This week saw the launch of the newly branded, &Co. Previously known as Audience Yorkshire, the rigidly structured strategic audience development agency has been brought up to date after starting over 20 years.
Over the last year, the team has been asking clients and the people that work with them, "what do you think of our company?" These conversations have led to internal transformations which are now visible in the brand of the company.
&Co - the cultural marketing house, is making it relational, as simple as you and them.
After lots of hard work, the big and extravagant celebration of the official re-brand launch, was held at the newly opened Aspire in Leeds, with attendance by guests from across the country including key arts professionals, representatives of other audience development agencies, as well as &Co clients who are among the best-known cultural organisations and venues.
I have to say that I think the brand is a vibrant, attractive and well designed visual that simply sums up the company as one interested in the people they work with. The bold yellow background exposures the excellently executed typography of the ampersand and the short, but sweet, 'Co' which then can lead into the three main areas of service; &Connect, &Consult, and &Communicate. The brochure is also simple and engaging, using each page generously to say a couple of words.
Alison Edbury, Chief Executive of &Co, filled me in with some of her new brand hopes for the future: "It's a genuinely exciting time for us as we are able to capitalise on our growing influence and to support audience development 20 years on, and now across the country.
"Since the digital revolution, marketing strategies have been greatly influenced by online media developments such as Twitter, marketing intelligence, and Open Source. Our business restructure has aligned us with the latest developments through projects like DigYorkshire.com. It was been so successful, we are now looking to franchise the online model across the country, and already started in the East Midlands.
"We are now a demand driven organisation that is encouraging the arts in a two way dialogue. We are here to help organisations - regardless of their size, status, expertise or knowledge - attract, look after and interact with their audiences. We believe that effective audience engagement sustains organisations financially, increases the impact of public investment into the arts, and goes hand in hand with a healthy society."
Have a browse of the new website here to see first hand what it's all about...
