.

The DCMS also said Lottery funding for film is "set to increase" because of the changes the Government has made and, following consultation with the industry, a further announcement on how best the government can support the industry will be made later this year.

Which is Greener: Paper or Digital?

Thursday, 1. January, 1970

“Other than pushing the ‘cool’ factor, one of the main selling points being made by marketers of eReaders is that they are greener than print. It is little surprise that the common view held by consumers who don’t know the backstory is that going digital means going green and saving trees. Many are in for a rude awakening. When subjected to ‘cradle-to-cradle’ life cycle analysis, eReading is not nearly as green as many naively assume it is.”

“There is no question that print media could do a better job of managing the sustainability of its supply chains and waste streams, but it’s a misguided notion to assume that digital media is categorically greener. Computers, eReaders, and cell phones don’t grow on trees and their spiraling requirement for energy is unsustainable.”

“Making a computer typically requires the mining and refining of dozens of minerals and metals including gold, silver, and palladium as well as extensive use of plastics and hydrocarbon solvents. To function, digital devices require a constant flow of electrons that predominately come from the combustion of coal, and at the end of their all-too-short useful lives electronics have become the single largest stream of toxic waste created by man. Until recently, there was little, if any, voluntary disclosure of the lifecycle ‘backstory’ of digital media.”

“Sadly, print has come to be seen as a wasteful, inefficient and environmentally destructive medium, despite the fact that much of print media is based on comparatively benign and renewable materials. In addition, print has incredible potential to be a far more sustainable medium than it is today… and a truly digital medium as well. Despite its importance to business, government and society, print has been cast in the role of a dark old devil in decline. Digital media has been cast as the bright young savior on the rise.”

“Ironically the future of digital media and eBook readers is likely to be based on flexible polymer electronics manufactured using printing presses rather than silicon semiconductor fabrication technologies. In fact, the next generation of eReaders will most likely be digital AND be printed.”

Article by: Doc - featured on www.zdnet.com

Paper recycling - the Myths and Facts

Thursday, 1. January, 1970

Fact: Since 1950, forests in Western Europe have increased in size by 30%

Paper has been around for almost 2000 years, and during this time it has undoubtedly established itself as the most effective and versatile means of communication.

Even in today's digital age with the availability of alternative media, paper's unique practical and aesthetic qualities simply can't be achieved by using electronic alternatives. That's not to say that one is less suitable than the other. Both paper-based & electronic communication have a role to play and can compliment each other.

In recent years, however, paper has been the target of negative and often misinformed environmental criticism. Listening to some people, its benefits are outweighed by the mass of misleading environmental disadvantages; shrinking forests, excessive energy consumption, and overflowing landfill sites. So as far as the environment is concerned, paper appears bad.

It isn't and paper doesn't have to cost the earth. While paper does use trees, its production does consume energy and too often, waste paper ends up in landfill sites, it is also one of the few truly renewable and recyclable raw materials we have.

As an industry, we have generally responded to accusations in a reactive & uncoordinated way. And yet we have one of the strongest stories to tell. Wood fibre has the opportunity to renew itself naturally and be reused often, so despite the barrage of criticism, there are two sides to paper and it does have a strong environmental story to tell.

In response, the NAPM has launched Two Sides, an industry-wide initiative to address these criticisms, to educate the paper-buying public of the true facts so they can make informed choices, while at the same time, promote responsible paper use. The key focus is to encourage people to question and challenge their existing wisdom about paper, to counteract the impact of the current environmental lobby against the paper industry, and arrest the guilt surrounding the use of paper.

However, changing public perception will take time and effort, so for Two Sides to be successful, the print and paper industries need to speak with a common voice to dispel the myths and present the real facts.

To find out the Facts (and Myths) concerning the effect paper manufacturing and recycling has on our planet, please visit the twosides website here

Interflora takes M&S Google AdWords dispute to court

Thursday, 1. January, 1970

Interflora is taking its long-running dispute with Marks & Spencer over the retailer’s alleged “piggy-backing” on Google searches for the florist’s website to a European court.

M&S paid the search engine to have its own online flower business promoted every time consumers search for Interflora.

Google users are offered a link to M&S’s florist site underneath the search result for Interflora under the sponsored link section.

As spokeswoman for Interflora confirmed the action but declined to comment further.

M&S claims that the practice of paying for keywords via Google’s AdWords service is an “industry-wide” and “not unlawful”.

The florist has previously said that the AdWords’ policy increases its advertising costs.

In a blog last year it said: “We are very serious about protecting our brand name ’Interflora’. Our brand name is also a registered trade mark and the whole idea of registering marks is to protect them from mis-use by third parties.”

Earlier this year, the European Court of Justice ruled in favour of Google after luxury brand Moét Hennessey Louis Vuitton had claimed Google’s AdWords service undermines brands and breaches European trademark law by allowing rival advertisers to purchase trademarked keywords.
Article from: marketingweek.co.uk

Online advertising nears £2 billion

Thursday, 1. January, 1970

Online advertising in the UK was up 10 per cent in the first half of 2010 to £1.97 billion.

The increase was driven in large part by a surge in video and social network advertising, according to the bi-annual online advertising expenditure study from the Internet Advertising Bureau (IAB), which was produced in partnership with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

Online advertising now has a market share of 24.3 per cent of the total UK advertising spend. The wider advertising industry also saw a recovery in the first half of the year, with total UK advertising spending up by 6.3 per cent to £8.1 billion.

Guy Phillipson, chief executive of the IAB, comments: ‘The return to double digit growth in UK online advertising is characterised by increased investment by major brands, particularly in FMCG [fast moving consumer goods] and entertainment. The effectiveness of social and video ads for classic brand building is reflected in these formats enjoying exponential growth.’

The highest spending sector was entertainment and media, which accounted for 14.4 per cent of total online advertising spend in the UK, followed by finance and FMCG.

Despite the continued difficulty in the sector, retail saw increased online advertising from 7.1 per cent of total spend in the first half of 2009 to 8.4 per cent in 2010.   Anna Bartz, strategy manager at PwC, says: ‘These figures reflect a sense of positivity in the advertising industry at a time when many other media in the UK have also displayed signs of a healthy recovery.’

The report also highlights a number of driving factors for the recent growth, including the growing number of online users in the UK and an uptake in the use of devices such as smartphones.

UK internet users are now spending 23 per cent of their time online using social networks and blogs, claims the IAB.

Source: smallbusiness.co.uk

Coca-Cola sponsor the London 2012 Paralympic Games

Thursday, 1. January, 1970

Soft-drinks giant Coca-Cola has announced it is extending its sponsorship of the London 2012 Olympics to cover the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

The company is an official sponsor of the London Olympics and is extending its brand sponsorship to the Paralympics, to "help promote sport for all" in the run-up to the games.

Coca-Cola hopes to get more young people active and involved in sport, regardless of their physical ability, through their sponsorship of both parts of the Olympics.

Coca-Cola has supported the Paralympic Games since 1992 and joins supermarket Sainsbury's, which is already on the sponsorship roster.

Daryl Jelinek, general manager, London 2012 Coca-Cola Project Team, said: "We are proud to be extending our sponsorship of London 2012 to the Paralympic Games.

"The Paralympic Games is one of the biggest celebrations in world sport, with over 4,000 athletes competing in hundreds of events over 12 days, and we know from first-hand experience just how inspiring it is in helping to change attitudes to disability.

"We want to be a big part of generating that inspiration and excitement on the road to 2012, using our sponsorship to motivate people across the UK and beyond to get active and to drive awareness of the Paralympics."

The Coca-Cola company has been associated with the Olympic Games since 1928, longer than any other corporate sponsorship.

BBC1 to air 'Accidental Farmer'

Thursday, 1. January, 1970

On 21st December 2010 at 9pm, BBC1 aired an hour long comedy drama called 'Accidental Farmer'.

Cloud Nine Design were contacted by the BBC to produce various props such as business cards, brochures and strangely cow eartags!.

Accidental Farmer was filmed in summer 2010, in and around Thornton Dale - a picturesque location two miles east of our offices here in Pickering, North Yorkshire.

We really hope the show gained good viewing figures, if it did there is a strong chance the film crew and cast will be back for 5 months in 2011 to produce a weekly series.

A bit about the show...
Erin Taylor is a high-powered, London-based advertising executive who has it all - successful career, stunning flat and a gorgeous boyfriend, Mike.Planning every aspect of her life, nothing takes Erin by surprise until she dramatically discovers Mike isn't all she thought he was. She takes revenge by abusing his credit card and buying, among other things, a rundown farm in Yorkshire. With Mike's scorn ringing in her ears, Erin decides to make a go of it - how hard can it be to run a farm?

Little did Erin realise she'd be sharing a bed with Olive, an octogenarian sitting tenant, or fending off Clive, the inebriated handyman. She also has to put up with being shouted at by Judith, the horsey neighbour, and ends up embarrassing herself in front of Matt, the dishy vet. Neither did she realise she'd end up living with a piglet.Erin never imagined just how much work she'd have to muck in with and the difficulty involved in adapting to an entirely new, rural life.

Zumbathon anyone?

Thursday, 1. January, 1970

Cloud Nine Design have once again offered their graphic design services to the North Yorkshire based charity ‘Ryedale Special Families’.

We have designed and produced artwork for their charity fundraiser – a ‘Zumbathon’, which is to be held at the new Malton Community Sports Centre on Sunday 27th March 2011 at 10.30am – 12.30pm. The logo design will be featured on all advertising for this event and we wish all involved good luck in raising money for this very worthy cause.

Rob Davies from Ryedale Special Families says, “We are so pleased a local creative agency such as Cloud Nine Design have offered their services once again for our charity. It really does help to have an eye-catching professional design on our posters and sponsor forms”.

Ryedale Special Families is an independent charity founded in the early 1990s by a group of parents of disabled children in and around North Yorkshire. If you would like take part in tne Zumbathon, please email robdavies@ryedalespecialfamilies.org.uk

The Leeds Kitchen

Thursday, 1. January, 1970

The Leeds Kitchen by James Martin at Alea Casino in Leeds is about to open it's doors....

As you may know, Cloud Nine Design have been working on the signage and graphics for celebrity chef James Martin's new Leeds restaurant which will open to the public on Saturday 9^th April.

The Leeds Kitchen, situated at Clarence Dock’s Alea Casino, promises to bring the best of British cuisine with a twist. And the fine dining restaurant has also provided a timely boost on the employment front, as James Martin has recruited 25 experienced chefs and front-of-house staff in preparation for the eagerly awaited opening.

Amongst other things, we are currently working on the menu and can honestly say, it sounds absolutely delicious. Pricing isn’t bad either, so book a reservation and let us know what you thought of your dining experience... and of course the signage, graphics and menu!

Pics and info will be posted on our facebook page as the project evolves, so if you want to see how everything’s (along with other design stuff of course), hit the share/save button on this page.

Cloud Nine Design Ranked Number 1

Thursday, 1. January, 1970

Cloud Nine Design are proud to be ranked Number 1 out of over 3200 graphic design companies listed on the UK's fastest growing online business directory - FreeIndex.

The 1st place ranking is due to an overwhelming response of positive ratings from our satisfied clients. Its great that so many people have taken the time to write great things about us, we are truly bowled over!

This FreeIndex directory started life about a year ago and has grown considerable since. We think this rapid grown isn't just because this is a free directory, a lot of it's success is due to a hard working and committed team behind the company. Whenever we've had a query about our profile, a member of FreeIndex has been pretty quick to answer and sort anything out. They have also worked hard to improve on the site and are doing a great job too.

If you think your business would benifit from a listing on the FreeIndex website, please click the link here to sign up. It really is worth the time to create your page on here and don't forget, it is free so you've got nothing to lose!

One year on with Oasis Academies

Thursday, 1. January, 1970

A year ago Cloud Nine Design were contacted by Mr Tony Rawdin - the Executive Principal at Oasis Academy Immingham. He asked if we would design and print their Academy newsletter. Of course we obliged and within two weeks, hot off the press, we delivered a couple of thousand copies to their door.

Oasis Community Learning was established in 2004 and opened it's first three Academies in 2007. To date, there are a total of 12 Academies in the group. The vision of Oasis Academies is to create both outstanding schools and community hubs. The aim is to provide access for both the students and the community to adult learning programmes, fitness suites, sports courts and out-of-hours youth activities to name but a few.

Cloud Nine Design were then asked to design and produce regular newsletters for two more Academies in the group; Oasis Academy Hadley in Middlesex and Oasis Academy MediaCityUK in Salford, Manchester.

The feedback we've received from the Academies is brilliant... here is what Jozie Waldon from Oasis Academy Hadley had to say:

"Cloud Nine listened to what we wanted, delivered exactly what we asked for with no problems. Sending them the information was easy as they accepted all the different formats I sent and they knew exactly how to bring it all together for a well designed, good quality product. I will definitely be using them again and I can see how we will quickly come to rely on their service".

We are really pleased to be of service to the Oasis Academies and have build up an excellent working relationship with various members of staff there. We hope to continue providing design and print to them in the forceable future.

An old shop gets a new lease of life

Thursday, 1. January, 1970

Its always nice to see new and interesting shops open in our home town of Pickering as this adds further appeal for residents, tourists and visitors alike. It's even nicer when the owners decide to use local tradesmen and business's to help them get established.
Cloud Nine Design were contacted by the new tenant of a shop situated on one of the oldest streets in Pickering. Vicky was planning to open a shop selling her hand-made Whitby jet jewellery and needed a creative company to 'set the tone' for the look of the shop. This involved designing a suitable logo, choosing type styles and colours and producing shop front visuals. The shop was to be aptly named 'The Pickering Jet Works'.
Once the creative work was approved, Cloud Nine Design called on their good friends, local firm - Raymac Signs to output and make-up the fascia boards and glass graphics. We also commissioned a local joiner to make a wooden signboard and a swing sign too. After the shops masonry and woodwork had been given a coat or two of farrow and ball paint (to give a traditional heritage look) the signs went up and the etched glass graphics applied to the windows.
Although we do say so ourselves, the shop looks great... it's old and still looks old, which was always the intention from the outset, but it now has a new lease of life and one satisfied proprietor who is getting lots of inquisitive customers through it's doors.Job done!

Facebook For Business

Thursday, 1. January, 1970

Most people know that Facebook was originally intended for college students in the US to be able to keep in contact with one another.

However, it is now widely used for business purposes. Each user can create an individual profile with pictures, information about their interests and details about their lives. As a result, it enables users to contact literally millions of people from all over the world, and who can easily be put into categories such as geographical location, educational establishment, political view, workplace etc.

Using Your Account Wisely

As users are only entitled to have one Facebook account, it is vital at the outset that you decide whether you will use Facebook primarily for business or for personal use (and therefore have your business or personal contacts on it.) It is possible to separate the two: you can keep your personal contacts as your friends, while setting up a fan page for your business.

Do Your Research

As with all marketing strategies it is vital that you take time to consider how you will use Facebook to promote your business.

Look at your competitors’ pages: who has the most successful Facebook page and what makes it so effective? You’ll notice that blatant promotion of their business is generally not the main focus. For example, if you put too many links back to your website this will quickly put other users off.

Facebook can be an effective way to announce important developments related to your business to a large number of people simultaneously. Invitees to your event can visibly RSVP, which can also be an effective way to reaffirm its importance.

Of course, you’re not limited to just using Facebook to enhance your business status online.Linkedin offers a professional, adult atmosphere; Twitter is arguably the ‘hot’ social networking site of the last 12 months; and of course there’s MySpace: these each have their own strengths and features and can work well for different types of businesses.

However, before you use a social networking site to promote your business it is imperative that you have a clear idea of your strategy and what it is you intend to achieve before embarking on any kind of social networking activity.

Source of this article: http://www.marketingtipsuk.com

Beauty therapist business gets a facelift

Thursday, 1. January, 1970

When a lady wants a facial treatment they call on the services of their favourite beauty therapist. But what happens when a beauty therapist business needs a facelift? Easy... they call on Cloud Nine Design!

Annette of Stonegate are a very well established and successful beauty therapist in the heart of the historic city of York.They decided a new images was required to give the business a bit of a lift and to boost public awareness through a fresh new look.

Cloud Nine Design were given a free reign to come up with something suitable for this new look and we didn't disappoint.Elaine, the current owner took one look at our visuals and fell in love with her newly proposed look!

The logo itself, is a stylised butterfly graphic and after some loose 'pencil and paper' sketches, it was drawn up onscreen. A light san-serif type style was used for the lettering to keep the logo modern, yet feminine.

We decided to use a deep cerise to form the base company colour, but instead of this colour being applied flat, we added a texture and subtle gradient to give a more tactile and interesting look.
We are currently applying this new identity to various printed items, such as a presentation folder, treatment insert sheets and price list, along with appointment cards. We will be working on exterior signage and a newly designed website is planned as stage two later in the year.

We will add an image of the printed items into our portfolio once completed so you can see how the identity is applied.

From Russia with laughter!

Thursday, 1. January, 1970

Cloud Nine Design are currently working for a Russian Comedy TV production company called УРАЛЬСКИЕ ПЕЛЬМЕНИ, which roughly translated into English as 'URAL Dumplings'!

"When originally approached, we thought it was a little strange how a Russian company obtained our details, but I guess the internet knows no geographical boundaries... at least it proves our website is working for on a global scale and our SEO is gaining search engine results!" says Peter Sellers.

Our Russian contact - Sergei Netievsky says "We have a new format - a television drama show with high ratings. We in Russia are the same as the popular Monty Python in England!"
Well Sergey, that's some claim... but if their Youtube hits are anything to go by, they certainly are popular, with over 250,000 for each of their video clips!

Peter also commented "The brief was in 'very broken English' and was a little tricky to understand, we are used to working with eastern European countries, but this is entirely different. One major problem was obtaining Russian fonts, as they use a variant of the Cyrillic alphabet. We have had to pretty much draw the lettering ourselves on screen to stylise the various letter forms. We are yet to complete the project, but will definitely post the finished designs on here for you to see".

Watch this space!

It's boomtime at The Bay!

Thursday, 1. January, 1970

This week sees the launch of a fresh and busy little website, offering self-catering accommodation in the bustling little seaside village of Robin Hoods Bay.

We've just completed the site for a great friend and ex-colleague of ours. Jean once worked within the print industry and is now self-employed offering corporate team building programs both in the UK and overseas. She is also the proud owner of a very special little property which dates back to the 1680's! This is situated in Robin Hood's Bay - a delightful and unspoilt fishing village on the North Yorkshire coast just 6 miles south of Whitby, with pantiled cottages 'tumbling' down the hillside towards the North Sea. It is a perfect year round holiday location, ideal for long weekends, summer holidays and winter breaks.

Check out the site by clicking here and let us know what you think to the design. If you like the location as much as we do, feel free to contact Jean here for more info or to make a booking.

Life, Fork & Spoon

Thursday, 1. January, 1970

A new website launched this week and with a little help from Cloud Nine Design, initial hits were phenomenal!

We are talking about the latest venture from TV Celebrity Chef James Martin - a website where you can order restaurant quality food made from James's very own recipes. Delivered to your door in optimum condition, in fantastic packaging, frozen ready for you to enjoy that day or stored for later.

Cloud Nine Design worked on the pre-lauch promotion of Life, Fork and Spoon, creating animated advertisements, banner ads and news articles which were featured on James's personal website www.jamesmartinchef.co.uk

Julian, MD at Life, Fork and Spoon said "Cloud Nine Design carried out various tasks including creating, updating and linking our sites. They updated the site, adding a very effective link and banner advert! This has already lead to many hits and contributed to strong initial sales from the site. I give them top marks and can highly recommend them for Quality, Customer Service and value for money!"

We think that James and the team at Life, Fork and Spoon are onto a winner with this site - why not give it a go www.lifeforkspoon.co.uk and order something delicious just to see if the 'proof is actually in the pudding'!

Good Luck to James, Jules and the Team, and thank you for the kind words you had to say about Cloud Nine Design.

R.I.P. Steve Jobs

Thursday, 1. January, 1970

Steve Jobs, the Apple co-founder and former CEO, has died at the age of 56 after a long and highly public battle with cancer.

If it wasn't for Steve Jobs, I don't think companies such as Cloud Nine Design would have ever been born. Apple Computers, and the concept of 'make computers easy to use so everyone can use them' inspired many creative people worldwide to switch from pens and pencils to computers.

On a consumer level, think about a world without iPhones, iTunes, iPods, iMacs and iPads... these amazing products, with there intuitive interface, would never have been in our lives if it wasn't for this man.

Long may Apple bring us such amazing, easy to use, great looking products in the future... your legacy will live forever Mr Jobs.

Cloud Nine Design welcomes their 1st Swiss Client

Thursday, 1. January, 1970

Swiss company: - Weidmann Markets AG, provides international investors with modern and professional financial services. MD Thomas Weidmann approached Cloud Nine Design to produce and present various creative ideas for a new Corporate Identity for his company.

After Mr Weidmann approved one of the logos, Cloud Nine Design proceeded to design the company stationery, which was then printed and delivered into Switzerland from the UK.Further promotional material was designed too, in the form of a colour A5 flyer. The artwork was approved this week and is now being printed. We will deliver overseas in between Christmas and New Year.

Peter Sellers - MD Cloud Nine Design said:
"Its always nice to gain a new client, particularly from recommendation, but welcoming one from Switzerland makes it just that little bit special. We are proud to be suppliers to various companies across the world and believe this contributes to the recognition creative talent has here in the UK - always pushing the creative boundaries whilst paying close attention to detail at all times.

We wish Thomas good luck with his company and look forward to supplying further creative work and printing in the future".

You can view the Weidmann Markets website here

Happy New Year!

Thursday, 1. January, 1970

Yes, it's time to hoover all the pine needles up, jump on the wheelie bin to make a bit more space and hide any chocolate that might be left over.

Along with ourselves, we sincerely hope you too kick-off 2012 with a positive outlook.
All the very best to our existing clients, potential new ones and anyone else that happens to read this - good look and good health from Cloud Nine Design.

Cloud Nine Design on FreeIndex

Thursday, 1. January, 1970

Cloud Nine Design are listed on the UK business directory called FreeIndex.
We have been on this site for a year or so now and are very proud to be listed 2nd out of 4,011 graphic design companies when a user searches for 'graphic design'. As a result of this we gain a lot of business leads from FreeIndex so it really does work too.

We think it's a well designed and though-out site. It's free to join so if you are a UK business it really wouldn't do any harm to be on it too.

O'h and it's worth noting, FreeIndex doesn't pass your details on to third parties as many of these free listings do, so you can rest assured your junk mail doesn't spiral out of control as a result.

Take a look when you've got a few minutes at: www.freeindex.co.uk/ and see what you think.

You can find us here: http://www.freeindex.co.uk/profile(cloud-nine-design)_241663.htm

Dental Practice gets a make-over

Thursday, 1. January, 1970

Over the past couple of months we've been working on a new identity for a local Dentist Practice, namely Birdgate Dental.

First step was to develop a strong brand and logo, one we believe would suits the business. Once finalised, the logo and chosen colourway was applied to various items such as a presentation folder, stationery, signage and even door mats.

The client was pleased with their new look, they gave both the interior and exteria a make-over in their new corporate colours.

Peter Sellers, MD at Cloud Nine Design says: "It's always great to know that a client is over the moon with work we've done for them, but it's even better when such a client embraces the concept of identity and goes the whole 'nine-yards'. The staff uniforms, wall displays and new paintwork looks great and 'wraps' the branding package up nicely".

It's a Rap!

Thursday, 1. January, 1970

Another vehicle livery designed by ourselves and applied by Raymac Signs.

The van itself belongs to a long-standing client of ours – Town & Country Fires. We would have loved to have done a full wrap on this van, but we were restricted to a 1300mm wide output on this one due to printer limitations.

So with that restriction in mind, we went as large as we could with the photo image and it really does ‘jump’ out at you.

The client is very pleased with it and said “people didn’t give the van a second glance till the graphics were on, now they stand and stare as we drive by!”

As far as eye-catching mobile advertising goes and a comment like that, we'd say that is a job well done.

Duraweld - Feelin' Green

Thursday, 1. January, 1970

Cloud Nine Design have been commissioned to produce promotional items for Duraweld’s new Feelin’ Green range of products.

Duraweld are one of the UK’s leading producers of customised presentation, packaging and printed products, so we were delighted to get a call from Marketing Manager - Jane Harper to see if we could help out.

The products are very eco friendly and are made from 100% recycled board, and 100% recycled frosty polypropylene.

We are currently designing and preparing web graphics, adverts, pull-up banners and printed flyers to promote this exciting and innovative range.

You can see the range here: Feelin Green

Wishing them a 'Blooming' success!

Thursday, 1. January, 1970

Back in January of this year, Cloud Nine Design were approached by Tracey Baty of Three60 Marketing to submit a tender for a new organisation identity. After carefully consideration we were chosen as the preferred design company to create the new identity and branding for 'Great British Flowers'.

Great British Flowers is the campaigning brand of 'Flowers from the Farm' and has been created to unite all growers and retailers of seasonal British flowers.

We got to work and presented a selection of visuals to the client. One of which was preferred and so we went on to refine and adjust this logo to a finished product. Various formats of this graphic were supplied, so the client had files for embroidery, signage, websites, printing, to hand.

The client was delighted with their 'new look' and we wish them good luck with their organisation, goals and aims. So in future if you see the cut flowers you are about to buy are displaying the logo 'Great British Flowers', you know they are grown locally and haven't travelled half-way around the world to get to you... great for UK flower growers and the environment too!

Ace of Bass!

Thursday, 1. January, 1970

As one of the worlds largest online musical instrument and equipment retailers, those that are in the 'Music' know, will be aware of the company called Gear4Music.

Cloud Nine Design have designed for Gear4Music since it's launched in the mid 90's, starting with their corporate Identity which they still use today, This has established a strong brand awareness across the whole of Europe and beyond.

Over the years Gear4music have developed and launched their own branded instruments, each collection displaying a unique name and logo designed by Cloud Nine Design. So when a new range of Bass Amplification was in development, once again we were called on to come up with a unique mark.

The name 'Red Sub' was decided and we came up with the concept of building the units using deep red coloured bass cones (speakers), this would compliment the logo and name, and give the whole range a distinctive look. Visuals of the units were submitted, passed and artwork was supplied to the manufacturers

The units are complimented with subtle red trim and of course all display the red cones and the new logo. We were excited to see the finished range and were delighted when the MD of Gear4Music phoned us to tell us he was utterly delighted with the branding and the range is already proving to be a best seller!

Cloud Nine Design is currently working on the branding for a new range of Guitar Amps for Gear4Music, amongst other projects too.