Prospectus design in Bradford and Leeds

 

 

Looking for a beautiful new prospectus for your school in Bradford, Leeds or the North of England?

Our professional designers will create a beautiful design, featuring your school logo and colours to deliver a prospectus you can be proud of.

We offer a full school prospectus design and print service to schools in Bradford, Leeds and the North of England.

Prices start from less than £1 each*

Includes:
- Stunning creative design – specially for your school
- Direct contact with your prospectus designer
- 8 page prospectus with thick outer cover
- Lithographic printing, with crisp finishing
- Complete project management
- 2,500 printed prospectuses (minimum order*)
- Simple proof-reading
- Delivery (within Bradford, Leeds and West Yorkshire)

Phone 01274 551010 or click on our ‘Request a quote’ button for more info

 

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Academy logo design – four ‘must haves’

Our academy logo design service gives you the ability to create a meaningful and attractive academy logo.

If your school is becoming an academy in the coming months, you may discover that one of the most rewarding aspects of the process is the logo design and rebranding project.
A well-designed logo symbolises the aims and ambitions of your new academy in a clear, attractive and succinct way.

Here are four ‘must haves’ for a successful academy logo:

1) Meaning
This seems obvious, but when your new academy logo is being designed, it should be rooted in the honest aims of the school. So, if the academy’s aim is to provide opportunity and aspiration in a challenging location, this can be reflected in the icon or emblem you choose, as well as the font and tone of the strapline you settle upon. This will help everyone involved in the new academy to believe in it and support it.

2) Looks
Shallow? Not at all – how do you expect to impress and make fantastic first impressions, if you’ve cut corners on your logo?
A fully trained branding consultancy or graphic design company with experience of working with schools should provide a range of good quality logo designs for you to choose from. Take a look at their portfolio (online) to see if you think they can cut the mustard!

3) Works in the real world
If you have one design company providing a complete rebrand package then they should be both proficient and sensitive about how the new academy logo is used on stationery, signage, vehicle livery, prospectuses and other items. If not, be vigilant for third party suppliers who ‘squash’ logos to fit areas, use the wrong colours or even use the wrong fonts!

4) Pride
If you have an academy logo that has meaning, looks and works in the real world, you can be very proud of it.
Use your new logo confidently and proudly when unveiling it, displaying it and explaining its origins.

Written by Neil Beattie, Creative Director at Expo – creative for schools.

 

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Rebranding your school as an academy – top five tips

If your school is thinking of becoming an academy there are many changes that will take place, just one of which being the name and branding design of the new school. Here are our five top tips for a successful academy rebranding project.

1) Think fresh
You’ll no doubt be updating logos, signage, stationery, prospectuses and banners with the new school name, so why not seize upon the opportunity to give the new school a fresh brand – one that really encapsulates your aims for the new school and helps to give staff, pupils and parents a sense of pride in their new school. The costs will be roughly the same, so why update, when you can refresh!!

2) Baby and bath water
A really successful rebrand can sometimes be the design equivalent of a complete clean sweep, but more often makes good use of a school’s existing key strengths. For example, it could be that the heritage aspects of your school are unique and very valuable to parents of existing and prospective students. In which case it would be as absurd to ignore the history of the school as it would to leave the branding exactly as it is. An intelligent and appropriate rebrand would take into account the history and principles of the old school and sit them comfortably with the aims of the new, both graphically and perceptually.

3) Go boldly where your school hasn’t gone before
A strong and clear direction of your new school branding sends out a clear and definitive message to parents. While competition amongst schools is keener today than it has been for many years, it will be the clarity and confidence in which a school expresses itself through design and messages to parents that could be a determining factor in getting ‘bums on seats’, especially where two or more local schools are similarly matched in terms of academic results and resources. Be strong, have a voice and be clear – it’s the only way your school will be fully understood and appreciated.

4) Have a plan
Whether you favour the ‘all-in-one-go’ approach or a more subtle handing over process, have an agreed rebranding plan with your graphic designer or branding consultancy. Some items can be redesigned and delivered or installed very quickly, others, such as prospectuses, websites and signage installations can take a little longer, so require forward planning. If your designer or branding consultant has experience of working with several schools, they should be able to guide you through the process.

5) Be consistent
Whatever you decide upon – be it a ‘clean sweep’ or more evolutionary approach, make sure that it is carried out consistently and accurately. There is nothing worse than finding unexpected remnants of the old to undermine the new. If you are to keep aspects of the old school branding, ensure it is done in a confident and appropriate way so that it pays homage, rather than challenges the new vision that you are putting in place. A consistent branding for your new academy will help to unify and inspire staff, pupils, parents and governors alike.

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top five tips for great open evening school banners

Thinking about banners for your school open evening?
Here are some simple tips to make sure that you’re getting the right message across to prospective students and parents on your open evening banner…

1) Get your banner professionally produced
Whilst it’s great fun getting the sticky tape and computer printouts together, it doesn’t make for an impressive final banner. A professionally designed and produced banner shows prospective students and parents that you mean business and are prepared to go the extra mile, even on a simple school banner!

2) Think about the message
Your banner needn’t include a classic slogan that is honed by one of the finest literary minds in the country, but it’s great if it ties in with something unique and positive about the school. The banner could refer to exam results success, or simply a positive school message. Don’t lose sleep over this though – keep it simple and if you do get stuck, your school banner designer should be able to help you with some ideas here.

3) Think differently
Don’t be scared of designing a school banner that is a little out of the ordinary. A bit of creativity and positivity goes a long way to creating a strong and memorable impression.

4) Be organised
You should by now know the date of your open evening, so don’t leave the design of your open evening banner until the last minute – get talking to your banner designer and get the design and production process under way straight away. A simple email will get the ball rolling in most cases!

5) Be proud
Your open evening is a chance to be proud of the achievements within your school, so say it loud and proud on your open evening banners! A professionally designed and produced banner, featuring a positive school message is both reassuring and impressive to new students and parents.

 

 

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A level results banners in Yorkshire

Exam results banners project a strong and positive message about the achievements of your school, its staff and pupils. We produce beautifully designed, exterior grade school banners for many schools throughout Yorkshire and the UK, so here are our top tips for your A level results banners.

1. Keep it simple

Don’t feature design that is too complicated – an A level results banner should be easy to read and quite high impact

2. Make it positive

This sounds obvious, but even if your students didn’t achieve the grades that were hoped for, a simple message of ‘well done’ projects a positive message – and rallies everyone to work hard next year.

3. Good quality

Make sure that the banner is made from good quality, outdoor grade materials – there’s nothing worse than a droopy, apologetic-looking banner.

4. Professional design

Why take on the design mantel yourself, when you can have a seasoned professional make sure that the design is exactly what you want – when you want it.

We hope these school results banner tips help you publicise the success of your school and everyone who contributed to its success!

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Ofsted outstanding banners

If your school has achieved an Outstanding from Ofsted, we know that you really want to shout about it!!

We offer a full design and production service for announcement banners.

Our professional designers will create a big, bright and confident message, featuring your school logo and colours that will add a little touch of design magic to your school exterior.

Prices vary from £100 – £200

Phone 01274 551010 or click on our ‘Request a quote’ button for more info

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Logo design for your school in three easy steps

So, you’ve been given the job of organising a new logo for your school. Unless you’ve been involved in commissioning a design project before, it can be a little daunting. However, armed with a few simple tips you will find a logo design project simple, successful and fulfilling.

1. Choose A Great Logo Designer
Look for a design company that has ideally worked with a school or university before – preferably one who specialises in working with schools. A specialist graphic designer may have a better understanding of your requirements and budget than a large, full service graphic design agency.
2. Create A Clear Brief
Your design company should be able to help you with this, but the most important points to consider are:
- how much of a radical change from the old logo would you like the new one to represent?
- what do you want the new logo to say about your school?
- are there any other considerations that might affect the logo, such as the inclusion of a SureStart branding component, for example?
- set a realistic and achievable deadline, allowing time for senior management to review designs.
3. Get Ready For The Reveal
So, your chosen designer has produced an agreed number of logo designs, you’ve chosen your favourite and after a few minor tweaks, you have the finished article, so what then? Well, if your design company can’t help you in fully implementing you new logo throughout your school, you should ask them to provide the new logo in a number of commonly used formats so that you can have an appropriate logo artwork file ready for every job, such as new signage, for example.
A professionally designed school logo, well implemented, provides a great deal of visual impact and – believe it or not – can generate cohesion, pride and aspiration amongst pupils, staff and parents. It will hopefully be an iconic badge that represents the hopes and values of your school for many years to come.

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School newsletters that impress, from 50p

School newsletters used to be bland and uninteresting things, typically  word-processed documents that had been thrown together last minute printed by a teacher with admin staff for support.

With the ever-increased access to digital photography and student involvement, your school can have an exciting termly news magazine to be proud of – and something that people genuinely enjoy reading.

If you compare the cost of a teacher and admin staff producing an in-house newsletter with a professional design agency designing and producing an attractive and compelling news magazine, savings can often be misleading or counter-productive.

Of course, the difference in the final product is unmistakable and with professionally produced news magazines costing from 50p per magazine, they can represent great value for money, too.

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School prospectus design that dazzles – five essential tips

Ok, so you’ve been given the job of sorting out your next school prospectus, so where do you start?

1) What design elements have you already got?
A great starting point is finding out what photographs, illustrations, text and ideas you already have. You don’t always need new photography, even though it’s great to have a fresh batch of the latest successful students.
Do you have clearly defined branding, or just a school logo? Either way it’s good to know what you do and don’t have to hand, before talking to a design agency or printer. It’s worth bearing in mind that a design agency is much more likely to spend extra time in getting the design and branding of the prospectus looking perfect, so choose your designer carefully.

2) What style of design do you (and senior management) like?
If you’ve seen a couple of nicely produced prospectuses or commercial brochures, use these to refer to when talking to your design agency – it can give you a good starting point, as long as the examples are good of course.

3) When does the new prospectus need to be ready?
The design and production process of an attractive and successful prospectus can be a simple one, or can take a surprising amount of time. Have a final production deadline agreed with your design agency and set a simple – and achievable – schedule, not forgetting to take into account out of term times.

4) Who does what?
Be clear in your mind who has responsibilities for the various aspects of the prospectus. Some design companies can offer a ‘full service’ incorporating photography, copywriting, design, artwork, proof-reading and printing. This leaves you to concentrate on your day job and not become absorbed by the prospectus project. The only thing you might need to do is organise who will be having their photo taken and checking any factual text within the prospectus. Other companies such as printers often do not offer a full service and it is likely that your workload will be heavier as a result.

5) Aim high
Don’t just settle for a prospectus that looks like every other one. Do a search in your local area and check out what a handful of design agencies can offer you, then make your choice, making sure any quotes are on a like-for-like basis. When choosing a design agency, try to find someone with experience of producing prospectuses, but also make sure that they are open to fresh and new ideas. After all, that’s what you’re paying them for.

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Academy branding in four easy steps

1) Message

Make sure that your school values are part of the branding – that way your ethos is clear and confidently presented.

2) Consistency
Agree the school typeface, colours, logo and images. Anything that is outside this must be considered very carefully indeed, as it could detract from the overall look and feel that you are trying to create.

3) Confidence
There’s no point in having a great brand, unless you make the most of it. Be bold, be confident, but avoid anything that could be too garish.

4) Be Local
Make the most of your school’s natural assets. The future of specialisms within schools is uncertain at the present, but this doesn’t mean that you have to follow the herd, be confident in your school’s heritage, whilst embracing the future.

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