Challenge
Following the huge success of the 2022 Manchester and 2023 Dublin conferences, we were thrilled to be appointed for a third consecutive year to brand BCO’s annual event.
The brief was to create a brand that reflected Birmingham, which as the second largest City in Britain, is a diverse cultural and economic centre.
It was essential that all branding worked across print and digital communications including an online downloadable brochure, a cycle kit and complete venue signage.
Solution
Our concept was inspired by the cultural diversity of Birmingham, its historical background in manufacturing and its distinctive network of canals.
We developed a suite of iconographic devices, inspired by Birmingham’s historic and modern architecture and industry, enriched with cultural references through a distinct and vibrant colour palette.
Each individual icon ‘block’ was carefully considered to reflect different aspects of Birmingham, including the canals, with a design inspired by the stained glass windows of Birmingham Cathedral.
This suite of devices were created to be used across all collateral and conference material, as a series of blocks or as individual elements to highlight and distinguish different areas of conference content and information.
These devices provided a broad scope of creativity and versatility across the conference brand.
Result
The result was a rich, versatile toolbox of graphical elements which alongside the backdrop of the city, truly complemented and enhanced the conference theme – “Creating vibrancy”.
We have created a brand strategy and stand-out treatment to embrace the opportunity and vibrancy that the venue city offers. Again helping to enhance the BCO Annual Conference experience with a memorable brand and distinctive branding.
See the conference highlights video here.
Our strategy and roll-out encompassed all event communications and collateral, including the BCO’s unique brand identity and supporting guidelines for their Birmingham conference, their brochure, signature banners and signage, cycle kits, pocket guides and all print and digital event advertising.
“We wanted a vibrant design that in a subtle way reflected the host city Birmingham, and that’s exactly what OB delivered. The marketing material that the BCO sent out in advance of the conference looked really good, as did the website and conference app, however it was on arrival in Birmingham that the strength of the design really shone through.”
Peter Crowther – BCO Senior Vice President, Conference Chair and Partner at HERE
“With an enormous source of references to draw from across Birmingham as host venue, we have been able to distill the essence of what the city is all about in the context of the BCO Annual Conference.
The OB team have created and designed an incredibly creative approach with a standout brand, and have expertly managed and delivered multiple assets, collateral and merchandise for use across multiple platforms and conference events – bright, vibrant, yet simple and distinctive. Yet again, I’m immensely proud of and impressed with the outcome. Well done team!”
Julian Atkins – Director, OB Brand Consulting
