University annual report gets 

international stamp of approval

We’ve won another international design award for the University of Liverpool.

The 86-page annual report took bronze in the 2009 Circle of Excellence Awards for the New York-based CASE (Council for Support and Advancement of Education).

The agency was tasked with communicating the University’s international standing.

An exclusive set of University ‘postage stamps’ designed by Kirsty Morris, embracing the Liver bird corporate branding, and suggestive of the global reach of the University, headed up each section.

The coloured stamps, allied with text in Chinese and English, plus stunning photography, meant readers were left in no doubt about the University’s achievements worldwide.

It also wooed the judges. as they scrutinised 118 entries from higher education institutions around the world.

“We knew we were on a winner when we saw the finished result,” said Publications Manager Suzanne Elsworth.

“This is the fourth international award we have won for projects worked on with Da Vinci - and hopefully there are many more to come!”

“This was a quality production,” said Creative Director Steve Lord. “Terrific initial concepts and then beautifully designed by Kirsty.

“We’ve hit a rich seam of success with the University and, despite the challenges of producing its biggest ever annual report, including Chinese translation, working with Suzanne’s team made the process as smooth as possible.”

The award will be presented at the CASE Europe Annual Conference to be held in Liverpool in August.

Steve Lord
Creative Director
Da Vinci Communications

Oh my gosh...

Where did those 11 months go?

I started our blog with the best intentions, and thoroughly enjoyed rattling off two in successive months.

But then, as though I’d tried a non chocolate diet - I not so much gave in, but swiftly returned to the easy way out...and said to our blogmaster/mistress Kirsty “I’ll do it next week...I’ll do it next week...I’ll do it”

And then she stopped asking. Well I’m back, and a lot has happened.

Biggest news is that we’ve won the Best Trade Media Advertising Campaign for our client Travel Counsellors...for the second year running. And the ‘Famous Names’ campaign was just pipped at the post for Ad Campaign of the Year.

A great result for designer Ali Skinner’s terrific creative, and wonderful response and recognition from Steve Byrne, MD of the world’s biggest home-based travel agency -

“To win these accolades is a massive achievement and compliment to you and your team,” he said.

Adding: “To do so with a relatively small agency makes the award even more special and just shows to us the power and benefit of the personalised, attentive creative service you and the team provide for Travel Counsellors and your other clients.

“And, then to top all that, it’s the second time in recent years you’ve won this award. How fantastic is that. You must be really proud of your team and so are we.”

The Chartered Institute of Marketing Travel Industry Group awards showcased the crème de la crème of the British travel industry’s advertising and public relations.

And that’s where this third blog finishes because I’m saving other news, views and chit chat for two weeks time. I promise.

But before I sign off, I must just mention my biggest personal news - I’m a grandad. I hate the term, and please don’t use it when I’m in earshot.

But oh my goodness, has Maisy changed my life!

Steve Lord
Creative Director
Da Vinci Communications

Two design awards, 

a European Cup 

and fingers crossed... 

some new business.

Our second blog has ‘winning’ as a core theme. My team - United - have just clinched the European Cup; Da Vinci have gone one better, and won two international design awards...and most importantly, we’re on the road to winning our lifeblood - new business. What a rollercoaster ride of emotions in Moscow - for me, safe at home in front of the Sony Bravia, for the fans at the Luzhniki stadium and for millions around the world. But not for the Guardian’s miserable Richard Williams who described the scintillating match as “devoid of the exotic contrasts and unpredictable internal contests that once marked this most glamorous club contests.” He obviously missed the Juventus AC Milan 0-0 draw at Old Trafford in 2003. 

On to more important matters. Young designer Alex Dempsey’s ‘Legacy’ brochure won an internationally recognised design award (see left) for our client the University of Liverpool. And Stan, Kirsty and Leena’s Photoshop extravaganza - The 100 Facts booklet (see left again)- won similar acclaim for the same client. Wonderful news for the agency, and great news for our partners Taryn, Suzanne, Janis, Kerry and Jenny in Corporate Communications. 

Lastly, but not leastly, our little agency is on, what the peddlers of jargon call a business development push. I call it chasing new clients. We’ve just about got one in the bag, a couple of promises and more presentations booked. But the best way of getting new business is by recommendation. So, with no attempt at subtlety, if you like who we are and what we do for you. Please mention our name at every opportunity. If your name dropping wins us a client, I can’t promise a European Cup...but I can promise a case of wine! So we could all be on a winner.

Steve Lord
Creative Director
Da Vinci Communications

Ryan Giggs, cheese and pickle 

and our first blog

This is our first blog. It was Kirsty’s idea. She said our website was far from popular with Google. I said I wasn’t surprised because we haven’t got one (it’s being re-designed). Anyway, if it helps get Da Vinci Communications noticed then it’s fine with me, so I agreed.

But what shall I write about, I posed. Past, present or future? I’ve been around since Apple Macs were featureless, grey, nine inches square and sat so that you could rest your elbow on the top -much like the dormouse in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Squeezed between a march hare and a mad hatter waiting for his head to be stuffed into a teapot. Now those were the days.

But what style of writing shall I adopt, I mused. I’ve always admired the car writers in the Sunday magazines who are given a thousand words to review the latest Porsche. And then go on to describe in great detail the cheese and pickle sandwich at their favourite pub...in 900 words. Before delivering a 100 word finale touching on the car. But what if nobody reads it, I feared. I suspect that’s the risk you take. That, and unwittingly exposing your true self; courting libel; wasting time; flattering clients; cheesing off suppliers; name-dropping (Ryan Giggs was 10 feet away and didn’t say hello) and finally delivering written evidence, to the rest of the agency, that you are truly madly, deeply... crackers.

Well that’s 250 words without knowing where I’m going. I suspect I’ll be back later to talk about our agency, our work and our clients (if they’ll let me). In the meantime, why not take a look at three little projects that have passed through Da Vinci’s job bags in the last few weeks.

Steve Lord
Creative Director
Da Vinci Communications