Fast Company

Wolff Olins head of strategy Paul Worthington was this week’s Fast Company guest blogger, talking about a variety of subjects from brands losing power in consumer driven times to what a brand can learn from Star Wars. To read each of his daily posts go to www.fastcompany.com. 

7 August 2009

Steve Henry talks at Wolff Olins

Steve Henry, founder of convention-wrecking advertising agency Howell Henry Chaldecott Lury, today spoke at Wolff Olins London about some of his most influential work including; the launch of UK bank First Direct, the introduction of beverage brand Tango’s big orange slapper and the transformation of AA (Automobile Association) into the ‘Fourth Emergency Service’. This event is part of Because, a series of talks that explore how ideas are generated and brought to life. 

30 July 2009

The Skinny for PacSun

US teen fashion retailer, PacSun, has showcased its commitment to denim this summer by launching The Skinny, a microsite co-created by Wolff Olins. Designed as a calendar, The Skinny provides daily updates ranging from product deals and tips to denim mishaps and exclusive designer interviews. Often irreverent, always intriguing, the content is easy to share and is designed to drive sales in PacSun’s stores and on its website. The strategy is supported with an online community of passionate fans. To learn more, go to http://theskinny.pacsun.com/.

20 July 2009

Emerging market superbrands

Wolff Olins strategist Melanie McShane is today featured in the Financial Times talking about the rise of emerging market superbrands. Tipping which five food and drink brands will become global, Melanie says that ‘it used to be possible to be a global brand by dominating the US market. That’s changing rapidly. Now you have to be number one in Asia’. To read the full article go to www.ft.com

20 July 2009

Brand leader

The Observer today profiled Wolff Olins CE0 Karl Heiselman. Highlighting the need for brands to deliver a better reality rather than just a nice image, Karl went on to talk about his background in product design and share some examples of the brands he believes demonstrate great experience, naming and innovation. To read the full article go to www.guardian.co.uk.

12 July 2009

Very – the new way to shop

A groundbreaking shopping experience - Very - was today launched by UK retailer Shop Direct Group. The brand, co-created with Wolff Olins, will offer over 10,000 products ranging from fashion to homeware and electricals, and seek to bring the social side of high-street shopping to the web through a network of customers, buyers and celebrities discussing and reviewing products on sale. Learn more at www.very.co.uk.

5 July 2009

Place branding for breakfast

Marketers representing tourist boards from around the world today met at Wolff Olins London to learn how they can use brand to really stand out. After hearing two very different place branding stories from Liechtenstein and New York City, guests discussed the marketing challenges their organisations face in this time of change. 

24 June 2009

Wolff Olins set innovation challenge

Three graphic design undergraduate students from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design at the University of Dundee, Scotland have today won the third year graduation project, set and judged by Wolff Olins. Nicole Calder, Sian Leong and Alison Mehta created EIEIO, a large indoor farming supermarket that invites customers to dig their own potatoes, catch their own fish and milk their own cows. The students created quirky television ads and used handmade paper visuals to emphasise the DIY aspect of their brand. See the work at www.vimeo.com  

18 June 2009

D&AD award for Wolff Olins client

Amnesty International today won a D&AD award for its work in Germany, using the brand identity created for Amnesty by Wolff Olins in 2007. The brand is designed to help Amnesty broaden the range of human rights it supports, and to give it a stronger global presence. The winning scheme, called ‘More impact for human rights’, was created by Scholz & Friends. 

11 June 2009

Wolff Olins predicts

Charles Wright, managing partner of Wolff Olins Dubai, today spoke at OMD Predicts 2009 in Dubai. Charles highlighted the challenges and opportunities facing Middle Eastern brands during the recession, emphasising the need for innovation and relevance. Each year OMD Predicts brings together international experts to prepare delegates for the rapidly changing landscape in the areas of economy, brands, communications and media. To learn more go to www.campaignme.com 

11 June 2009

On brand in Denmark

Wolff Olins creative director, Martin Brown, today spoke at the Danish Design School in Copenhagen about the evolving nature of branding. Martin discussed the Wolff Olins approach and showcased 14 projects that have redefined their sector and generated global impact. Learn more at www.dkds.dk

14 May 2009

Design inspiration

Wolff Olins creative director Marina Willer today spoke about the inspiration behind her work both as a designer and a film maker at the AGIdeas conference in Melbourne. Since 1991 AgIdeas has brought together some of the most respected designers in the world to present their ideas. Learn more at www.agideas.net 

7 May 2009

Living Proof design honoured

Innovative new beauty brand Living Proof has been awarded a prestigious Art Directors Club Silver Cube, a One Show Bronze Pencil and a coveted D&AD Award for its packaging, created and designed by Wolff Olins. The hair care product has also received a CEW Beauty Insider’s Choice Award. To learn more about Living Proof and the philosophy behind the brand go to www.underconsideration.com.

6 May 2009

Brand management for breakfast

Over forty marketing directors and brand managers today joined Wolff Olins and London 2012 to talk about the changing nature of brand management. Guests debated the challenges faced when a brand needs to partner with other organisations and discussed practical solutions to ensure that brands can be shared to everyone’s benefit without dilution or over-policing. 

30 April 2009

Do brands matter in a recession?

YouTube today selected an interview with Wolff Olins strategist, Ije Nwokorie, as a Spotlight video. Spotlight handpicks films deemed informative, inspirational and entertaining and showcases them on the website’s homepage. In this short, commissioned by Google for its new business channel ‘Survival of the fastest’, Ije debates the role of brand in a recession, concluding that brand is only relevant and effective if it focuses on creating a better reality. Go to www.youtube.co.uk to view the film.

8 April 2009

How big brands innovate

Thirty marketers from some of the world’s top companies discussed and highlighted the importance of brand led innovation over breakfast at Wolff Olins in London today. Innovators from Mercedes and PepsiCo kicked off the session by explaining how they use brand to create new products and services. 

12 March 2009

Russian students visit Wolff Olins

30 students from the British Higher School of Art and Design in Moscow visited Wolff Olins London office today to learn about the company, its view on brand and its approach on working with global clients. Creative director Marina Willer and account director Mark Lomeli talked about their experience of working in Russia and on creating one of the most valued Russian brands - Beeline. Natalia Schiptsova, Course Leader at the school, said: ‘The event was a very useful and inspiring experience for Russian young designers’.

10 March 2009

Inside Richard Rogers

Inside Out, a new film by Wolff Olins creative director Marina Willer for a travelling exhibition about the architect Richard Rogers, was tonight previewed at the Caixa Fórum in Barcelona. Inside Out is a poetic documentary about the making of Rogers’s work. This latest film complements Marina’s previous work for the exhibition, which started at the Pompidou Centre in Paris, entitled EXPOSED. The exhibition, ‘From the House to the City’, opens at Caixa Fórum Madrid on 8 July 2009 and will run until 18 October 2009.

5 March 2009