brandopus

It's 2:30, they're an hour and a half late... that gives me 15 minutes (of fame perhaps? Bad joke...). Am I nervous or did my lunch just have too much garlic in it? Charlotte's excited, Charlotte's ALWAYS excited. Offset path, extrude, chop it out - use Penumbra Flare, people love Penumbra Flare. Why the hell did I iron a check shirt... that's the point of check isn't it, no ironing? What if they're wearing make-up, you know like guy make-up - how can I take anyone like that seriously?!

They've arrived... so that's what tailors are for. Ok, like the director said, poker face, if they want it lavender with rainbow gradient comic sans that's what they get. I can hear the silly music those shows have, new age/progressive salon - someone makes that music, someone has that job... What?! They're having lunch now... when am I going to design this thing? I mean it's one thing for TV to simplify and mis-represent the process but some work HAS to get done surely!!! Calm down - serenity now, serenity now. What's good? Well the cutter is simple, they have shown up and they're not as bigger idiots as the show makes them out to be, poor guys - people are going to hate them for no reason.

How heavy must that camera be? They're struggling, get a name guys... come on, 'Bitter Twisted' perfect for flavoured ale! Ok, style it up... Oh, hang on, yes! I can get a little idea in there - imagine it, to get an idea into a design on The Apprentice!!!

It's done, beautiful... I... actually this is good! Unbelievable. Sorry? What's that? We're not allowed that name...

We've scooped three trophies at tonight's Design Effectiveness Awards, hosted by the Design Business Association in London. 

The creation of the Buckwud brand for client Wellness Foods was awarded a prestigious Gold, our redesign work with Pipers Crisp Co. won a Silver award, while our work with leading independent brewer Hall & Woodhouse on the redesign of the Badger Ales brand achieved a bronze in the branded packaging design category. We have also made a massive jump forward in the league tables, and are now among the three most financially effective agencies in the UK.

The DBA's annual Design Effectiveness Awards are the most prestigious accolade in design, being the only award scheme that uses commercial data as a key judging criteria.  As the design industry's equivalent of an IPA award in advertising, all winners having undergone two stages of rigorous judging, by two separate panels of business leaders, including senior marketers from brands such as Santander, TFL, John Lewis, Magner's, Oxfam and British Airways.

Year after year, winning case studies like Buckwud, Pipers Crisp Co. and Badger demonstrate the excellent value for money and return on investment that a coherent, well-thought-out and professionally executed design strategy can achieve. 

...Ice-skating on frozen lakes with long frocks and top hats, brass bands on winter's nights, A Christmas Carol with its beautiful, traditional theme.  When it came to having a Christmas party with a Twist (Oliver?), there could truly only ever be one theme. 

And so it was, we at BrandOpus donned decadent dresses and our most gentlemanly garms to celebrate Christmas in time-honoured style. As we pulled up at the (hitherto top-secret) Tate Britain, we knew we were in for a treat - and were certainly not disappointed: a grand drinks reception in an opulent gallery surrounded by paintings, a private tour of the fascinating Pre-Raphaelite exhibition (what better way to rebel against your parent's generation than becoming more conservative!?), and then a 3-course meal with secret Santa presents, including a Byron Burger ketchup survival kit, Royal Baby and BrandOpus Hunks Calendar 2013 - with one very notable exception (hint: it's me).

As the night continued, we were thoroughly enjoying the company and environs, but there was another surprise in store.  Back into the carriages we went, carolling merrily in the night.

In the depths of Fitzrovia we descended a staircase to our last calling point of the evening: The Lucky Pig cocktail bar - readily replete with Victorian furnishing as an illicit gin palace beneath the street.

With drink stations strategically positioned across the lounge, booths as well as waiting bar staff and a DJ, we threw off the oppressive shackles of Victorian society and danced to a rather more modern beat until the lark's dawn chorus...  

Plenty of dodgy looking knits around the BrandOpus studio today as we raise money for Save The Children's Christmas jumper day. Take a peek at some of the seasonal sweaters in the picture above. Happy Christmas!