2. iOS App design
and deployment.
FOR VOLVO CAR UK
An iOS app for iPhone and iPad
designed and developed for the UK
distributor’s sales and service Field
Team to support the formal audit
process, collating reports and general
record keeping and sharing.
The app, distributed via a secure
download url, allows the user to
conduct a dealership audit from a
database listing, allows the addition
of notes and pictures directly into the
report, and on completion it
automatically complies a PDF.
The report is added to the email client
for sending and a copy is saved to the
device’s memory and can be retrieved
from the app for sharing as required.
I originated the idea from my earlier,
paper-based ‘swatch book’ version.
The app was story-boarded in proto.io,
prototyped in Sketch and all the image
assets generated in Photoshop for the
developer to build the versions for
testing in Hockey.
I wrote the support copy for all the
sections, including the FAQ’s,
introductions, notes and managed
the project from start to launch.
Development was undertaken by
Andy Smart, an independent
freelancer I sourced and managed.
The app is currently in use with an
iOS9 test planned for Apple’s
scheduled update and an extended
version (for Volvo’s new dealership
design programme) planned for
later in 2015
Initial feedback has been very positive,
as has the been the welcome move
from Excel-based hand-written and
typing up, or laptop and desktop-
based reporting.
1.
3. StandardSwatch
retail guidebook.
FOR VOLVO CAR UK
A pocket-guide (the overall swatch
format is 120 x 44mm) for the Network
Development Team to communicate
the essential standards for dealerships,
so as they can prepare for formal au-
dits and ensure good housekeeping.
I originated the idea and sketched
the concept during client meeting to
propose a means to address the many
questions and queries about what
constitutes ‘best practice’ - without
having to fire-up guidelines on laptops.
The swatch format I suggested as a less
confrontational way of pointing out
variances between ideals and situa-
tions the team found themselves in
when visiting dealers.
Copies could then also be given to all
dealers so as they could also encourage
their own teams to spot and fix issues.
The swatch was so successful
additional copies were reprinted,
copies we taken by Volvo Car Global
and the Marketing team (who were not
involved in the development) cited it
as “the sort of great ideas we should
expect of our agencies”.
I designed the swatch format, created
the identity / name an graphic design,
sourced and art-worked the final file
and organised and arranged
production and delivery.
The StandardSwatch is now carried
by all the senior management and all
the departments that have a working
relationship with the dealer network.
2.
4. Volvo Customer
Experience (‘VCE’)
Programme
VOLVO CAR GLOBAL
Collateral for the delivery of the global
customer experience training and
development programme, comprising
on and off-screen trainer and learner
materials, various formats.
As a result of a year-long gestation,
the customer experience programme
was trialled and launched in the UK,
Netherlands and Japan.
I was involved in the origination of the
programme’s strategy and then in the
design direction for all materials.
This included the visual language,
typographic design and layout for
printed and Word-based formats,
iconographic and information design.
The pilot-market testing included
the delivery of Word templates for
the course structure, liaison with the
Training Teams and Volvo’s and thier
independent consultants.
3.
5. Volvo Retail Outline
Specifications -
VRE Datasheets
VOLVO CAR UK
While perhaps not the most
glamourous of tasks, setting out
specifications is nonetheless critical
for businesses who rely on the
interpretation of their standards,
often through many intermediaries
and processes.
Volvo’s new retail programme
comprises dozens of developments,
all being planned, costed and built
simultaneously.
With a very small Network team,
ensuring all the parties in the long
chains have access to clear, correct
and timely specifications was proving
a problem - given the data was
written up in Word, without reference
to drawings nor any visual examples.
The answer was a commission to
create Datasheets, each page cross
referenced, indexed, illustrated and
gather-up into a PDF and available
online. One less thing to worry about.
4.
6. Zenos ‘E10’ brand
identity reboot
ZENOS CARS
After a long informal relationship,
based on several pro-bono marcomms
projects in 2014, were invited to pitch
to become the manufacturers de-facto
marketing agency.
Won after a three-round, 16-strong
competition, for a programme that
though ‘marketing-led’ resulted in a
complete identity ‘re-boot’.
Since being appointed, shares in the
company have risen 38% in value
(agency was cited in the investors
report and fund-raising prospectus),
leading to the business being able
to undertake a robust new round of
finance-raising.
The current order book is now full until
Q4 2016 and attendance at prospec-
tive events and activities now runs at
between 70 and 90%, up from less that
50% previously.
Created a online resource for an
entirely refreshed brand platform,
identity system and suite of tools and
templates from a standing start, in just
six weeks.
Now undertake a range of project -
based tasks based on:
• Working closely with the manage-
ment team on a full range of
marketing-based tasks
• Commissioning and then manag-
ing Zenos’ retained suppliers on
a range of activities including IT,
photography, exhibitions and PR
• Maintaining and building the
Brand’s visual and verbal assets
• Supporting new franchise owners
towards maintaining visual and
marketing standards
• Marketing strategy and design
leadership across social and
traditional media.
5.
8. Zenos E10 microsite.
FRONT-END DESIGN
One of the many advantages of
being in at the origination of a new
product is that you can help develop
the positioning and consequent
marketing materials and design.
The Zenos E10 was the company’s
launch car and to reward the initial
investors and owners, the Millbrook
test track was hired so they - well, a
very exclusive 24 - could all try the
press car.
The microsite design was based on a
simple responsive template (for speed
and to save cost - the marketing budget
was exactly £0.00).
I wrote the storylines and prepared the
press images, flowed all the content
into the template, tested and liaised
with the clients during the build (in
under a week. Things were rather
last-minute).
In the end they never used the site
and g-mailed the invitees. Just goes to
show it never pays to do something for
nothing, it’s never really valued.
7.
9. BMW’ü’ branded
merchandise identity.
CREATIVE PITCH
I devised this creative pitch to
support an article I’d written about
how manufacturers could (and
should) realise the real value of
branded merchandise as a revenue
stream, and not simply as an
awareness building exercises.
Like many brands, merchandise at
a retail level is viewed as a necessary
evil, costly, impractical and a hassle to
organise, fund, distribute and fulfil.
Often viewed as give-aways, the real
challenge is in turning merchandise
into a meaningful product range and
while some brands embrace this, many
others undermine the value the brand
can offer to customers. Both in terms
of product values, line extension, ac-
cessorising and income for dealers.
The BMW’ü identity was conceived as
an embodiment of the manufacturer’s
values an as a way to mark-out
products designed with BMW’s
customers in mind.
The pitch is awaiting feedback.
8.
10. Caterham Cars head
office retail concept
CATERHAM CARS
A creative and costed ‘pop-up’ concept
and profile drawing package for the
iconic sports-car brand, to bring the
spirit of Caterham alive in the new
head office and showroom.
Having worked with the brand over
many years on various consulting and
creative projects, when they moved
from their old home to a new site, I
worked with the management team to
visualise a low-cost series of finishes,
display and furniture items and
environmental graphics.
The creative idea was based on the
car’s subframe and engineering
credentials and lightweight
manufacture and the ‘track-based’
heritage - evolving the ownership story
into a coherent story for visitors.
I worked on the 3d visuals in Sketch
Up, wrote the story for messages
and sourced image library materials
to support. I drew up display and
furniture profiles, sourced finishes
and flooring and liaised with various
suppliers and contractors to draw
up costs and timings.
The project was shelved due to
adverse trading conditions and will
be revisited once the business is in
better financial shape.
9.
11. Workflow
PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
This is a self-initiated idea and concept
execution for an iOS business manage-
ment tool for Meda.
Here’s the outline idea:
The company runs a traditional Excel
spreadsheets based revenue and
projects tracker that has become
increasingly unwieldy and difficult to
maintain - both in a timely manner
and while on the move.
Having commissioned an IT specialist
to build a data-base driven alternative,
they were unable to fulfil on the
promise to link a CMS to a suitable iOS
front-end (the intention being for a
Swift-based programme).
I designed a set of key screens in
Sketch and then built a static prototype
in xCode (as a self-teaching exercise)
with that aim of then hooking the app
UI to the database.
The project is currently now on hold.
10.
