After being inspired by Anton’s earlier post about the Sgt Pepper’s Album cover, I started to think about how vinyl album covers used to be a great source of art.

Unfortunately, my love for music came later in life and most of my music is digital, either CD or download, so I missed most of the vinyl buzz. Some years later I consider myself to be just a little bit of an audiophile and would happily throw out all my CDs in favour of old analogue plastic if only I could find vinyl copies of everything I have. You have no idea how much restraint it takes to not buy a Sondek LP12 and throw away your CD collection – especial when you work for Linn, but I digress…

I remember growing up listening to some rather obscure music, you see my Dad played the organ in a band when he was younger and I suppose he got the bug from my Grandfather who was the number 2 member of “The Hammond Organ Owner’s Society” (cue Arnold Rimmer jokes.) In his day, prog rock was at it’s peak and he listened to music from bands like Emmerson Lake & Palmer, Procul Harum, The Nice and a band called Beggars Opera. The thing I remember vividly though was the artistry that went into some of the album covers. The one that immediately springs to mind is “Pathfinder” which looks impressive enough as just an album cover (as above) but the whole thing folded out to reveal five other album sized panels creating a poster that was two albums wide by three albums tall. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find the full image (perhaps my Dad still has it in the loft) but I can assure you it was an impressive, albeit surreal looking painting of a man in a space suit riding a horse on the moon!

Ok it’s not to everyone’s taste but isn’t that what this type of art is all about? It’s about getting noticed and getting people talking. Perhaps we can all take a leaf out of Beggars Opera’s book and do something different with our marketing. There have been countless occasions throughout recent history where this marketing has worked, wether it be the “Best Job in the World” campaign or the spate of T-Mobile Spontaneous Dancing adds, love it or hate it there’s no doubt that it will get people talking about you, your brand, heck even your country. Sure we can all produce something “safe” like a standard flyer and that’s fine, perhaps you’ll get a 0.02% return on them but to really get people talking it sometimes helps NOT to play it safe. Just something to think about the next time you go to order 10,000 A5 flyers just because they are cheap!

We would like to welcome visitors to the Advanceworx blog, old and new. We are a creative agency with a common philosophy to what we do, “If it ain’t creative…It ain’t gonna sell”!

This blog is everything that is creative. What we love, what inspires us, the work carried out for our clients – who they are and what they have achieved and of course us. We are a tight team made up of creative graphic designers and illustrators, web designers and developers, account managers and of course all round passionate people for what we do.

Within our articles you will also find out more about our partners; from public relations to IT and marketing to business development.

Our services are wide ranging but all have one common factor, creative design.

From our creative marketing we supply:

Print  |  Display  |  Websites ( online database solutions, ecommerce systems, content management systems and more)

Our clients are as wide ranging as our services and range from public sector to private companies.

We build on client relationships from day one becoming integral to the successful communications they have with their audience.

This blog offers something for everyone. If you want to browse and find a creative way to pay your bills, yes this is a must see.

If you want to be inspired for your next project or if you want to find out more about us, our partners or our friends (that’s our customers of course – each and every one is a friend) then feel free to browse this blog or our own website for that matter.

We hope you enjoy this blog, keep visiting as we are ever changing our articles and take the opportunity to sign up for our regular communications that will keep you ahead with what you need to know about creative marketing.

Take care, enjoy the blog and let’s get together soon.

Yes we all know that tune. Coca-Cola bring what’s good about Christmas marketing. They remind us of previous joys, they excite us about the prospect of new seasonal adventures and yes of course they bring brand awareness of their product to the masses once again.

Clever marketing is always targeted, successful marketing is always considered and marketing that provides a return on investment, well that’s just doing it’s job.

Do we all think the clever marketing people at Coca-Cola considered what we would all think? You better believe they did. The campaign has lasted the test of time because it has made all considerations, it has researched consumer perception and hit the target audience with something that leaves a lasting impression.

At this time of year we are bombarded with marketing noise. Some companies will spend all year developing campaigns to reach us at this prime time for them. Matalan have launched their first TV advertising in four years, Terry’s chocolate orange have made a return, reminding us that the little round pressie is the perfect stocking filler.

What’s been your favourite, or most annoying, advertising for Christmas? We would love to hear all your thoughts.

So what can we all learn and take forward to 2011 with this targeted approach of marketing? Considering your audience means you have taken the first step in being targeted in your approach.

What do they want to hear?
How will they associate with your brand, become aware and create further awareness for you?
How do you best structure your offering to the sectors you service?
What longevity can be achieved from a singular campaign?

Understand your audience and your marketing will not only be targeted but will also stand out, will meet with your audience’s requirements. We may not all want a glass of Coca-Cola at Christmas, maybe something a little stronger, but we will remember the product, the brand and what they have made us believe it stands for.

Starting to consider some of the points above may just be the difference between success and failure for your campaigns in 2011 and remember, please always consider that audience.

Something to finish on and for you all to have a think about? In 1931 Coca-Cola ran a series of magazine advertising featuring Santa Claus. To be precise their Santa Claus – that jolly man in the red suit that we have all became accustomed to – well that portrayal was brought to us firstly by Coca-Cola and now almost 75 years on that brand exercise is still very much a part of our Christmas vision.

The adverts will all return to our screens we may even buy the product but for now here is a wee reminder of why we love holiday marketing.

La 10 is a new, exciting and contemporary collection from Celtic Art. Drawing inspiration from natural elements, as well as traditional Celtic influence. Lead designer Philip Robson explained to us “La 10 is a natural progression from the Celtic Art brand. We are excited by the prospect of taking these new designs to the public and the marketing work delivered by Advanceworx is something that is not only reflective of our vision for the brand, but also inspirational in it’s approach. With the launch of the brand and marketing taking place early January it is and exciting time for us as a company and our relationship with Advanceworx has been one of complete partnership.”

It has been a pleasure to work with the team at Celtic Art and La 10 and the new collection is something that has excited us from day one, so much so that we are already purchasing pieces. The project is one that will see us work on a new ecommerce website for Celtic Art, as well as a sister site for the La 10 brand, which will include brand identity, brochures, online marketing and social network marketing.

We will bring you more news as the project develops as well as links for the launch of the site.

We are pleased to announce the launch of the new Orco Blinds brand and website. As a leading supplier of window blinds and shutters, Orco Blinds are a company who are not only bringing solutions for clients but are now also bringing business opportunities to the market. The company and brand has now launched as a franchise opportunity with plans to have Orco Blinds franchise partners throughout Scotland and beyond.

From day one Orco Blinds Director, Mark McGonnall gave us freedom to create a brand and communications that would not only reflect the company’s home furnishing solutions but also be something, with their growth plans, would develop with them.

The statement, First Impressions… Lasting Quality, is so very true of the products they supply and the service and aftercare that they are renowned for.

Mark told us recently:

“The development of Orco Blinds has been achievable through the brand, communications and advertising that has now seen the company communicate better with clients, inform of our products and also has seen sales growth across our products. Our relationship with Advanceworx is one that now has developed to the point that we trust and allow them to control all our marketing activities”.

Mark also informed us that they recently received an order from the USA of all places. A customer found the website and ordered a full house of blinds for their parents still living in Cumbernauld. Mark joked that anyone interested in the Orco Blinds America Franchise should make contact!

To date Advanceworx have delivered new identity, brochures, advertising, website and franchise operator manuals.

Mark and his team have been great to work with. Their vision for the business and how people engaged with the company and products made our job that little easier.

To find out more about Orco Blinds, log onto  www.orcoblinds.com

Soon you could be looking through a window with Orco Blinds.

Sometimes you need to get creative with your golfing. We love this!

Watch as David Howell, Paul McGinley, Marcel Siem or Rhys Davies all try to skim a ball over two hundred yards and strike a gong! Yes you read correct.

We know all golfers need a little luck and they are good, very good golfers, but is there luck? Well the video is shot at a beautiful spot in Ireland called Killarney, so maybe the luck o’ the Irish!

Right. Off to get the clubs, my flippers and a snorkel. Well they golf balls are expensive but need to try this!

One of our favourite artists is Banksy. Some of you may be familiar with the graffiti artist who’s works are as sought after as the man himself.

The maverick street artist has kept the public guessing over his identity for many years, despite his artworks selling to the likes of Brad Pitt and David Beckham. Much plagiarised, his work has drawn critical and public approval and banksy-esk style artists are all around. Thought to be Robert Banks from Bristol is about as much as anyone really knows, although many claimed photographs have emerged. With his anti-capitalist and anarchist views and images, Banksy has the incredible effect of making us smile and then making us think, think hard and consider the image.

Plenty of controversy surrounds Banksy which assists in his marketing, an approach that seen a recent auction of 10 of his works sell for more than £500,000 at Bonhams. When one of Banksy’s artworks, stenciled on a wall in Bristol came under threat a public vote saved it with 97% of people polled by the Council showing their support for one of their favourite sons.

Graffiti is a crime, my God some of it makes our landscape ugly, but a Banksy, well that is Art.

No one can deny his talent, his satirical tongue and his ability to market himself, with works in London and now spreading all over the world, the Banksy phenomenon is here to stay. A couple of builders working on a recent re-development tried in vain to auction what is believed to be a Banksy piece, but were however unsuccessful due to Banksy declaring his external work is for everyone.

We love Banksy and our own Gino who you will meet in future posts and who is also no stranger to controversy, is a Banksy disciple telling us “Banksy is best… Graffiti is good.” Approve of disapprove it is always worth a look. As well as our feature image we have selected a few of our favourites plus a short film about the artist himself, well worth viewing.

Take a look at the attached Video. A great insight into the mystery surrounding the man.

To see more of Banksy’s work visit www.banksy.co.uk and look out for more from Gino!

In an earlier post we brought you the iPad painting talents of David Jon Kassan. Now it’s time to see his true talents.

David is an American artist from Brooklyn and his works are some of the best art we have witnessed for many years. Look at the image again, as the first time you may have thought this was a photograph, well it is not.

David’s works have the ability to paint stories, all be it stories which you create. His work has a habit of feeling like it has got to the very bottom of the subject’s soul and found what he needs.

Immersing himself into his subject seems to allow him to allow us all to relate to the work, feel as if we know what the person is thinking, incredible.

A recent quote from David says

“Drawing is more than a medium, it is a concept”.

To see some more of this artist’s work log onto davidkassan.com

Advanceworx have been commissioned to deliver a Re-Brand and full marketing programme for AB Air Group. As one of the UK’s

Leading ventilation companies the principals have recently re-structured the business to incorporate all divisions, from maintenance to support and leasing options.

The client base for the group is as varied as their solutions and products and for us the thing that has shone through in our research is the innovative and environmental aspects of the business. The principals of the company are very knowledgeable and bring that knowledge and commitment to bringing new and better ventilation systems to the buildings we all use every day, from new build homes to underground car parks. The business has also been awarded a number of accreditation and seen them being named as sole distributors for many leading product suppliers.

Our work to date has seen us produce new identity and brand toolkit and guidelines, which has led to the creative for a new public facing and ecommerce website, which we will bring you more news of soon. It is very exciting to work with such a forward thinking innovative company.

Our task is to have a brand and marketing communications that communicates well to a number of audiences including architects, surveyors, housing associations and many more. With such a diverse range of solutions and even products that are contemporary in look and design, (some pieces we would have as furniture they look so good), our job is taking shape from the company.

We will bring you more news as we go along.

Whilst being creative we love to listen to music that has inspired us in varied ways. Last week listening to an album that we have grown up with, the chat turned to the creative artwork. Sgt Peppers Lonely Heart’s Club Band by The Beatles. With all the news of the eventual inclusion of The Beatles on iTunes, who thought of the good old days of buying albums, even back to buying vinyl.

Remember the feeling of  picking up that album cover, taking in the graphics, reading song words, credits and everything about your album of choice. Well with iTunes we lose sight of this, but we have decided to celebrate some of our favourite album covers and let you all know a little bit of history behind their concept. We all agreed on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band being one of the most iconic album designs created.  OK discussions start. What was the thinking behind the artwork? Who created this masterpiece and of course the age-old challenge…how many people can you name from the cover?

Firstly the thinking behind the creative.  Well this comes from the principals of Sgt. Peppers Musical concept. A make believe band created by The Beatles. Well if we have a make believe band, who would be the make believe audience for our first live concert was the band’s thinking.

With this concept the band turned to renowned 1960’s pop artist Peter Blake. Blake’s early work seen him work within advertising but his passion was always within the creative arts. His vision for the artwork was to create a montage piece, something he was already famous for, and turn this into an iconic piece to be remembered for all time. The band worked closely with Blake to compile a wish hit list of their audience and with it rumoured at the time that George Harrison and John Lennon were dabbling with LSD, it was always going to be a surreal moment in time that would carry some controversial choices.

The finished artwork carries some 67 faces to recognise. A figure they reckon decided on due to the albums release date. Some of the faces wanted for the cover never quite made it for one reason or another:  Hitler and Jesus (Both wanted by Lennon) were not included for fear of the controversy, Ghandi, again as EMI Bosses felt this may upset the record buying public in India. Actor Leo Gorcey was taken out because he requested a fee. Remember him?

So much surrounds the artwork. Rumours of cover ups, Paul McCartney is dead, which still were evident in the Abbey Road cover, another day, song lyrics printed inside the sleeve a first and the spoofs that have been spawned from it, from Frank Zappa to The Rutles, the real imaginary Beatles band!

For all of us at Advanceworx we like to just think about the cover as we listen to a classic album and of course try to name each and every person featured. Why not have a go yourself, let us know how you get on and please don’t go searching the internet for the answers…it’s no fun!