We're looking for amazing Design Directors to join both our Sydney and Melbourne teams. But what does Design Director mean at Interbrand? In a nutshell it means leading a team of designers and working directly with Creative Directors, writers, strategists, motion designers and clients to create world changing brands. You're responsible for leading the design direction of brand identities and other design projects.
So who are we looking for? The right person will have an outstanding design portfolio which demonstrates a high level of innovative conceptual thought, first class graphic design skills and thorough understanding of branding. You'll be a natural communicator, problem solver and innovator, and be obsessed with ideas. Any digital experience is high on our wish list too. Oh, and you'll have to be a normal, down to earth person who'll fit in nicely with our young, energetic culture. Not too much to ask then! You don't need to be a Design Director already. Maybe you're be a senior designer looking for your next challenge, a frustrated art director, or a child prodigy. Basically, we're looking for interesting, talented people who are excited about creating brands which stand apart and change the world. Whether you're here already or fancy a new life in Australia, if this sounds like you then send an email along with your CV and PDF with examples of your work to jobs@interbrand.com.au.
Rachel is the latest winner of Interbrand Melbourne’s Stand Apart award. Rachel is a star in the making and has definitely played a starring role in our client service team over recent months. Ticking off various boxes marked “relentlessly enthusiastic”, “hugely ambitious”, “incredibly proactive”, “brilliant relationship builder” and more, Rach has shown immense talent and dedication in her work across various client projects and internal initiatives. So we were delighted to hand her a spanking new iPad as a reward and put her name up in big magnetic letters on the Stand Apart wall.
August was a glowing month for The Melbourne Theatre Company as it launched its refreshed brand identity as well as a new season of productions for 2013. Interbrand Melbourne was delighted to take the lead on this project and add another outstanding case study to Interbrand’s arts branding portfolio in Australia.
The Melbourne Theatre Company (MTC) is one of the major performing arts companies in Australia and widely regarded as the premier theatre destination in Victoria. Over the years, the MTC has acquired a large and loyal base of patrons who have become regarded as an inner family within the company, as well as a core customer group. With new creative direction at the helm – former Melbourne Festival head Brett Sheehy is the MTC’s new Artistic Director and CEO – and with great potential identified for new visitors beyond the loyal subscribers group, the brief for our strategists and designers was to evolve the brand. To be more inclusive, to be more expressive, and to be more challenging. Furthermore, it was identified that there was potential for the MTC to be more credited for the work it does outside of theatre productions, including education and outreach programs and providing support for other local theatre companies. ‘MTC Shines’ was the idea at the heart of our creative brief and the distillation of our strategic thinking for the brand. It represents the MTC as a beacon of light that shines most brightly in its theatre productions, but also that shines on actors, other theatre companies, theatre patrons and Melbourne in general. Creatively, this led to an identity system based a revised MTC logo that is always glowing brightly and having an effect on anyone or anything in its vicinity. The identity comprises of a spectrum of colours that represent the creative dynamism of the MTC and are expressed through the logo’s glow, a bespoke typeface 'MTC Neon’, and an image-making style that represents the new creative direction of the company. The new identity and 2013 season was launched by Brett Sheehy under the banner of ‘New Light’ in August. The launch was held at the newly renovated Hamer Hall, with over 2000 of the MTC subscriber base in attendance. Launch photos courtesy of Jim Lee. The production posters for 'The Crucible', 'The Cherry Orchard' & 'Neon' are concept only and not final artwork.
Last week Damian presented to a sell-out crowd at AGDA about the principles for building a successful branding firm. Looking at the need for the design and branding industry to extend its influence in the business world, he spoke about the importance of industry growth, professionalism and innovation.
There weren’t any magic formulas for success. Instead, he took a look at the following themes: • Deciding what kind of business you do and don’t want to be — and sticking to it • Why your business model should be as creative as your work • Having something interesting to say: The power of a fresh point of view • Being uncompromising about finding BIG talent • Treating new business as an extreme sport • The importance of curating your portfolio • How profits set you free
It's that time again in Sydney, and we're pleased to say that Adele is the latest winner of the agency's Stand Apart award. Not necessarily one to court the limelight, Adele nonetheless shone out for all her efforts and ideas - and a range of firsts - for the agency and our clients. And to celebrate, we all spent the afternoon (and evening!) at our favourite taqueria, Al Carbon.
On Wednesday this week, Chris M, one of our creative directors gave a presentation to an audience of students eager some useful advice about those daunting first steps out of university. The event, which was hosted by our friends at AGDA, was held at The Surry Hills Library and featured four speakers which all took a different take on the brief. Chris told a very personal, honest and emotional story of the extremes of rejection, failure and elation, which he encountered on his journey to Interbrand. Oh, and if you ever bump into him, ask him about his A3 paper story.
Last weekend, Chris M spent two days judging the Brisbane Advertising and Design Club awards up in Queensland. The club has been representing advertisers and designers in the local area since 1974. It was a fantastic judging jury with some of the countries best representatives from top agencies both interstate and nationally. Special thanks to the lovely people at BADC for putting on such lovely hospitality, and also Dan, Matt and Hugh for being great fellow judges and new friends.
Big congrats to our Sydney Client Director, David! Dave helped lead his football (soccer) team to win the All Age 4th Division, Canterbury District Football competition over the weekend. A game of two halves, the mighty Burwood Strikers never looked in doubt, winning 3-0 in regular time. Well done to Dave and all his bearded team mates.
Last week Mike spoke to a sold out crowd at the Brisbane State Library on 'Life Beyond Logos'. The AGDA talk discussed the transition from an industry once fixated with logos and corporate identity, to one now fully embracing the full power of branding.
In an era of exponential change and unprecedented financial / environmental crises. Mike discussed how brand designers have had to re-think how we create and manage brands, and even our own role within society. He shared some recent examples of brands that have – with the help of their creative partners – managed to completely reconfigure their businesses in order to contribute more meaningfully to the world. He shared his belief that design and branding can – and indeed should – be a transformational force, not simply a lick of paint. That it can reshape businesses, challenge perceptions, unite culture and on occasion, change the world.
Earlier this week Mike and Chris D hosted a free AGDA lecture called"How to tell your parents you're a graphic designer". The light-hearted event explored the perception of ‘graphic design’ from various different perspectives. Featuring (often hilarious) comments from members of the public. It also included conversations with famous designers and their parents.
Many designers took the time to contribute to the event by asking a parent or a child “what do that you think I do all day?” It was amusing to hear that Pentagram Partner Michael Beirut’s mother tells her friends that her son is an architect, or that Michael Johnsons daughter thinks that he ‘doodles’ all day. The talk also featured definitions of graphic design from some of the world’s best communicators, past and present. It was surprising and slightly reassuring to hear that even the likes of Stefan Sagmeister and Paul Rand struggle to clearly define what it is we do. The event ended with a rousing call to arms, for designers to be proud of what they do, to appreciate the influence and positive impact design can have on culture, business and the environment. The talk will be published later in the year and we'll let you know how to get hold of a copy.
We’re very proud to announce that our work for QAGOMA is continuing to gain recognition internationally. At the recent International Design Communication Awards (IDCA), QAGOMA was awarded best branding campaign and 3rd for best logo. We were in good company with MoMA, the Museum of Everything, the Guggenheim Museum and the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts also among the awards winners. The presentation was held at Christie’s at the Rockefeller Centre in New York.
We recently underwent an analysis, strategy program and rebrand for The Australian Institute of Management (AIM). AIM came to Interbrand with a rich, 65 year history focused on facilitating and promoting the advancement of education and learning, in the field of management and leadership for commerce, industry and government.
With more than 25,000 managers and over 5,000 businesses as members, AIM is Australia's largest professional body for managers. They offer world class training facilities and a commitment to managers improve businesses for a better society. Unlike training organisations that offer one off courses and seminars, AIM prefers to take a career long perspective that’s focused on every stage of a career. They invest in their members' journeys from beginning to end, offering guidance, support and education at all levels. It’s this career-long approach led us to position AIM as a guiding voice for managers. And our brand idea 'The Mentor.' Visually the brand takes it cues from modern business communication. Bold, tabloid style typography is paired with vibrant colours and a simple yet distinct illustration style adds insight and humour to a variety of applications. A structured layout system allows AIM to present multiple levels of information and inspiration, encouraging a hunger in people to learn more. The tone of voice is that of a mentor — a guiding voice. A voice that will, for those who listen carefully, point to a pathway. It isn’t there to provide all the answers. It is a voice that is generous and encouraging, offering knowledge, experience and insight. At every level the written information encourages the reader to think more, feel encouraged and ready for the next challenge. No jargon, no acronyms and no clichéd business speak. We're proud to have a played a role in the transformation of a business committed to helping change managers, businesses and society for the better.
Ami is the latest winner of our Stand Apart award, and everyone in the studio agrees she has just the right balance of imagination and intelligence when it comes to creating great brands – plus, she’s now the proud owner of an iPad 3 for all her efforts. The Stand Apart Award is voted on by everyone in the studio, and it recognises those who most stand apart for their hard work, ideas and attitude. This time around, we all celebrated together at Strike Bowling, followed by a Japanese banquet at Kobe Jones King Street Wharf. Congratulations Ami.
In the midst of what many commentators have described as the worst retail environment since the 1960s, we are hosting a half-day forum on how to transform these retail threats to create new value through retail theatre.
With that in mind, we’re gathering experts in a range of panels and presentations designed to look at how to address the new world of retail. How do you set the stage for powerful experiences, and what’s the ideal mix of design and technology? In a world where it’s often the little things that matter, how do brands make a big impression? And how can we shift people from online and offline to standing in line? Speakers include John Batistich from Westfield, Peter Williams from Deloitte Digital as well as representatives from leading online retailers and unique boutique owners – and us. We’re aiming to debate, challenge, present and engage with audience and presenters alike, and ultimately, we expect everyone will have a point of view. If you would like to join us on Thursday 14 June, then contact us here but please note that tickets are very limited. Or, feel free to follow us @InterbrandAusNZ and join the conversation on Twitter #brandspotlight.
Last week Mike was one of three keynote speakers invited along to the annual Billy Blue Design Symposium, a part of the Vivid Festival 2012. The event was held at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney. (Click to read more.)
Mike presented some of his thinking on the subject of creativity for social good. He spoke passionately about his belief that design and creativity can – and indeed should – be transformational. It can challenge perceptions, revitalize businesses and on occasion, change the world. Many thanks to Lulu, Rachel and Andrew from Billy Blue and of course the Vivid team for organising the event. You can read some more of Mike's thoughts on the power of creativity in this Q&A posted on The Disciples of Design site yesterday.
This week, Andy from our Melbourne studio was invited to appear on ABC radio to discuss the recent calls for South Australia to re-brand – and even to re-name itself. As part of the interview, Andy outlined some of the principles of branding, and specifically warned of the pitfalls in simply re-naming without actually getting to the source of the problem. It’s the scale of the gap between the promise and reality of what people experience by which brands thrive or fail, and Andy duly pointed out that the call for a public competition to re-name the state won’t truly fix anything for the long term. It was a pretty wide-ranging discussion, and there were even some txts and calls from listeners with suggestions for a new name! Have a listen to the discussion and let us know what you think.
Are you sick and tired of racking out the same old brand onions and generic positionings? Do you weep into your pillow at night, wondering where your creativity got stifled? When you close your eyes, are you still tormented by your latest 199-page slide show?
Fret not. Interbrand Sydney has the solution for you! Strategy 2.0 is a new and improved formula, designed around you and your needs. We’ve ditched the decks and PowerPoint; thrown out the temples and lost the levers. Instead, we build brand walls, big ideas and powerful analogies. The ideal candidate for this Senior Strategist role will have been around the industry block a few times and yet be ready to start all over again. To hear more and apply for this role, just get in touch and email us your CV.
At Interbrand, we believe that brands have the power to change the world, and recently we got the proof. Last year we designed the new brand for Alzheimer’s Australia – designed to put a fighting spirit at the heart of the brand to raise awareness of the public and government. Last week the Australian Federal Government announced aged care reforms and their plan to tackle dementia, making it a major health priority. This achievement is the first goal in a ten year plan we delivered as part of the rebrand. It's huge news for both Alzheimer’s Australia and ourselves.
The Government’s proposals for tackling dementia address the key priorities in our Fight Dementia Campaign. Particularly; timely diagnosis; improving the quality of dementia care; improving acute care services; support for people with younger onset dementia; and expanded support through the National Dementia Support Program to improve access to better coordinated services. Ita Buttrose, President of Alzheimer’s Australia, said the Government’s package showed that the Prime Minister and the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, have not only listened to people with dementia but have responded comprehensively to their priorities. “It’s great to see a genuine focus on dementia in the aged care reforms. Dementia is getting the attention it deserves.” Ita Buttrose For us at Interbrand this is the best news that we could expect to hear. Our rebrand of Alzheimer’s Australia has done exactly what it was intended for – getting people talking about this devastating disease. Having the Australian government take notice of our campaign highlights the importance of branding and what it’s capable of doing. Changing the world. You can read the full press release here.
This month Telstra launched their Connected Home – a suite of products and service which opens customers’ eyes to incredible entertainment and communication possibilities when their homes are uber-connected. We worked with DDB to conceive the Connected Home offer and communication platform to express this new idea to customers. Since the offer is modular and configurable we chose building blocks to explain it. A family of animated characters live in a completely modular, blocky world, which comes to life when connected.
The campaign plays out as a series of animated ads above the line (from DDB), and an interactive in-store retail experience which allows customers to build their own connected home. We scripted, storyboarded and directed a number of animations to explain the connected home offer in-store, which you can see below. The animations were produced by the marvelous Flutter in Melbourne. To learn more about Telstra’s connected home click here. To see DDB’s Connected Home ads click here.
Every year, Interbrand announces the internal Best Work Awards, which celebrates the best work from our 35 offices around the world. This year we are delighted to announce that Interbrand Australia has won awards in two categories. Alzheimer’s Australia for Best Brand Expression, and Telstra for Best Brand Introduction. We also won an honorable mention for Verbal Identity, for a project which we can’t quite talk about yet. But that’s not all. We were also given the ultimate award from the competition – The CEO award, which honours the office which best exemplifies our core values. This year they gave it to Interbrand Australia, which encompasses both Sydney and Melbourne. We’re delighted to have received this recognition from our friends around the world.
