WITH SPARKNOW, LON
ACE is one of the world's largest multi-line insurers. They needed to increase their profile in new markets (Asia and Latin America) and among new customers. To support the brand promise, "we bring a can-do attitude to everything we do", Powell Allen helped evolve the identity and redefine the brand visual system. We created the tools to enable roll-out internally and externally across 54 countries.

With a 20-year heritage in yacht design and construction, Alen Yacht had established a reputation for innovation and uncompromising quality. They needed a brand that reflected their artisan approach and ultimately celebrate the sleek beauty of their tailor-made luxury yachts. Our quietly confident identity denotes purity and quality. It captures the serene lap of a wave and echoes the flowing contours of the Alen 68 hull (designed by Foster + Partners). This concept is expanded upon through the use of bands, representing the repetition of waves and the Alen Yacht signature ‘all round’ wooden deck. The visual system is a strong differentiator within their sector and is applied across all materials in a bold manner. Winner of Webby Award Honoree 2014.

As part of a comprehensive brand
reassessment, we created ASL’s new
viewbook. It takes the reader on a journey,
not a journey in the usual sense and not
a tour of the school, this was ‘A Journey
through the Ages’. From age 4-18, the
viewbook shows readers what to expect,
outlines the learning process, and
reassures transient internationals and
locals alike that ASL is as much a
community as an academic institution.

BPP needed a new consolidated brand
identity that would: enhance its European
stature; signal ‘Britishness’ to leverage
UK education equities in emerging
markets; engage with career-focused
individuals and corporate customers
alike; and capture the essence of their
brand proposition ‘to build a career and
stay competitive’. The lion shield was
conceived along with a comprehensive
visual system, which was applied to an
array of touchpoints.

We were asked to establish an overall signage and wayfinding solution for Canyon Ranch hotel and villas at Kaplankaya.

The design solution needed to be bespoke and in-keeping with the Canyon Ranch architecture by OAB, Office of Architecture in Barcelona.

The "fold" design solution supports the OAB ideology and luxuriant nature of the Canyon Ranch and Kaplankaya brands. It was also adaptable to work for both internal and external environments.

We were asked to establish an overall signage and wayfinding solution for Canyon Ranch hotel and villas at Kaplankaya.

The design solution needed to be bespoke and in-keeping with the Canyon Ranch architecture by OAB, Office of Architecture in Barcelona.

The "fold" design solution supports the OAB ideology and luxuriant nature of the Canyon Ranch and Kaplankaya brands. It was also adaptable to work for both internal and external environments.

Chic Retreats is a travel lifestyle brand dedicated to uncovering exceptional hotels around the world. They believe that what makes a hotel special is not its stars or rosettes, or whether there is a mini bar in the room, but the passionate people behind it, its unique concept and the lasting memories it creates.

Powell Allen were tasked to encapsulate Chic Retreats' core belief and create a new luxurious brand identity and visual system.

The symbol that we crafted incorporates a swallow with the letter C. The swallow represents travel — a migrating bird that has a worldwide cosmopolitan distribution on every continent except Antarctica. Swallows are a symbol of good luck and a sure sign that summer is on its way. The symbol is used as a badge of belonging for all of the boutique hotel members and also endorses Chic Retreat lifestyle brands.

The website in an antidote to bland hotel booking engines and generic travel sites. It showcases member owners (photographed by Julian Anderson) paired with their hotel in a distinctive split screen format — supported by their inspiring stories and insight into hidden places that only locals know about.

Cambridge Judge Business School and
Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business
required a suite of brochures to promote 
‘The Global Business Strategy: China’ 
programme. The initial booklet (WE)
celebrates the unique collaboration and
benefits of the two institutions from the
west and east. Under the guise of a guide
to basic Chinese for senior executives,
the main brochure confronts CEOs with
the dramatic fact that unknown Chinese
companies have come from nowhere
to seize leading positions in key global
markets. Arguing that this threat from
China is actually an opportunity, the
brochure positions the programme as
an essential date in any CEO’s diary.

The Creative Education Trust is a charity that
supports state-funded Academy schools
across England, promoting design
(construction, engineering, manufacturing,
digital media and communication) at the core
of the curriculum. The logo celebrates the
golden ratio — the underlying formula to all
great design, both natural and man-made.
Two drawings of the golden ratio have been
paired to form a stylized ‘C’, which is
customised to represent each Academy.

Dr. Panda is a leading kids’ app developer. They create games, toys and animations to help young kids learn about the world. They have created over 30 apps, which have had a total of over 85 million downloads.

To coincide with the launch of the new Dr.Panda 3D animation series, we were tasked to design a new logo. The logo had to appear familiar to their current users, but also align with the future vision of the company.

The previous logo was complex, didn’t reduce well and felt dissonance from the rest of the brand.

We simplified the logo by creating bespoke lettering, which incorporated the personality of Dr. Panda. This included retaining the mortar board. We repositioned this to sit above the ‘P’ of Panda, rather than the ‘D’ of Dr. This allowed us to create a shorthand version of the logo for use on app icons and youtube video thumbnails. We also created a visual identity system that was rolled out across all touch points.

WITH PRINCIPLE GLOBAL & MCVI
GTT is the largest provider of telecommunication services in Guyana. With increased competition in the mobile market, coupled with a outdated brand, we were tasked with creating a new identity and communicating the brand positioning, 'do more'.

The logo comprises two inseparable components: bespoke GTT letter-forms and an exponential '+'. Together they encompass the brand’s vision, values, personality and is a visual interpretation of 'do more'. Furthermore, it suggests digital communication, connectivity and constant evolution with a level of modernity, optimism and fun.

As part of the rebrand, we created the launch advertising campaign, influenced the store interior graphics and designed other applications such as the SIM card, bag and uniform. A jaunty tone of voice was used, supported by colourful, custom styled pictograms. All touch-points were designed to: clearly communicate the 'do more' idea; be helpful and attract the attention of potential and existing customers; and, importantly, raise a smile!

I Like Music is a diverse range of music
related products and services. The brand 
identity needed to transcend language
barriers and relate to people of all ages 
and music tastes. We created a dynamic, 
ever-changing, suite of logos that take
the form of character faces representing 
different genre. The constant is a
smiley-face quaver. Winner of 2010
AIGA award.

The Institute of Civil Engineers Benevolent Fund (ICE) exists to support civil engineers and their families. It does great work but this wasn’t reaching or being recognised by enough people. We created a brand to make the organisation more approachable, understandable and relevant. A new logo (speech bubble/hard hat), a striking visual identity and a powerful tone of voice made ICE more human and direct. Clear messages and new communications emphasised the services of the organisation and the actions it takes. Our work changed the perception and understanding of the organisation, so that more people will support and benefit from its essential services.

The University of Cambridge Judge
Business School did not have the
recognition it deserved. Its brand was
hampered by several name changes
and an inconsistency in messaging and
materials from the school's programmes.
We helped define a new brand focus —
breakthrough — that built on the
University's heritage. We defined a
modern and consistent identity that
could be flexed to speak to different
audiences. And, importantly, we created
an intelligent and challenging voice,
reflecting the quality of thinking and
education the school delivered.

Kaplankaya is a high-end residential, resort and retail development on Turkey’s Aegean coast. A team of local and international architects, including Foster+Partners and Robert Stern, are creating a contemporary Mediterranean townscape founded on a strong commitment to environmental and socio-economic sustainability. Powell Allen is bringing the brand to life, initially with a responsive website optimised for all devices. We have also created a range of printed and digital sales material reflecting Kaplankaya’s upscale profile.

Kaplankaya required a brochure to support its sales materials that captured the essence of the brand and the incredible natural surroundings of the region. We created a photographic portrayal, documenting the unique qualities and characteristics of each of the zones. The tone was 'emotional' and informative. The audience was prospective residents and investors from around the globe.

We were asked to establish an overall signage and wayfinding system for Kaplankaya — a true example of applying a brand identity to every touch point. It needed to capture Kaplankaya's overarching creative philosophy — natural contemporary luxury.

The threshold sign is inspired by the Kaplankaya name, meaning tiger stones. The supporting signage family is created using corten that denotes the natural purity of stones facets.

King’s required a confident, atypical style
brochure that captured their world-class
medical school in practise. The Whole
Body was conceived and pared-down
into two sections — Flesh and Bones.
Flesh aimed to capture the vitality of life
at King’s through editorial photography
and an engaging tone of voice. Bones
outlined the structure and mechanics of
the study options and research groups.

Knock for Sale is a simple way for homebuyers and sellers to connect. It allows buyers to contact owners of homes that are not on the market. And it allows sellers to connect with buyers who’ve expressed an interest in their home.

We created all aspects of the brand including the positioning, name, writing, website and print applications.

Knock for Sale is a start-up in the PropTech space. There is currently a lot of noise and investment in the sector and Knock for Sale needed to stand out. The name clearly captures the business proposition and also works nicely as a catalyst for the writing style. The brand look is bold and simple and the use of illustration allows for a friendly, accessible and mass market feel.

Not for sale? It’s worth a Knock!

WITH PRINCIPLE GLOBAL, MCVI & RADDA

MyRemede is a new company in the CBD (Cannabidiol) market, USA. It was established to unlock the full potential of plant-based treatments for the world and to make their use trusted, credible and safe.

The challenge for Powell Allen and team was to create a brand positioning and identity that set MyRemede apart from the widening array of marijuana-related products.

In a market that has variation in product quality and regulation, we positioned MyRemede with a focus on science and as a brand that stood for credibility, professionalism and responsibility.

A visual language was created to communicate the brand positioning “Clinical Botanics”. The distinct typographic system depicts a metric rule, which supports the brand’s drive to deliver precision on every level. The rules frame all key information. It is supported by a colour palette that uses earth tones with a molecular texture. Natural materials are used for the Interiors that are inspired by old medicinal cabinets.

Panthalassa is a 184 foot luxury yacht
with interiors designed by Foster and
Partners. She was built for charter and had 
stiff competition. The identity we created
was a visual interpretation of the yacht’s
name — meaning ‘all the seas’. It reflects
tranquil waters, nautical maps and the
organic lines of her interiors. The bespoke
marketing materials have helped her
to stand apart in crowded seas.

Our challenge was to coin a name,
identity and website for a charitable
online photographic competition.
The solution needed to communicate
the nature of the company and its brand
proposition “we harness creativity to 
create a positive change for the world”.
The descriptive 4 by 6 logo works on
two levels: it encourages photographers
to capture their unique view of the world;
and implies the positive difference a
donation to charity can make.

In the traditional world of cutlery design,
Studio William is a confident, cutting-edge,
young upstart. They believe that every
product they create must stimulate
every sense. We built a unique brand
around this powerful idea — “creating
sensory forms”. We helped Studio
William understand what makes
them so special. And we gave them the
tools to communicate it effectively.

Transform Coaching is a commercial offshoot
of Youth at Risk, a charity who works with
society’s most disaffected young people
across the UK. Fundamentally, participants 
are introduced to a new way of thinking, a 
new way of connecting with other people
and a new way of coaching. Our brief was
to communicate Transformation. We created 
a maze monogram, with an exit marker that
signifies the individual’s successful journey of
transformation. The mark conveys courage —
a testament that 'achievements aren't always
easily gained, but persevere, and you'll 
reach new levels of performance.' The visual
system uses bold typography and messaging,
reinforced with an underline that stems
from the logo.

Very Important Announcements (aka VIA)
is a web-to-print company. They produce
announcements, invitations and event
collateral for all life-stage events.
The brand needed to engage with a
commercial audience, whilst preserving
a warm, confident and uplifting tone.
We created a suite of ever-changing logos
that represent a variety of announcements.
The geometric acronym is the constant
and hand drawn illustrations are added
to reflect the occasion.

WITH PENTAGRAM, LON
In 1837 London’s first public dining
room was founded at Brown’s Hotel.
Some 170 years later, that date became
the name for the hotel’s new restaurant.
We created a brand that balanced old
and new, traditional and contemporary,
English and French. And with stylish
launch and operational material, we
brought 1837 to life.

WITH SEIGEL & GALE, NY
Berklee’s image had become clinical and
conservative. Yet the real college was
surprising, changing, revolutionary — a
microcosm of the music world. We captured
this radical spirit, developing an identity
based around “nothing conservatory
about it”. Our brand and communications
materials helped shift perceptions,
re-establishing Berklee as the iconoclast
it had always been.

WITH SULLIVAN, NY
Better Homes and Gardens needed
to be better supported by the young
media buying community. They needed
to see the magazine as being about
people, not objects. We created a book
based around their own views of “what
matters most”. It engaged them with
the magazine and helped them to
understand its essence.

WITH PENTAGRAM, NY
Chambers Hotel — in New York’s Fifth
Avenue retail district — needed enough
chic to engage uptowners, but enough
street cred to lure downtowners. Through
a gallery of over 500 works of art, a logo
capturing wit, sophistication and glamour,
and the gritty urban photography of
Fi McGhee, we helped establish one of
the city’s most fashionable hotel brands.

WITH SULLIVAN, NY
Successful conferences are those where
people really get involved, rather than
just watch. For the 7th year we helped
Fidelity create an interactive experience
for its largest retirement plan clients.
We considered every touchpoint. We
designed a bright and stimulating space.
We created key communications and
presentations. We ensured people got
engaged and involved.

WITH PENTAGRAM, NY
NYU Wagner needed to communicate
its role as a leader in reframing education
for public service. It wanted to show
an urgent, urban attitude. It needed to
attract students and donors. We created
a book flexible enough to do those things,
and a style that ensured every piece of
communication celebrated NYU’s unique
approach and location.

WITH PENTAGRAM, NY
Saks had never established a single
logo, colour or pattern. We modified their
1973 logo, anchoring it within a square.
This we subdivided into 64 unique tiles
which could be used individually, rotated,
shuffled and combined to create infinite
forms. Embracing their heritage yet very
contemporary, Saks finally had the
signature brand they desperately needed.

Four leading universities, 54 students, one
national design competition: Responding to
a unique challenge set by design-led cutlery
company, Studio William, Sweet Instruments
of Desire showcased innovative and practical
new cutlery forms to transform how pudding
course is experienced. The winner got their
just desserts... the commercial manufacture of
their design and its distribution through John
Lewis stores. Powell Allen were charged with
the task to create a sweet call to action and
tasteful exhibition, which was held at the V&A
(coinciding with the London Design Festival).

WITH PENTAGRAM, LON
Tesco finest was a range of prepared
meals targeted at the more discerning
consumer. Created and endorsed by
leading chefs, the range needed branding
that reflected their status. We designed
packs using a silver and black colour
scheme and an editorial style of
photography, that communicated and
understated quality — challenging
supermarket packaging of its time.

Part of the Engine Group, Totem was a 
new advertising agency who work with
business, corporate and financial clients.
Our brief was to create an identity system,
which sat comfortably in the corporate
world without being stuffy. The resulting
identity is a modern interpretation of a
totem pole. The totem adapts to a range of
applications and houses an eclectic use
of typography, representing the stacking
symbols characteristic of totem poles.

WITH PENTAGRAM, NY
A windowless basement was converted
into a glamourous, elegant restaurant by
designer David Rockwell. Named Town,
it needed a brand to match. We based
it around a grid of squares, reflecting the
Manhattan street plan, arranged in a
pattern shifting from sparse to dense.
So iconic was the result that it became
a feature of HBO’s “Sex and the City”.

Wimbledon wanted to celebrate
collaboration between disciplines, to
demonstrate its research credentials,
to project its spirit — no easy brief.
We developed a look that was witty
and personal, affordable and extendable.
The system was applicable and appealing
to the research community and the
fundraisers — quoted as “the Veuve
Clicquot of research documents”.

WITH PENTAGRAM, NY
Robert AM Stern, newly appointed
Dean of the YSA had a simple design
brief — surprise people. He wanted to
show the School as a hotbed of
architectural thought — diverse and
inspiring. The identity we created used
a shifting mix of typefaces and graphic
devises. Never the same twice, this loud,
ecclectic look was celebrated and is now
in the permanent collection of MoMA SF.

WITH PENTAGRAM, NY
Yale School of Medicine needed
communication and development
materials that were appropriate for both
corporations and foundations, and
recruitment and admissions. We created
an intelligent overview brochure, which
documented the raw reality and
significance of studying and working
at YSM. This notable piece set the
tone for all future communications.