Two people and the evolution of a design practice. The work shown is a personal reminder of projects we have been involved with. Some are one off solutions, others represent many years working with clients to develop their business.

No computers, everything drawn or pasted-up by hand… remember the smell of Cow Gum, Pantone markers, pencil shavings and annoying Letraset? Late nights, a house to renovate, listening to John Peel after 11pm… it was relentless. The print unions were a pain, we had to join to get work produced, but the industry was slowly changing. Our client base started to expand and we developed our architectural and interior design services to provide clients with a total image. We produced a corporate and retail identity for The Midland Educational Co. which required property alterations and refits to bring them up to date. A new corporate identity for Mebon, corporate literature and fitout of their new HQ followed. Then The Heights of Abraham asked us to be involved in the planning of the the UK’s first Alpine style cable car system… things were looking up!

1976 - 1986 Rose Studios years

Click an image to enlarge.

1986 - 1991 Start of Total Image

Click an image to enlarge.

So we had a business and were getting known! We had moved to a larger property in 1982 and major alterations and renovations followed. An office, studio and darkroom were created and we bought our first computer. A corporate identity for McDonald Engineering with a redesign and extension to their office facilities was the springboard for our rename as Total Image. By then we were offering a comprehensive service and our reputation was growing. Other businesses followed asking us to consider improvements we could make to their property, facilities, publicity, vehicle livery etc. We were using graphic workstations on a daily basis for architectural planning. It was full-on keeping all the plates spinning, but the hard work and continuous late nights paid off but by 1991 we were ready for a change…

1991 - 2004

Click an image to enlarge.

Inspired by the opportunities new technology offered to work remotely, we moved to the Lake District. Some thought it was commercial suicide. The Gulf War didn’t help, the economy went into recession and we had another house to remodel and renovate. Work dried up for three months, then, out of the blue the AEA (Atomic Energy Authority) made contact. They wanted help with a feasibility study for the conversion and decommissioning of the Windscale power station. From then on work with existing and new clients started to flow. Just before leaving for a winter holiday in 1999, and after a three way pitch, we gained another good client Bells Bakers, a company close to our hearts. We were contemplating a move to France but instead moved locally to a property that provided more studio space.

Corporate ID planning

Stationery examples

Croda Mebon rebrand

Croda office improvements

AEA feasibility (low res)

Restaurant branding

Wall banner detail

Detail applications

Retail & brand identity

Distinctive brand image

Company image

Retail concept and design

Glazed entrance screen

Retail project development

Brand design and application

Design and fitting out

Design and fit out

ABB workington

Listed building conversion

ABB reception area design

ABB reception installation

Brand identity

Brand literature

Hotel property conversion

Hotel pool improvements

Hotel reception

Hotel rooms upgrade

Hotel rebrand literature

Corporate ID refresh

Corporate ID application

Retail rebrand

Retail venue branding

Corporate ID program

Corporate ID application

Brand image development

Hotel brand identity

Hotel brand and refurbishment

Hotel brand literature

Property development

Seasonal brand literature

Restaurant brand ID

Restaurant expansion

Retail property development

Retail fit-out

Retail brand application

Retail brand publicity

2004 - 2010

Click an image to enlarge.

A local move and another Lake District property renovation in 2000 was intended to be short-term as we were still considering a move to France. Work continued for Bells who won the Baker of the year marketing award thanks to our rebrand. They also owned The Village Bakery, an organic bakery brand which we redeveloped by upgrading their premises to include a shop and restaurant. The Prince of Wales officially opened the building in 2001. Bell’s shop refits and brand development followed plus the conversion of an old station building into a conference room and visitor reception. A new ‘Free From’ brand was developed and as the company grew we designed a new HQ building, completed in 2008. Both the station conversion and HQ building won architectural design awards.

Digital technology, emails and the internet were the norm and we had already proved we could work from anywhere. We invested in new computers, 3D CAD and visualization streamlined our work flow. Then in 2004, after a final search in France, we decided to move to Cornwall, with the opportunity of a ‘Longere’ plus large barn to convert and grounds to landscape. The Input Group invited us to work on concept development for rail industry and station refurbishment projects, rail signage and exhibitions. And the work continued to flow…