designdough

Welsh food and drink is flying the flag for our small but mighty nation. This is an industry where we punch above our weight, making waves with Michelin stars, Great Taste Awards and protected origin (UK GI) products. Welsh produce is increasingly finding its way into kitchens across the world, and it's not hard to see why. Wales brings a rich heritage, a commitment to quality, and an innovative approach to food and drink production to the table. Our produce, long celebrated for its provenance and excellence, is being supported by increasing collaboration across the sector, and… the growing recognition of the power of branding. As an office of devoted foodies, the intersection of design and food/drink is one of our happy places; where we work hard to tell the story, show the craftsmanship, and use commercial awareness and techniques to make sure products jump off the shelf. We are really proud of the work we have done, that helps to champion Welsh food and drink. Product quality is of course, absolutely paramount, but brand also deserves a mention in dispatches. Branding has the power to propel Welsh food and drink to new heights. To help more Welsh products find their way into baskets and kitchens across the globe. Explore our latest blog to see how designdough is driving Welsh food and drink forward with impactful branding and design: https://lnkd.in/ennsv5Re

As we excitingly start planning and preparing for the launch of Brand Labs 2024, it’s had us reflecting on some of our incredibly inspiring winners of the past. Each year we’re looking for a breakthrough brand. A conscious company, who meets the collective needs of today and tomorrow’s world. One who is helping to alter the landscape, deliver equity, encourage inclusion or address a problem (be it hyper-local, or global). A business who has the courage to dream big, and the tenacity to overcome challenges. The inspirational team at BlueCube marine bridge the gap between ecology, engineering, and art to shape a seascape that benefits marine life, community, and our planet. By building ecosystems on man-made coastal structures, they ensure marine life can thrive and biodiversity can flourish. At the heart of this project was our commitment to help BlueCube present themselves in an impactful and authentic way that translates the seriousness (and brilliance!) of their work. Establishing a strong visual identity to enhance their presence not only in Wales, but in the UK and internationally was the ultimate objective for us.

Creating an accessible website is not just about ticking boxes; it's about making a positive impact on people's lives by ensuring everyone, regardless of their abilities, can access and enjoy online content. Designing a WCAG-compliant website requires careful consideration, collaboration, and ongoing testing. At designdough, we’re keen believers that accessibility for all doesn’t mean sacrificing innovation and creativity. Accessibility challenges can actually fuel creativity and push our designers to think outside the box. It means we are encouraged to find innovative solutions that benefit everyone, leading to unique and impressive designs. For PLAY WALES / CHWARAE CYMRU, vibrant colour schemes with sufficient contrast, engaging visuals and a clean, crisp navigation design offer a visually appealing presence whilst simultaneously eliminating barriers to participation and experience. By prioritising accessibility from the outset, and utilising an iterative design process by incorporating feedback at each stage to ensure accessibility goals were met, the website offers an inclusive and seamless user experience to all individuals; enhancing their ability to access information, engage with content, and interact with the website's features.

Every day, we help our clients reach more people, say something new, make more impact. It seems to us that most business objectives boil down to the question; how can we be, and do better? In an ever changing world, how can we keep up? Or better still, lead the way? There are no spoilers here! You will find our answer, and other insights in our new Journal. How to better connect to your audiences, differentiate, and move with purpose and confidence. And examples of how we have helped other clients achieve these goals. To those who have seen our Journal land in your letterbox these past few days; we hope you enjoy the read, and as always, would be delighted to hear from you to see what you think!

Deciding between a brand refresh and a rebrand isn’t just about giving your brand a new look — it’s about making a strategic choice that will shape your future. We often find ourselves discussing ‘what got you here, may not get you there’ with clients. New ownership and a strategic partnership signalled the start of a new era for Tiger Aspect. This change had allowed space for them to refocus and refine their production categories. A refreshed identity was needed to reflect the changes. Tiger Aspect were keen to maintain their brand's colour scheme in line with their "Tiger" name to retain brand recognition and equity. We used a bespoke typography to bring the relevance they needed; a strident, bold representation of change, progress and authority. View the full portfolio on our website now: designdough.co.uk

Creativity; Fuel for the Fire Why do we love working with creative industry clients? It’s partly to do with feeling connected to the momentum of the Welsh success story. A sense of pride in playing our part in shining a light on the amazing growth within the sector. It’s definitely to do with synergy. Much of what we do, in brand and digital design is about moving with culture, not following trends. It’s about story-telling; helping our clients clearly articulate their purpose (beyond profit) through design and words that connect with their audiences. This process resonates best with our creative clients. And the output? We think it speaks for itself. Take a look at the full Media Cymru portfolio on our website now — designdough.co.uk

Bribery and corruption is endemic; hidden in plain sight. The estimated cost to local government ranges from £275 million to £2.75 billion per year. Tarian Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) — a multi-disciplinary team of police officers and police staff seconded from the three forces of South Wales, Gwent and Dyfed-Powys — came to us to create a national campaign, to raise awareness of what it is; what it looks and sounds like in real life. They also needed the campaign to help people report it, but feel reassured that it’s safe to do so. That’s Corruption aims to make it loud and clear what corruption really is, in a way that people will understand and resonate with. It’s straight-talking, bold, and leaves no room for misinterpretation. The campaign was rolled out across social media, and physical printed posters, with a call to action to visit the That's Corruption microsite. The microsite offers more information, and interactive functionality to anonymously report bribery and corruption. You can take a look at the full portfolio on our website now — designdough.co.uk

We use design to share stories, solve problems, and evoke feeling. And the only way we can do that is to design with a deep understanding of who our clients are talking to, what they're trying to say, why they want to say it, and what values and vision lie at the heart of all their efforts. Our commitment to this discovery is reflected in the fantastic testimonial we received from Valleys Kids - Plant y Cymoedd on completion of their brand refresh project: "From pitch to delivery, designdough listened carefully to the many voices of Valleys Kids (staff, volunteers, stakeholder, beneficiaries), which is apparent in the exceptional products they delivered. We are over the moon with our new brand and house style and the website - which was bespoke designed for us - provides us with so much autonomy that we can promote the multi-faceted work we do in both creative and direct ways." You can take a look at the full Valleys Kids portfolio on our website now - designdough.co.uk

We love dragons, we do. But Wales has so many other stories to tell. We take design for a modern Wales seriously. Heritage and tradition is foundational, but brands must also be future facing and relevant, to resonate with their audiences. Articulating this story is our passion; communicating the unmistakeable spirit of Wales through design, with a firm gaze on the future. Roots, and wings. Creating our own new website has made us realise that design for Wales has a large piece of our ‘brand heart’. Clients like Joe's Ice Cream illustrate this perfectly. 100 years is a monumental milestone for a brand. A moment to be celebrated, and also an opportunity to signal continued growth and innovation. Joe’s looked to a brand refresh, to make the most of this significant achievement. An iconic Welsh heritage brand, looking towards the next century of success. You can take a look at the full portfolio on our website now - designdough.co.uk

Universities are complex organisations. There are individual department structures, a broad range of courses, diverse student cultures, senior management and external partners to consider. Wrexham University’s ambition was for their rebrand process to be fully inclusive: ‘this must be a whole-university project where everyone has the opportunity to be involved’. Stakeholder engagement sits at the heart of our design process. We took our team to Wrexham, and spent time at the University. Through workshops, surveys and individual interviews, we engaged with 380 stakeholders throughout the process, distilling their valuable contributions into our designs and brand strategy. We carried out extensive contextual sector research. Competition in higher education is fierce. Funding and resources are stretched. Student numbers are increasing, but the cost of living crisis is challenging. Wrexham University’s rebrand needed to be distinctive, to cut through the noise of student recruitment, highly engaging, but most importantly, authentic. We played with colour, imagery and bold, modern type for vibrancy and appeal.The new brand tells students that Wrexham University throws the door of opportunity wide open, invites everyone in, supports them on their own terms. Inclusivity and community is not surface level; it’s part of the fabric. Our relationship with Wrexham University continues beyond the rebrand. As well as creating a detailed, timed best practice guide to support the brand launch, we continue to provide expert guidance on applying the brand across a range of media and platforms, including digital, print & film, to ensure a smooth rollout as the University enters an exciting new chapter. You can take a look at the full Wrexham University portfolio on our website now — designdough.co.uk