Media Mix: Uniform, Studio North & Smartebusiness

LIVERPOOL design agency Uniform has been working with the The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Cleveland on plans for its new £17m building.

Uniform worked with MOCA to maximise publicity and media attention around the proposal, by making a film and creating computer-generated visuals.

The four-storey building, set over 34,000 sq ft, is due for completion in autumn 2012, becoming the anchor for the $150 million regeneration of Cleveland’s Uptown district. The museum aims to more than triple its annual visitor numbers to 65,000 a year.

Susan Murray, deputy director, MOCA Cleveland said: “Being able to show stakeholders the scale and dynamism was important – it had to be impactful. We managed to secure national and international articles on the back of the work – the media might not have picked up on the story without this particular approach. We wanted to create the excitement and buzz and make it real.”

Nick Bentley, director of Uniform, said the agency was able to use its extensive experience working with museums and galleries in the UK, including the Natural History Museum, Museum of London, Oxford Playhouse and Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse.

“We have worked on a number of projects across the world at that crucial fundraising and investment period. When you combine this with our brand development work in the arts, working with visitor attractions like Center Parcs, it certainly gives us an edge in terms of understanding.”

::

MANCHESTER-based brand design and digital agency Studio North has launched a new website for the Fylde Coast YMCA.

The agency has developed the project over the last couple of months after being appointed in late 2010.

The Studio North team has worked to create an online platform for the charity which works in partnership with a number of local authorities, the NHS and other third sector organisations to provide opportunities for personal and social development.

The aim of the new website was to improve the way people use and interact with the services it provides such as housing, childcare, training, outdoor education and community.

::

DIGITAL marketing agency Smartebusiness has won three new contracts with high profile clients.

The firm, which helps clients maximise e-commerce revenue, has signed up the tailor Brook Taverner, Beaverbrooks the Jewellers and Johnson Cleaners.

Founded in 2004, Manchester-based Smartebusiness employs eight staff and has seen revenues grow in recent years.

Director Ian Hammersley said: “We have doubled our turnover for the past three years and will pass the £1m mark at the end of the financial year.”

He  added: “We worked with Brook Taverner on the full spectrum of e-marketing activity including a new e-commerce strategy, new website, email marketing platform, search engine optimisation (SEO) and conversion optimisation. We doubled their on-line revenue within six months.”