As someone who works in graphic design Exeter offers so many opportunities for dream collaborations…
Because amazing visual identities don’t often lurk and wait to be discovered, most of these will be well known by many readers. Here are ten Exeter organisations I’d absolutely love to design for.
Exeter Cathedral
Parts of the building date back nearly 1,000 years. It has beautiful design features inside and out. It is emblematic of the city itself.
What self respecting graphic designer in Exeter wouldn’t want to work with the team at the cathedral?
It has such a strong visual identity that an annual report, or events programme would be an amazing piece to collaborate on.
Buddy Creative
I don’t believe there’s a graphic designer anywhere that doesn’t want to work with at least one other agency. In my case, in Exeter, it’s Buddy Creative.
I saw Mark talk through their work on the evolution of the Sharp’s Brewery identity at Building Brands last year. I was instantly sold on their approach, tone, and huge international clients.
Their work is always elegant and considered. As a fellow visual identity / brand designer I’d love to be a part of their process and see how they collaborate with businesses in the south west, and beyond, to deliver strong solutions.
University of Exeter
If you’re looking for higher education in visual communications or graphic design Exeter University is surely one of your first considerations.
Currently they have over 25,000 students from over 130 countries and are recognised as a leader in teaching and research.
But because they have 125,000 alumni+ working with them on design and marketing for a fundraising campaign would but an amazing opportunity.
The Cavern
Just off Gandy Street, The Cavern is a live music icon. It was one of the big draws to the city when I was younger, and was big part of choosing Exeter as home.
One of my goals has always been to play there as I’ve seen so many great acts on that stage. But in the context of graphic design – posters or merch would be something I’d love to collaborate on.
The place has such an authentic feel, a bit of grit, and such a welcoming vibe. Taking that into a gig poster and then seeing it pasted up across Exeter would be so cool.
Exeter City Council
Having worked with county councils before, I can confirm that local authority work is great. They cover so many different services that people interact with directly, daily.
Council tax, bin collections, car parking; there are so many opportunities for work that has a positive impact.
I’d love to work with them on some kind of creative campaign. Something that produces behaviour changing communication and graphic design Exeter residents feel the benefit of.
The idea of testing and tweaking copy and visuals to move the dial on key issues is a super exciting prospect.
Topsham Brewery
One of the city’s most loved tap rooms, Topsham Brewery is a hive of activity on a warm day at Exeter Quay.
Aside from the tap room itself, it serves as a live music venue, and the brewery itself is run on-site in the same 200 year old warehouse.
The dream project: a piece of graphic design Exeter locals, and visitors, can interact with hands-on. A bottle label or tin design.
The Met Office
You ever heard of “the weather”? Well, when you search the forecast in the UK the Met Office has probably provided the data for the information you get back.
Based just outside Exeter City Centre and with a 120 year history, they are a very local, nationally known brand.
It’s such a universal, broad, experiential subject with so much instantly recognisable iconography. The opportunity to work on a white paper with a ton of charts, data, and infographics would be a graphic design dream!
Exeter Chiefs
A nationally known sports brand with big names, over 150 years of history, and a massive physical and cultural place in the city.
Besides the men’s and women’s first teams, there is so much variety within the organisation. Academies, community initiatives, merchandise and links to conferencing at Sandy Park – the possibilities for collaboration are massive.
In terms of a perfect project it has to be a playing kit. A piece of graphic design Exeter Chiefs players and fans can wear with pride.
In Exeter
As Exeter’s BID (Business Improvement District) In Exeter has a style of graphic design Exeter businesses and locals interact with daily.
It’s presence across the city and it’s way of working with local businesses to reach the right customers make it a really high impact client.
It’d be great to work on one of their seasonal campaigns across outdoor / ambient media.
RAMM (Royal Albert Memorial Museum)
Beautiful building. Crisp identity. World class exhibits. Exeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum would offer so many interesting visual routes.
The reason I chose to base a lot of this website’s design cues on museums is because they are about showing off the art and exhibits. Often they have great brand identities that can be comfortable upfront, but still clearly recognisable when pushed back to show off their exhibits.
A way-finding / iconography system would be an amazing project to work on. Developing a visual language and style of graphic design Exeter locals and tourists from all over the world understand and use would be so interesting.
If you’re a local brand looking to work with an independent creative graphic design studio, or want to share your dream clients / any typos you’ve spotted, let’s talk.
