Your Creative Partner

It was back to college for two directors of Stockton-based marketing agency M Media & Design as new signage was installed at The Northern School of Art.

In September 2018, the former Cleveland College of Art and Design (CCAD), with sites in Hartlepool and Middlesbrough, officially became The Northern School of Art.

M Media & Design (MMD) Directors Gavin Hatton and Mark Skirving both met at what was CCAD in 1997 where they studied Graphic Design at BTEC level before progressing through to HND. After working for agencies across Teesside, they reunited in 2006 to form MMD and continue to provide a range of design and print services for clients across the UK.

“It was great to work with The Northern School of Art on this project. We were lucky to have a great education at CCAD and we have really enjoyed going back to The School to help roll out their new branding,” said Gavin.

“Mark and I remember our time at the college with great fondness and coming back has brought back happy memories of our four years there.”

After finishing his studies Gavin was employed by what was then CCAD as an Intern Graphic Designer.

“This was a valuable way of transitioning into the world of work. I learnt so much in my 12 months about the design and print industry, all of which transferred well into employment once the internship finished.”

The project has included the roll-out of large format signage across all Hartlepool sites of The Northern School of Art. Mark Skirving, Director, MMD said:

“We have had great feedback from the marketing team at The Northern School of Art and look forward to creating a long-term relationship with an institute we owe a lot of thanks to. It is an exciting time for The School and as former alumni it is great to see them continuing to promote the creative industries in the region.”

Pat Chapman, Vice Principal (Employability and External Relations) said: “The launch of our new name – The Northern School of Art – is an exciting step forward for The School, and a celebration of all that we have achieved in the past. So it is particularly appropriate and pleasing to work with Mark and Gavin who are a part of that successful story.  The School is also pleased to support local businesses who exemplify our record for enabling young creative entrepreneurs.”

Image: Gavin Hatton and Mark Skirving (MMD Directors) along side Francis Fitzgerald (HE Cluster Manager, Graphic Design at The Northern School of Art’s Hartlepool Campus).

From the studio

Read more about our latest client campaigns. Like what you see? Get in touch to see how we can add creativity to your next project.

What we do

We are a team of skilled professionals that are innovative and responsive to changes in technology and the way people view media.

Brand Strategy

Brand Strategy

LEARN MORE
Design & Print

Design & Print

LEARN MORE
Web & Digital

Web & Digital

LEARN MORE

Your Creative Partner

Long-established Teesside solicitors, Vickers Chisman & Wishlade has rebranded and will now be known as VCW Law. The comprehensive rebranding process, carried out by MMD, reflects the new structure of the firm following the retirement of long-term partner Denis Chisman.

Based in Stockton-on-Tees, VCW Law represent clients across the North East. Vickers Chisman & Wishlade has long been a name associated with quality and tradition in the legal industry. It was felt by all partners and staff that VCW Law properly reflects the firm’s identity following the the retirement of Denis. The new brand reflects the history of the firm but also presents a modern, forward-facing brand.

As part of the rebrand MMD have supported VCW Law on a number of projects. As well as the new brand identity and logo, VCW Law have also launched a new website to promote the services they provide. New signage has also been designed and installed by MMD at their Stockton Headquarters on Silver Street.

View VCW Law website

From the studio

Read more about our latest client campaigns. Like what you see? Get in touch to see how we can add creativity to your next project.

What we do

We are a team of skilled professionals that are innovative and responsive to changes in technology and the way people view media.

Brand Strategy

Brand Strategy

LEARN MORE
Design & Print

Design & Print

LEARN MORE
Web & Digital

Web & Digital

LEARN MORE

Your Creative Partner

Since MMD started trading in 2005, we have supported hundreds of start-up businesses across Teesside. Marketing is one of the first things entrepreneurs consider when they take the plunge to start their own business. A name for the company, a logo, website and stationary are all vital to start promoting a new business.

One of the biggest barriers to overcome when starting a new business is a lack of funding. For many years there have been a wealth of funding streams available for established businesses but little for start-ups. This has changed with an exciting new programme by Tees Valley Business Compass. Up to £10,000 is available for Tees Valley based startups that meet the criteria and intend on employing people. There are also a range of FREE workshops available, managed by the team at Enterprise Made Simple.

If your new business will trade in one of the following sectors you could be eligible for the funding.

> Advanced Manufacturing
> Process, Chemicals and Energy
> Logistics
> Health and Biologics
> Digital and Creative
> Culture and Leisure
> Business and Professional Services

For more information on the programme visit Tees Valley Business Compass. For start-up related support from MMD contact Owain Jenkins on owain@mmediadesign.co.uk or 01642 955680.

Find out how MMD support local start-ups.

From the studio

Read more about our latest client campaigns. Like what you see? Get in touch to see how we can add creativity to your next project.

What we do

We are a team of skilled professionals that are innovative and responsive to changes in technology and the way people view media.

Brand Strategy

Brand Strategy

LEARN MORE
Design & Print

Design & Print

LEARN MORE
Web & Digital

Web & Digital

LEARN MORE

Your Creative Partner

Just before Easter we had a really enjoyable day with sixth form students from Beverley School. Based in Middlesbrough, Beverley is a specialist school for children and young people with autism. As part of their GCSE Business Studies course, students had to research a local business (MMD) and analyse the market they operate in. We spent time talking to the students about our industry and possible career routes after they finish their studies. Really looking forward to working with the group in the future on a number of projects.

From the studio

Read more about our latest client campaigns. Like what you see? Get in touch to see how we can add creativity to your next project.

What we do

We are a team of skilled professionals that are innovative and responsive to changes in technology and the way people view media.

Brand Strategy

Brand Strategy

LEARN MORE
Design & Print

Design & Print

LEARN MORE
Web & Digital

Web & Digital

LEARN MORE

Your Creative Partner

St Peter’s Catholic Voluntary Academy have been working with MMD for a number of years on various marketing campaigns.

In January they became the first secondary school to use the Academy Creative website platform built especially for schools for schools. Academy Creative is a sub-brand of MMD and focuses on the marketing support provided to schools and colleges.

In 2016 work began on building a robust, bespoke platform for schools that would be easy for staff to administrate and also look great for the front end user. Over 30 schools are currently using the system and plans are already in place to develop the system further. Owain Jenkins, MMD;

We spoke to the schools were we already serving and it was fairly unanimous that the CMS platforms used weren’t easy to use and keep the websites maintained. With Ofsted paying close attention to website content we saw this an opportunity to develop a platform that would meet their requirements and also significantly improve the way schools market themselves online.

The St Peter’s site was dated and not responsive to mobile phone and tablets, which given how website trends are going was no longer good enough. After an iniital meeting with the staff at the school, a new bespoke design was created and added to the Academy Creative. Feedback from St Peter’s has been great since the site was launched in early January.

View the St Peter’s Catholic Voluntary Academy website 

From the studio

Read more about our latest client campaigns. Like what you see? Get in touch to see how we can add creativity to your next project.

What we do

We are a team of skilled professionals that are innovative and responsive to changes in technology and the way people view media.

Brand Strategy

Brand Strategy

LEARN MORE
Design & Print

Design & Print

LEARN MORE
Web & Digital

Web & Digital

LEARN MORE

Your Creative Partner

Over the years MMD have worked with a large number of clients based overseas. In the past six months this has included projects in Ireland, Switzerland and Russia.

The latest overseas project involved working with Russian-based startup Phillips Hartman Group (PHG). Phillips Hartman formed in September 2017 and offer a range of wealth management support to their clients.

Phillips Hartman approached MMD initially to create a new brand and website. Further work has followed including creating brand guidelines and the design of online newsletters and brochures.

Before starting the branding project MMD met with PHG to discuss the market they operate in and what would be their ideal client profile. From this, further research was carried out into the sector PHG were due to operate in. Gavin Hatton, Design Director, MMD:

We knew the Directors at PHG wanted to be seen as an exclusive brand. The typical client had a high net-worth and the brand needed to appeal to this profile. The use of the crown was seen as a regal symbol which would work well for PHG.

Following the sign off of the branding, MMD began work on the new website. The website would be used to showcase the services on offer by PHG, promote their partnerships and also integrate a live currency feed. A video of London’s skyline was used to showcase the worldwide target market.

View the Phillips Hartman Group website 

From the studio

Read more about our latest client campaigns. Like what you see? Get in touch to see how we can add creativity to your next project.

What we do

We are a team of skilled professionals that are innovative and responsive to changes in technology and the way people view media.

Brand Strategy

Brand Strategy

LEARN MORE
Design & Print

Design & Print

LEARN MORE
Web & Digital

Web & Digital

LEARN MORE

Your Creative Partner

In the past 12 years MMD have supported a number of Local Authorities on a wide range of campaigns. From domestic abuse, to drug and alcohol addiction we have a proven track record in producing hard-hitting marketing campaigns.

The latest campaign involved working with Middlesbrough Council on a project that has already made a big impact in the community. Middlesbrough Council’s Stronger Families department identified there was an issue with parents use of mobile phones around children. They wanted to encourage parents to interact with their children rather than focusing on the screen of their smartphones.

“Talk to me, not your phone” and “Play with me, not your phone” were the two phrases it was decided to focus on. The artwork would be seen in locations across Middlesbrough including bus shelters, electronic signage and other public locations.

Since launching the campaign, the story was covered in the Evening Gazette newspaper and also featured on the ITV news and the BBC website. The story continues to attract interest across the UK, with the BBC One Show running a feature on the project on Friday 6th October. Mark Skirving, who led the project for MMD:

We are really proud to have been involved in such a thought-provoking campaign. When we first met Jo to discuss the project we knew straight away that this would grab people’s attention as it is such a big issue. To see the momentum the campaign continues to take is great to see.”

From the studio

Read more about our latest client campaigns. Like what you see? Get in touch to see how we can add creativity to your next project.

What we do

We are a team of skilled professionals that are innovative and responsive to changes in technology and the way people view media.

Brand Strategy

Brand Strategy

LEARN MORE
Design & Print

Design & Print

LEARN MORE
Web & Digital

Web & Digital

LEARN MORE

Your Creative Partner

It has been a busy 12 months for Darlington-based ELG Planning with a new website the final piece in their rebrand exercise.

The award-winning Chartered Town Planners approached M Media & Design (mm&d) in May 2017 with a vision to launch a new website to promote the six key sectors they operate in.

Their previous website, built in 2009, had become dated and failed to respond to mobile phone and tablet devices. With the way that people view websites changing dramatically in that time, key changes were needed to ensure website visitors could easily access all pages on the website. Jeremy Good, Director ELG Planning:

We wanted a new website to highlight our experience in our core sectors. We have a strong reputation in the North of England and want to use the website as an opportunity to grow further in the coming years. Our website is often the first reference point for new clients, so it is crucial we have an up to date site with relevant content.”

Another key feature of the website would be to promote previous projects. This would show the range of large projects the business is involved in. Along with clear calls to action, such as online enquiry forms, the website could also be used to capture data for marketing purposes. Mark Skirving, Digital Director, mm&d:

We wanted to bring in a modern navigation to the website. Web design trends are ever evolving and making it easy for viewers to work their way around a website is usually the top priority.”

View the new website here. 

From the studio

Read more about our latest client campaigns. Like what you see? Get in touch to see how we can add creativity to your next project.

What we do

We are a team of skilled professionals that are innovative and responsive to changes in technology and the way people view media.

Brand Strategy

Brand Strategy

LEARN MORE
Design & Print

Design & Print

LEARN MORE
Web & Digital

Web & Digital

LEARN MORE

Your Creative Partner

It is with great pleasure we can unveil the new website for Lucia’s Bar and Kitchen in Yarm. mm&d have been working with the team at Lucia’s for a number of months, with the aim of creating a modern website that would improve the reservation process for customers.

The previous website was becoming dated and no longer matched the branding used by the restaurant.

Mark Skirving, Digital Director or mm&d:

We have enjoyed working with Chris and his team at Lucia’s on this site. We have built sites for a number of restaurants in the past and this is a good example of a clean design with modern navigation.

For businesses to have most impact from their websites, in particular restaurants, high quality imagery is key. Chris used a photographer to take professional shots of the restaurant and food which has played a major part in the quality of the launched site.

Lucia’s have a great reputation in Teesside for serving high quality Italian food and hope the new website will help grow the business further. Chris Holloway, owner Lucias:

The whole process with mm&d has been smooth. Communication with Mark and his development team has been consistent and we now have a website that we are really proud of. We have had really positive feedback from our customers since the launch.

View the new website here.

From the studio

Read more about our latest client campaigns. Like what you see? Get in touch to see how we can add creativity to your next project.

What we do

We are a team of skilled professionals that are innovative and responsive to changes in technology and the way people view media.

Brand Strategy

Brand Strategy

LEARN MORE
Design & Print

Design & Print

LEARN MORE
Web & Digital

Web & Digital

LEARN MORE

Your Creative Partner

M Media & Design (mm&d) were delighted to work with Stockton Borough Council and Tees Inns on the launch of a new cafe and bar in Stockton. Ivy House opened it’s doors to the public in July, under new ownership and with a major refurbishment for the property.

mm&d were involved in the project from an early stage, creating the new brand as well as designing concepts for the outside of the building which included bespoke signage. Owain Jenkins, Business Development Director, mm&d:

There is a lot of positive things happening in Stockton and we have loved playing a part in this particular project. With the growing micropub circuit, The Globe refurbishment on its way and work on the new Hilton Hotel starting soon, its an exciting time for the town. It’s great to be involved in a project which we get to see the end result most days.”

As well as the branding and signage, mm&d have also supplied the new menus for the venue along with large format prints for inside the building.

From the studio

Read more about our latest client campaigns. Like what you see? Get in touch to see how we can add creativity to your next project.

What we do

We are a team of skilled professionals that are innovative and responsive to changes in technology and the way people view media.

Brand Strategy

Brand Strategy

LEARN MORE
Design & Print

Design & Print

LEARN MORE
Web & Digital

Web & Digital

LEARN MORE
BACK TO TOP