5. nspi
Hello. You’ve probably heard it all before, about how agencies
are amazing and wonderful, and the perfect partners for your tilt
at world domination. But flannel just isn’t our style; we’re about
actions. We create brand communications, which make people
sit up, take notice and THINK. And then, vitally, DO something.
Hopefully, something, which, in some big or small way improves
their life.
We’re really happy to say our campaigns have been working their socks off
too. Not only for our clients, who’ve asked us to champion their brand, but
also for the people, at whom the messages have been aimed. We’re genuinely
chuffed to have been involved in improving our clients’ brand shares and
awareness. But equally importantly, we’re also very proud of the positive
effect, which our work has had on people’s health, outlooks, relationships
and communities.
ople.
For us, it’s all about creating real change for real people. And instead of target
audiences, we’d rather just talk to people the way we’d like to be spoken
to. It’s about respect and feelings. So here’s what we hope is a rewarding
collection of some of the good feelings we’ve had a hand in creating.
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6. Listen.Fe
el.Groove.
Manchester Jazz Festival - Marketing Materials.
When we were first approached to promote the festival, we Looking at it from a festival goer’s point of view, we thought it was pretty
couldn’t tell our Acker Bilks from our Miles Davies. But we soon important that we directed people to the festival website, so they could actually
got into the groove and understood why people were so passionate listen to the artists, who were playing and choose who to see. It must have
about the music. We set about spreading the word to generate a worked, because the venues were packed.
truly cosmopolitan atmosphere for the city and getting everyone
tapping along to the beat. The Festival was, by all accounts, a wonderfully rewarding event for everyone
it touched. Including us. Nowadays, our Sunday mornings aren’t complete
We decided to hit the streets strategically with all the media you’d expect, and without Donald Byrd playing Cristo Redentor; mind-blowingly beautiful.
also some you mightn’t. The ripple effect was that we got heaps of non-jazzy
people to volunteer as stewards, and they made friends with people they
wouldn’t have otherwise met – which was very cool indeed.
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9. Halsall Racing Team - Brand Identity.
The guys at Halsall had more than an idea of what they wanted to Now, in the pits, we’re happy to report, they get nods from the other, more
achieve; they had a clear vision. They wanted everyone to know heavyweight crews, who go over to chat and have a look at what the Halsall
about them, and to see them as a genuine, up and coming force guys are up to. Apparently, it’s even made other teams’ riders feel twitchy
on the racetrack grid. They certainly had the talent and the drive. about who’s breathing down their necks. It’s really good to know we helped
And that passion and professionalism inspired us. create that little seed of doubt in other teams to help the Halsall riders to come
through and steal the line.
So we really gave it the beans, and created a dramatic brand-look and
eye-popping racing colours, which gave Halsall the confidence to feel like
a team, as a serious contender with a real chance of getting some wins.
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11. Rossendale Triathlon - Brand Identity & Website.
WHAM. They call it ‘Winning Hearts And Minds’. But we had an
opportunity to help people to win their own hearts and minds.
Along the way, they’d gain self-respect, self discipline and a
sense of achievement.
It didn’t matter that they weren’t super-heroes; we wanted to appeal to normal
people, who might be quietly piling on the happy fat; and not feeling too chuffed
about it. We wanted to get them to just have a go, to put in the effort and to see
what they were capable of. To surprise themselves and to make a difference to
their lives.
All we could do was to give them a nudge to help them ignite their own flame.
They say, ‘the hardest part of any work out is putting on your trainers’.
But after the beads of sweat, the grinding pain, dark early mornings and the
hours of positive self-talk involved in getting to the Triathlon starting line, we’re
sure there are thousands of swimmers, runners and cyclists, who might have
something to say about that. And we couldn’t publish most of it. But equally,
if all that grief and sacrifice has paid off with one fitter, more satisfied person,
who’s happier with themselves and their world, then we’re satisfied too.
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13. Educat
e.Nurtu
re.Grow.
NHS Bolton - Think Positive.
Everyone has bad days, when the black clouds roll in and
everything we touch turns to, well, not gold. But there is also a
Real pointers like staying in touch with friends, getting out and meeting new people,
taking up a new interest or hobby by – singing, painting, writing, a sport – anything to
growing group of lost, hopeless people for whom every waking stimulate and entertain the mind. By all accounts, the results were rather more than
moment is a living nightmare. So we were very sensitive to the fact positive, and we were rather more than pleased to have helped people enjoy their
lives more.
that the work we created could potentially really help get someone
out of a deep psychological hole.
We set to creating all kinds of material; from branding and workshop materials including
a bespoke board-game, postcards and even a book for school kids with a diary to track
their feelings. The idea was to give people real suggestions and practical help on how
they could feel better about themselves, their future and their world. 11
15. Help.Te
ach.Ins
pire.
Lancashire Wildlife Trust - Annual Reports.
You might think people are already busy enough working or
looking after their families. So finding time to volunteer to go out
and dig in the mud might not strike many people as an attractive
use of their quality leisure time. But we couldn’t have been more
pleasantly surprised at the outcome of the work we created for
Lancashire Wildlife Trust.
As it turned out, people couldn’t wait to get involved creating and maintaining green
spaces and new habitats for wildlife. Our work got them to stop sitting in front of
computers and televisions, and, instead, to start enjoying the soul-nourishing reward
of nature with all its sights, sounds, textures and aromas.
Apparently, for the volunteers, pulling their wellies on, grabbing a spade and getting
out in the fresh air with all its wonderful sensory overload did as much good for their
heads as their efforts did for the environment. Whilst they were doing some real physical
activity and doing some good for their surroundings, the volunteers also got to feel
good about themselves and savour those experiences in the company of kindred
spirits. They say hard work never hurt anyone, but this project proved that it can actually
help people.
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17. Lancashire Police Authority - Typecast.
What a brilliant idea to engage young people’s creativity and
enthusiasm. If only this project had existed when we were kids.
The core of the project was for teenagers to express their feelings
about how they saw the world.
Their say, their way. They were invited to challenge the negative stereotypes,
which adults had of them: to prove that they weren’t all gang members just
because they had number 1 haircuts and wore hoodies. So we promoted the
Typecast Project through schools and hoped we could spark the kids to react.
And boy, did they spark and light up.
The flood of entries dealt with all kinds of subjects from knife crime to
anti-social behaviour, drugs and alcohol. Some kids did poems in text,
some did videos on their mobiles and some kids mixed music demos.
The results were gobsmacking. From our point of view, it certainly proved
that the next generation has something to say, and the talent to say it well.
The project culminated in an awards ceremony hosted by Rock FM, and
we’re more than proud to have helped bring the generations together. 15
18. Enjo
NHS Bolton - Hope You’re Well Campaign.
When NHS Bolton approached us about some supporting material
to help improve the health and wellbeing of Bolton and its
people, we knew we had to jump on board – especially as it was
so community focussed, and, what we don’t know about our
community isn’t worth knowing!
We had the real pleasure of putting a face (literally) to every strand of the
spec
public health team from Health Trainers to Weight Management. We did
this via dedicated photography and supporting materials that saw us on
the street in the Town Centre, to being in people’s homes for a real
personal representation.
The photography and supporting materials would be seen by all kinds of
people at all stages of life, from mums who wanted to know more about
weaning sessions for their little ones, to people serious about quitting smoking.
The good news on the bush telegraph is that we helped motivate people to
get out there, start growing their own vegetables and even get themselves
down to their local allotment and make some new friends. So, if you see a
nefi
smiling pensioner rolling around in the mud with a handful of cabbages,
our work is done.
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21. Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - Research and Development.
Of course, we take every brief seriously, and think long and This working hospital not only looks after, treats and cures patients, but it’s also
hard before we put pen to paper. But when it came to creating home to teams of Research Specialists involved in developing treatments for
campaigns for this Research and Development Team at Blackpool people of all ages suffering with all kinds of ailments and conditions. And all
Victoria Hospital to educate patients and visitors about the those people have friends and relatives, who’ll all benefit from the effectiveness
essential work, or to encourage volunteers to take part in clinical of those new treatments or discoveries.
trials, well, ‘serious’ took on a whole new meaning. This was
about changing lives. So, for us, more than working in a design agency, we feel a real sense of pride
to be actively involved in promoting this important, vibrant environment.
Assis
t.Dev
Adva
elop.
nce.
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23. Lancashire Wildlife Trust - Seven Acres.
Talk about great things from small things grow. For us, it began Alongside the team we helped teach the kids how to cook outdoors and how
with a request to build a website for The Lancashire Wildlife Trust. to make shelters, which certainly challenged them, but definitely made them
However, when we found out where this site content was to come smile. Lots of pictures were taken and resource materials collected to give the
from - we just had to be part of it! earthy, highly visual website the look and feel we had in our mind. Just knowing
the difference we could’ve made to kids’ lives that day has made any effort we
Their team were taking local school kids on trips to Seven Acres Nature put into the project more than worthwhile.
Reserve, where they were not only getting involved in some hard graft, but
they were also learning about the power of transformation and what’s possible.
The area has been rescued and utterly transformed for people to enjoy as a
sanctuary, after its harsh history, when it was used for bleaching as part of
Bolton’s cotton industry. 21
25. lan.Pros
Invest.P
per.
Lancashire Police Authority - Investors In Policing.
We were asked to make people in the community aware of,
and invite them to go along to, the Police Family Open Day.
The day really was all about open information, open minds,
open ears and open opinions, which a lot of people found
incredibly empowering and helpful.
The police authority were really keen to find out from the local residents,
what was important to them; how they’d like to shape their community,
and how they wanted their hard-earned money to be most productively
spent on policing priorities. Members of the community were invited to
share their experiences, and they could even go in the video booth and
give their non-sugar-coated opinion on how things were, or how they’d
like them to be. Together with the police authority, they created some
priorities and targets for real change in their community. By the end of
the day, we really felt as if we’d made a real contribution to helping knit
the community, and its desired policing priorities together. 23
27. Run.Pla
y.Welco
me.
Bolton Arena - You’re Welcome Campaign.
Most people knew about Bolton Arena. But they mostly thought it
was a centre of excellence for elite tennis players. What they didn’t
know was the huge range of activities available for members of the
public to get involved in. We were to spread the word that it was
actually a vast and diverse leisure and entertainment centre, which
even hosts conferences, concerts and comedy tours. If you could
take your bed, you’d never have to go home.
Soon, people were dragging themselves off their couches and pouring through
the doors to join everything from the fitness gym and circuit training, to Pilates,
Zumba and aerobics classes.
Over the summer, swarms of ear-splittingly loud school kids descended on the
instructors to take part in the sports camps. All in all we were proud to have
had a hand in improving people’s health and fitness, and we were glad to be
designers not sports camp instructors.
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28. Seek.Ch
ange.Ad
vise.
NHS Bolton - Big Bolton Health Check.
It’s not often anyone gets the chance to help save people’s lives.
But we’re happy to report that that’s exactly what happened with
the Big Bolton Health Check. Aimed at dramatically cutting heart
disease in men and women aged over 45. The health check was
to have a high profile town centre launch and aimed to test over
46,000 people in its 10 month duration to dramatically reduce
heart disease, the number one cause of premature death in Bolton.
The campaign included a strong visual identity that was executed throughout
various marketing and printed materials.
In the following 10 months, the programme went into communities to help real
people in real places like bookies, bingo halls and cafes. Amazingly, once it had
run its course, the official word was that there had been a substantial reduction
in cardiovascular related admissions to A&E. That’s an awful lot of mums, dads,
sons and daughters to keep celebrating birthdays and Christmas.
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30. er.
ain.Mast
Aspire.G
Wigan Athletic - Premier League 4 Sport.
Wigan Athletic and the other Premier League teams were running
an initiative with the Government. It was a fantastic idea too.
They were putting on classes for kids to learn different sports
– other than football.
The bigger picture was to try to uncover new talents, who might have the
potential to be coached up to a world-class standard to represent the UK at
the next Olympics and beyond. So they weren’t messing around. The classes
were on after school, for kids to do 5 hours a week. There was badminton,
table tennis, volleyball and judo. And it was our responsibility to raise
awareness and get the kids moving. No pressure, but if we helped
Wigan Athletic to get it right then the country might have a crop of new
Olympic hopefuls, who might have otherwise slipped through the net
and grown up watching telly instead of playing sport.
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32. ect.Sugg
Help.Dir
NHS Bolton - The Hole Truth.
est. Young people are going to get tattoos or piercings whether
grown ups want them to or not. It’s just a fact of life. Usually,
the best an adult can hope is that their child doesn’t get a
spider’s web or a skull tattooed on their face. But we were
asked to help close the chasm between the parents and the
child and diffuse some household wars with clear, unemotional
information informing young people about the health risks
and dangers of body piercing.
To fully engage the teenage age-group, the brief demanded peer-to-peer
delivery, bite-size information and high-impact branding. The concept was
therefore focused on mobile and online communication channels to generate a
more targeted response amongst the teen audience by way of a micro-site and
supporting printed literature.
All the information was intended to demystify and de-stigmatise the subject
and make it something young people could actually talk about with their
parents. If they could have a chat instead of a shouting-match about piercing,
and have a chance at a better relationship, then as far as we could see,
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that was more than we could have hoped for.
35. Promot
e.Boos
t.Aid.
Timberland.
There’s never a dull moment in Timberland. Okay, they sell
footwear and clothes, but that’s not WHO they are. If they were a
person, they’d be that smiley, enthusiastic mate you always look
forward to meeting up with, because you know you’re going to
have an amazing time with someone witty, deep, intense, sensitive,
honest and inspiring.
It’s an infectious attitude too. We’d like to think it’s rubbed off on us during
some of the weird and wonderful projects that we’ve been involved in, from
competitions to recycling missions for third world farmers. And we get to feel
good, because we know that the advertising and promotions we create for
Timberland have a powerful and positive effect on the customers. We dearly
hope we create work, which inspires people to want to go into shopping
centres to get their Timberland gear. And then it moves them to get out of
those shopping centres to escape the grey towns and cities, to explore the
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great outdoors, gulp down the fresh air and feel alive.
37. Smile.Ex
plain.Inst
ruct.
NHS Bolton - Active Young Bolton.
Active Young Bolton was a project that we couldn’t help getting
involved with as it was aimed at getting young people out and
about more via a dedicated website, that signposted not only
young people but mums and dads too!
Once they were at the website, the idea was to give them a huge guide
to all kinds of local events, sports and activities to keep children and their
families active, entertained, fit and healthy throughout the year. And away
from computers and televisions, they would have the chance to do all sorts
of activities at all sorts of levels and abilities - everything from table tennis to
roller-skating.
It was really important for us that the idea was grasped with both hands
by everyone who came across it. In this video game world, it’s an absolute
lifesaver to get kids into physical activity, when they’re young. That’s when
they’ll learn good or bad habits for life. And obviously when they’re doing
activities, they’re learning physical skills, but they’re also learning how to
interact with other kids and make friends. Everyone was a winner in this
project. Including society.
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38. Sociali
se.See
.Move.
NHS Bolton - Get Active.
We had fun making the idea of activity a rewarding thing to do, and
not making people sigh with a long, reluctant ‘well, if I really have to’.
So to get people smiling along, we made the website bright, colourful,
optimistic and a bit smutty in a typically English ‘Ooer, matron’ Carry
On style.
The idea wasn’t to get people doing 1000 sit ups before breakfast and only eating
fish, cabbage and sunflower seeds. We realised people are busy juggling their
lives, so we just wanted to give them easy ways they could enjoy doing a bit of
exercise either by themselves or with other people. Everything counted from a bit
of gardening to ballroom dancing and cycling. They didn’t need to spend money
on expensive gear or gym memberships.
There was gentle advice and guidance too, so they didn’t dive off the couch and
try to run a marathon which wouldn’t go well. Part of the bigger picture was to
get people to make a promise to themselves to get active. And once they realised
they were just making excuses why they shouldn’t exercise, they started getting
active and feeling better about themselves from head to toe. Which made us feel
36 better about ourselves too.
40. Focus.Pre
pare.Stre
ngthen.
Uswim - Online Presence.
Salford Quays and swimming. We never thought we’d see those People can hire wetsuits, there’s coaching staff to help them improve
words in the same sentence, but how wrong could we be. We were their stroke, and there’s parking, toilets and changing facilities. It’s all very
asked to create the ‘Uswimopenwater’ website. And what followed well-organised, and after an invigorating swim, swimmers can bring up
has been amazing. their core temperature with hot drinks and snacks.
There are now two open water swimming venues with an active membership But it’s the good-natured banter among the other swimmers, which catches
of 2500 swimmers. And it’s not just elite swimmers – they’re all shapes and a lot of new swimmers by surprise. And how do we know this? Because, after
sizes, ages and skill levels. The water is officially tested and clean, and there a desk-bound week, our own staff members have been inspired to take the
are designated big courses with safety stewards in kayaks. plunge. So we’re getting fit, feeling good about ourselves and making friends,
because we created a website. Bizarre but brilliant.
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43. Sweat.La
ugh.Influ
ence.Timberland - Earth Day.
As you’ve probably gleaned, we really do enjoy being involved in
projects, which have some positive, life-affirming effect on people.
But ours is usually an office-based role. So when Timberland asked
us to be part of their annual Earthday, we were jumping up and
down like puppies with a new Frisbee to chase. We had no idea
who else would be helping us in the mud until we heard the air
brakes and saw the coach loads of Timberland people arriving to
get stuck in with us.
We obviously weren’t going to be just pruning a couple of shrubs. And then the
tools were deployed. Serious ones, everything short of Napalm. We were going
to be really bush-bashing; to thrash a vast, and apparently impregnable thicket
into something altogether more user-friendly. And like a battalion of drunken
musketeers, we hacked our way to glory. Many blistering hours later, at the end
of the big dig, there was a wonderfully clear new area of pastureland and a lot
of us looking past our best. But we were happy. 41
44. Ind
ex. Portfolio is an inspirational agency. It’s our business to inform,
motivate & encourage people to do more with their lives. We do
it through superbly effective marketing communications in every
channel and medium – from advertising to PR, online to outdoor,
mobile to social media.
Portfolio is an inspirational agency. It’s our business to inform, motivate &
encourage people to do more with their lives. We do so through really effective
marketing communication in each and every form – from advertising to PR;
online to outdoor; mobile to social media.
We take inspiration from our target audiences to establish everything from
their preferences to predispositions to define the brand propositions and
personalities that capture hearts and minds. From elite athletes to novice
newcomers we know what it takes to spark a change and maintain their
interest in leisure, sports, nutrition, lifestyles, health, fitness and more.
The magic ingredient to our service is a commitment to working harder
than any other to create effective campaigns that get straight to the point.
Something we believe in with a passion that you’ll find truly inspiring.
We hope you now have a real flavour of what we are all about, however…
we wouldn’t want to sell ourselves short now. So, if you would like to see
more of what we have delivered to our clients, use the QR (for instant access)
opposite. Or visit our website, which is jam packed with our work, and the
people who make ‘Portfolio’ at www.portfoliodesign.net
If we’ve really whetted your appetite, just give us a shout, and we can meet for
a coffee – we’re buying!
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