Innocent (the smoothie folks) have announced that Coca Cola are taking a minority stake in their company.  For those of us who still like to think of Innocent as a quirky, local(ish) brand that’s just done well in the world, this is a reality check.  Like all companies who get to a certain size, Innocent have had to make a call about how they fund their expansion plans.  Coke have the cash and will be more than happy to get a foot in the door at a much edgier, worthier, ultimately BETTER (in all senses) company than their own.

Of course, like all of us who try to be the defiant David to the overbearing Goliath, Innocent really hope that they can positively influence their new investors, and I really hope they can too.  The sad reality is often that these faceless, soulless giants often end up chipping away at what was once so special in the other, ultimately weaker, company.  Been there, done that, saw the destruction.

However, I guess they have a MINORITY stake, between 10-20% apparently, so here’s hoping it won’t change our friends at Innocent too much. Watch this space.

With about two hours’ notice, no make-up or wardrobe available and very little retouching time at our disposal, the lovely Paul Hampton took this shot of us for The Drum’s piece on us winning Design Consultancy of the Year.  Our Stuart (Gilmour, not Gilmore as the video states) even has a go at being interviewed on camera by Stephen Lepitak.

Stand have just been announced as this year’s winners of Design Consultancy of the Year.  We’re rather chuffed.  Maggie’s even been celebrating from the ski slopes of Switzerland and has vowed never to go to the lunch again since both times she’s missed it Stand have been winners.

More news, gossip and maybe even photos to follow.  We’re still on a high. : )

Just posted something to a Facebook event and this is how it was displayed.  00:32 tomorrow - I have the power.

Saw this and rather liked the sentiment behind it.

According to the Artefacture mini-manifesto:

“The role of all design is to optimize human experience from a functional, emotional, aesthetic and enviromental point of view.

Close-mindedness and profit motives aside, given the opportunity, design can, should and will save the world.”

If you’re a believer then proclaim your faith with one of these or any of these.

It has been more than a decade since Tennent’s Wellpark Brewery has had a signage make over and we got the chance to do it! Along with the Tennent’s team we were briefed to contemporise the signage without losing the site’s strong heritage. At first it appeared fairly straight forward, but physical scale, coordinating the build, securing planning permission, proved to be a great challenge - after 3 months build we’re sure you’ll agree it looks pretty impressive!

And following on from this… we’re again working with the Tennent’s team to create a new meeting and reception area at the brewery - what a great job, we’re really looking forward to it!!

Following on from my Twitterific post I thought anyone who wasn’t quite sure about how to use Twitter would find this and this interesting.

If you work out how to get yourself on there then follow us on Twitter at this address: www.twitter.com/standunited

The wonder of Twitter is revealed in this interesting piece from the BBC technology blog.  It seems Twitter users are beating regular journos to getting news online, in the public domain as quickly as possible.  There are some pitfalls however so as with the wonderful world of Wikipedia don’t believe everything you read on Twitter.

We’re going to make the effort to update our twitter profile with any news or interesting goings on so watch this space!

One minute we’re babbling on about all the good that Google can could do with their power these days,  then a quick search of the BBC’s technology news today revealed that Google searching can actually be bad for you, or rather for the environment:

Bad Google

As we say in Glasgow,  ‘you just cannae win’.

Scary stuff.  It seems the bright young things at Google might be better at predicting how healthy (or not) we (or at least our pals in the US) may be at any point in time.  How?  Well read this and it all sounds very simple.

According to Google they can accurately predict how significant or not a breakout of flu will be by looking at the number of people searching flu-related terms via Google.com.  Then Google can accurately estimate current flu levels one to two weeks faster than any other professional report.

 I’d like to think that this was just a nice, helpful thing for Google to do for the greater good but no doubt it’s  the kind of time-critical information the Marketing people for Lemsip, Beechams and the like would be willing to pay top dollar for.

We’ve also just won a project to design a new visitor centre & associated marketing materials for Glendronach Distillery just outside Huntly in Aberdeenshire. The distillery has recently been bought over by Ben Riach who are looking to refresh the brand and distillery in 2009, something we’re really excited to be involved with.

“Stand put a lot of time and effort into their proposal and they had some valid and creative ideas. We’re really excited about the development of the Glendronach visitor centre and feel that Stand will help to create an inspiring and educational environment for our customers.”
Kerry White, Marketing Executive, Ben Riach Distillery Company Ltd

Our sixth pitch win of the month is for another Homecoming Scotland project entitled ‘Where Tomorrow Begins: Reflections of Scottish Innovation‘. We’ve been tasked with designing the brand identity, exhibition, marketing materials and website. 

The exhibition itself captures images of the innovation taking place in Scotland now which will change the world of tomorrow. In images by award-winning Sunday Herald photographer Kirsty Anderson and words from Scottish writers this exhibition will explore the breakthroughs taking place in Scottish universities.

It shall be first shown in the Scottish Parliament on the 1-12 June 2009. It’s hoped the exhibition will also be used internationally and in the first instance, around the cities of Scotland.  

We’ve won another pitch, this time for NHS Health Scotland.

The project is developing & designing a training pack called ‘ Happy to ask, Happy to tell ’. It’s an important piece of work aimed at equality & diversity training for frontline staff who work in a variety of settings. The pack will consist of a handbook, training manual, DVD and memory stick.

Stand have been chosen to work on Scottish Government design tenders over the next three years.
Needless to say we’re delighted to be one of the few given the amazing competition for selection.

More soon.

Just off the press is Johnstons Cashmere’s latest autumn/winter brochure. Promoting womens & menswear and shot in New York, the new brochure will be sent out to buyers to coincide with their showings of the new 09/10 cashmere range.

See the brochure here.

Following a pitch we’ve been chosen to design and develop a vibrant, engaging identity and related marketing materials for Whisky Month, part of Homecoming Scotland 2009. It’ll be implemented across a variety of marketing tools and online activity to promote Whisky Month in May 2009. The design must appeal to the target markets in the UK & Ireland, North America and the rest of the world, being flexible in its approach and fitting within the overall Homecoming Scotland objectives.  

‘ We are delighted to appoint Stand for the design of the Whisky Month campaign. Overall we thought their pitch had been well thought out and had considered the integration of the campaign with the existing Homecoming Scotland brand. ’
Cristina Armstrong, Project Coordinator, Whisky Month, Homecoming Scotland 2009

Visit the Homecoming Scotland site here.

Stand have just been tasked with designing a marketing campaign which will run nationally for NHS Health Scotland, promoting the National Bowel Screening Programme.

Bowel cancer is a major public health problem in Scotland, which has a higher rate of bowel cancer than most countries in the Western world. In Scotland it is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in both men and women with approximately 3,400 new cases diagnosed each year. 95% of cases occur in people ages over 50 years.

Keep up-to-date with our blog, the visuals for this campaign will be up soon.

Another project just printed is “Lessons in Change” a corporate report for the NHS involving both Health and Social Work departments. The content of the report gives details for implementing strategic change within these departments and delivering integrated services for children, particularly within Community Health Care Partnerships.

The design used strong colourways and a simple to read font, making the report easy & straightforward to navigate.

See more on the portfolio page.

…is the new Maclay Murray & Spens LLP Business Review 08/09.The latest design has moved the review on another notch from the previous incarnation, which we designed last year and won a commendation for at the Scottish Design Awards.

We hope to go one better with this year’s version.Click here to view more images of the review on our portfolio page.

Johnstons Cashmere have tasked us with the design of their new Autumn/Winter brochure 09/10 which has just been shot in New York.

It’s to be designed, printed and shipped out over the next month.
Designer Craig Wilson is working on this project - in between his modern dance classes (which he just won’t stop talking about) -  his contemporary moves are now commonplace within the studio.