Last and by no means least August sees a great client win in the shape of global consultancy blackswan.  Foundry34 have been selected to design and develop their new online presence and work is already well underway. We see this client as a great coup for Foundry34 and shows that Foundry34 continue to go from strength to strength. More on this brief soon

Remember work experience? Two weeks spent making cups of tea and doing some oh so interesting filing or lifting boxes? The time of year has come around again when we start to get calls from eager school kids or even more eager parents and teachers looking to arrange work experience.

Here at Foundry34 we try to make life a little more interesting, giving placement students daily briefs that teach them different aspects of working in the design industry. These can include typography exercises, non-literal shapes, photography and Photoshop. After a week of this, if they’re on any longer, we give them the chance to work on an imaginary brand identity brief which can include putting moodboards together, designing logos, and whatever else inspires them. In the space of ten days, these kids can learn as much as they would in a year at school.

For us though, work experience can be a real headache. For starters, there can be a full day of simply doing health and safety. Then of course there is having to take time out of busy schedules to set the kids up with what work they’re doing that day and helping them out when they get stuck. But if we didn’t think it was worth doing, we wouldn’t do it.

It’s an invaluable opportunity for school kids, whether they come to our studio or anywhere else! Work experience is a chance for placement students to be treated like a grownup and a professional, and nine times out of ten they respond very well –it’s great to see someone who is struggling at school fit in and show their hard work and dedication. For us it is about offering an opportunity and showing some trust rather than the work they produce though it is great to see the ideas they come up with. Or at the very least, we can still get a few cups of tea from them!

March sees the launch of the Assure brand and website. Assure approached Foundry34 to handle their communications as they wanted to get away from the staid and inflexible image often associated with building control. With ‘respect for design’ as their mantra, Assure wanted to project a professional  and high quality image which could stand alongside the brands of their clients such as architects firms. The brief covered logo and brand development, design and build of the company website and graphic design for their company stationery and conference brochures and associated materials.

Check out their site here:
www.assurebuildingcontrol.co.uk

The start of a New Year and the gyms will be packed with the New Year resolution inspired masses looking to lose the xmas pounds. A far cry from the faddy diets and obscure gym programmes is start up company 2ACHIEVE who have just launched their brand and website

www.2ACHIEVE.co.uk

This company takes a much broader view of health, fitness and nutrition and how they link to overall wellbeing, life enjoyment and work performance.  They approached Foundry34 to develop their brand and website incorporating a client area where they could allow attendees of their course and members to download and access course specific information.  The site and brand speaks volumes about where this ambitious company want to be and the knowledge and skill they bring to wellbeing. Whether working for the commercial sector in improving worker performance and sickness rates or helping parents manage the eating habits of their children they balance an approachable and friendly attitude with complete professionalism.

Check out their site at www.2ACHIEVE.co.uk

Although those involved in advertising or marketing in any way be it digital, print or TV are usually tarred with the same brush of being greedy, sordid and manipulative it is by and large unfair. Although being sordid does sound interesting, Foundry34 along with many other creative agencies see themselves as communicators, finding out what drives people and makes them tick. This does cover what drives people to buy but extends much further into the behaviour and expectations of how they understand and relate. At any one time there are a multitude of factors affecting and defining individuals and societies, how they act and interact with the world, typically being environment, the economy, technology and politics:-

Environment
The environment will be a greater and greater issue over the next decade, once the impacts really start to hit home it is likely to become less of a political or fashionable issue and more one of pragmatics- how do we cope with the situation, how do we move things forward. The West (and increasingly the East) isn’t suddenly going to stop driving cars and go back to more simple existence, and even the fabled Jeremy Clarkson ‘so fuck’ ethic isn’t really an option.

image from: green.autoblog.com

Prediction: We predict and hope that businesses (including ourselves), consumers, politicians and society as a whole will actually start to make realistic changes and get themselves into gear. Just give us a pair of trainers that doesn’t involve suffering and sweatshops and a way to travel that doesn’t mean melting the icecaps without looking like a knitted sweater wearing hippie and we’ll all be happy. Really is it so hard?

Economy
The whole world is still reeling from the financial crisis; greed and fear are not new concepts just the scale and of the deception that, apart from the very real devastation felt by many, makes the average person feel like they have been taken for a mug. Scenario:- you give us your money after all you cannot be paid, get benefits or buy anything significant without a bank account. Then we will promptly pay ourselves huge bonuses and gamble your money like we are on a boy’s night out at the casino. Most politicians and supposed advisors will just ignore it then, when the shit hits the fan, you can bail us out. After your bail out we will go back to normal, pay ourselves huge bonuses again, pay huge court expenses so we can charge you unfair fees then leave you with the cleanup bill in public service cuts, closures of libraries and public facilities. (Is it just us but does the solution of borrowing shed loads, then printing money (as long as you call it something technical like quantative easing) sound not like the thoughts of a supposed economic genius but like a five year old playing Monopoly? Sorry they are much more sophisticated than that.)

image from: telegraph.co.uk

Prediction: Bah humbug.

Technology
Technology can change the way we think and store and process information. Whereas in the past people would take great pride in remembering facts and dates and base an education system on these skills, we now have Google and the internet at our fingertips and we place more emphasis in relating pieces of information, scanning and cross-referencing. In a radio report Radio 4 showed how the actual physiology can change in line with the dominant learning method. Just like a muscle being trained the brain develops in a certain pattern.

image from: howies.co.uk

Prediction: Past technologies have been historically geared to travelling and exploration whereas in its current form it seems to be more about information and self-exploration. We predict that apart from environmentally focussed technologies people may move beyond the screen and keyboard- and look for new ways to be involved in real experiences- just how many times can you tweet before you get bored of the ramblings of a self-obsessed couch potato? We love the Howies T-shirt range log off (send free samples to Foundry34 Ltd.) turn off the TV and do something more interesting instead.

Politics
In the UK we have voter apathy and in the rest of the world we have politically motivated murders. How do we find ourselves in the situation where many more people are interested in X-factor than in elections? The problem was already rife but the expenses scandal can hardly have helped (see previous paragraph- being taken for a mug). What survive on our wage? What we really need to use taxpayer’s money for is lining our pockets, for duck ponds and porn videos (at least the porn was funny; the rest was just a poke in the eye for anyone that is an honest hardworking person). I think many politicians, bankers and footballers have been having secret meetings – yes unless we pay six-figure bonuses we are never going to get the top guys, the ones really at the top of their game- what and where is this planet they are living on?

image from: telegraph.co.uk

Prediction: Any politician that shows themselves to be honest, not to be cheating on their wife/husband and treat people as people not just a bunch of muppet voters is definitely the next prime minister.

www.ne8castings.co.uk

Advertising and promoting your company or organisation has changed dramatically over the last 5 years or so, with computer and internet usage reaching virtually every office, home or factory throughout the developed world. These changes coupled with the downturn in the global economy have resulted in a new landscape and new rules for advertising and marketing.

Online or internet marketing has been a huge growth area but one often misunderstood. In many cases technology is put before strategic planning or even straightforward common sense.

To make the most out of internet marketing, you should really start where you would have traditionally stated with any marketing or advertising. Asking fundamental questions such as who are your customers, what would you like to say to them and how you can reach them are the bedrock of any marketing and communications and apply in the same way to internet based marketing.

So in practical steps how can you start to make the most out of your internet marketing?

1. Ensure your website is working for you. Make sure your customers can find and interact with your website in an easy and intuitive way and ensure it fits into your overall business plans.

2. Consider the bigger picture when promoting your site, Search Engine Optimisation is very good at increasing your traffic but e-flyers and email newsletters can also be very effective and cost-efficient routes to promoting yourself.

3. Engage your customers. Don’t just bombard your contacts with generic information on your company, make what you are sending out is useful, engaging and worthwhile.

4. Utilise other techniques such as social networking, viral advertising and linking strategies.

5. Understand than just like any other form of promotion or marketing, no one method is likely to work in isolation, you need to consider a whole range of techniques in a marketing mix that is appropriate for you and your customers.

6. Yes we know we said top 5 hints. Last but not least establish a good relationship with a knowledgeable web design and internet marketing company. Having a good relationship means you can talk through the marketing (online or offline) that has worked for you in the past and your agency can work out a programme of internet marketing that is appropriate for you and explain the various methods and techniques available to you.

To discuss any of your company or organisation’s internet marketing or marketing and advertising plans please contact us on 0191 293 1866 or send us a mail at hello@foundry34.co.uk

None of us can escape the downturn in the economy and the effects have rippled through all areas of society. One of the most likely victims of this downturn is the environment and environmental products. A huge growth industry just a few years back, organic food market sales have plummeted, government schemes such as the car scrappage scheme may have been green-washed but no-one is fooled by the environmental claims of taking polluting cars off the road (drivers getting an average 5mpg more than their previous car are not likely to balance the cradle to grave CO2 of building a new car). The bottom line is that it seems in a crisis in the economy the environment doesn’t matter.

The root of the problem seems to be that making products and services more efficient, less polluting, better for health and the environment seems portrayed as a lifestyle choice rather than a system, engineering or technical problem that needs to be corrected- an inefficiency just like any other.  It seems that when it comes to the environment, the mantra is do whatever now- worry about it later- one very similar to the one that has created the current mess we are in.

There are however a few bright lights in all the doom and gloom. Research has shown that around half of new graduates claim they would rather take a job with a company with a better ethical position than a better-paid non-ethical role, with nearly 80% of graduates stating they would not work for any company with a poor ethical record. Although those fresh out of education may suffer a little of an ivory tower syndrome, new graduates and young people are the future of our businesses, it seems as well as brining fresh ideas to the table they will also bring fresh demands about how company’s conduct themselves and  the services and products they offer. Considering the behaviour that has brought this economic crisis about, changes from the bottom up can be no bad thing

Gateshead based NE8Castings have just launched and have their eyes firmly set on the North-East’s talent. An exciting new start-up, the company aims to be a credible alternative to London-based modelling and talent agencies by representing models actors, extras, singers, speakers  and dancers here in the North East.

Founded by Lisa Laidler, who is from a performing arts background, the company wanted to go for an urban Northern feel basing their company name around NE8- the postcode of their Gateshead location. With the official launch of the company happening this month (March) they have already had huge interest with over 11000 page views on their new website since January and a flood of applications from prospective talent.

Manager Lisa Laidler explains, “we know there is a huge amount of talent in Newcastle, Gateshead and the whole of the North East region which in a lot of cases goes to the big name London agencies, what we wanted to do was create a real credible alternative for this talent here in the North East. We worked really hard with our branding and web design company Foundry34 to develop a really distinctive brand and feel for our company and to build and promote a great website. If you were to look at our competitors anyone who knows us would be able to pick our company out straight away; urban black and white photographs with our red logo says straight away- NE8 Castings.

Our website is enjoying huge successes because we invested in getting the look and feel right as well as arranging for Foundry34 to organise our Search Engine Optimisation, resulting in a huge number of visitors and getting top Google results for many of our key search terms.”

So what’s next for NE8? “We are beginning a huge promotional drive to get the very best talent on our books, not only looking at those who have experience but those that are not currently using their talents. We are also building up key relationships with those looking to cast to ensure that when they need models, actors, dancers, singers or speakers we are the agency to contact.

NE8 Castings can be reached on 0191 490 9400 or through their website at www.ne8castings.co.uk