Update: September / October 2018

Following on from our last education focused update, this time we’ve got a very definite emphasis on cultural and heritage sectors. Our work for The Auckland Project and Manchester Jewish Museum encompass 3D and graphic design, interpretation, branding and marketing. Pretty much our entire specialisms across two projects, in fact!

Manchester Jewish Museum

Between the 5th and 18th of November 2018, Manchester Jewish Museum will play host to a diverse live art festival in which artists from a wide range of backgrounds and artforms, will showcase work which responds creatively to the provocations of leaving, loss and legacy. This festival will mark a significant milestone in the life of MJM's synagogue building (its temporary closure after 145 years of continuous occupation) as well as serving as an opportunity for artists and diverse audiences to explore, in a creative and playful way, the wider issues of leaving, being left and the things we leave behind.

MJM asked us to design a brand for this significant event in the history of the museum and it's iconic home. The resulting work features vibrant colours, contemporary typography and has been applied to posters, flyers plus a range of social media tiles and online advertising.

The Auckland Project

The Auckland Project was set up in 2012 with a vision to use culture and heritage as a catalyst for regeneration and to reinvigorate the town of Bishop Auckland. Central to their plan is the transformation of Auckland Castle from an unknown private dwelling into a vibrant, world class, art, faith and heritage destination. As a visitor attraction, The Auckland Project will comprise several related elements in and around the town, as well as the Castle itself. They include the creation of a Faith Museum, Spanish Gallery and Mining Art Gallery; a Walled Garden; a new Auckland Tower visitor centre; the Deer Park; a hotel and a number of restaurants. Plans also extend to Binchester Roman Fort, a few miles outside Bishop Auckland itself.

Ingenious were appointed by The Hub, one of the UK’s leading specialist cultural and heritage fitout contractors, to work on 3D and graphic design for the interior of Auckland Tower. This included a series of displays that provide an introduction to the central themes of the Bishop Auckland story, plus some interpretation to support the display of artefacts unearthed from ongoing archeological work, plus an interpretation / orientation device for the towers' viewing platform, from which visitors can see the entire Auckland Castle estate.

Our designs were partly inspired by the angular nature of the tower itself. Given the angled, tall ceiling height in which we were to work, it was important that our 3D designs were not ‘lost’ in such a space, but equally they did not disrupt visitor flow when the tower was open. From a graphic perspective, our designs employ large format images to the back of each unit, and are in line with the Auckland Project brand identity from a typographic and layout approach.

Auckland Tower was opened to the public on Saturday 20th October 2018. The tower is where visitors to Bishop Auckland can find all the information they need to explore the castle, grounds and local area, buy entry tickets, collect guidebooks and maps, get directions, and learn about special seasonal events and activities.

Ingenious Creative would like to thank both The Hub and The Auckland Project for entrusting us with such an important and interesting project. You can download a detailed case study of this project from here.