That easel I bought with the intention of knocking out the odd acrylic painting during a bit of downtime? Hmmm. Still haven’t found the time.

It has been put to good use, however, to display our latest work; in this instance the latest Colmore Life magazine.

Never let it be said we don’t take pride in our work.

Proud faces all around at Edwin Ellis as the first edition of Colmore Life magazine designed and produced by yours truly is distributed across Colmore Business District, the commercial heart of Birmingham city centre.

We won a competitive tender to redesign and restructure the magazine on behalf of Colmore BID, one of the UK’s most successful Business Improvement Districts, which recently began its third term championing the area.

Our approach to the magazine was to reflect the changing nature of the District. Not only is this an area well known for housing the UK headquarters of some of the world’s most famous professional and financial services companies, but now has an emerging food, drink and independents scene. It’s fast becoming a destination in its own right.

The front-page design features a quartered montage of bright, bold images, shaped to mirror the circular design of the Colmore BID logo, perfect for the summer edition.

Magazine design news pages

Colmore Life magazine’s news pages have been called The Lowdown

Editorial structure and articles are shaped to raise the profile of BID businesses, particularly in the new Movers & Shakers, Lowdown, People & Places and Property sections.

Elsewhere, food and drink is given prominence with recipes, restaurant news and four pages given over to the forthcoming Colmore Food Festival; one of the highlights in the Colmore BID calendar as it attracts more than 30,000 visitors each year.

We’ve also sourced three fantastic dining offers at Hotel du Vin, the Pint Shop and Wayland’s Yard.

The rich past of the Business District is also featured with a regular History & Heritage page.

We’ve gone for a contemporary serif typeface to use on news and features pages, to sit alongside the BID brand sans type. They complement each other really well.

Our thanks once again go to Colmore BID for giving us the opportunity to work on Colmore Life and we can’t wait to get stuck into the next edition.

In addition to its headline-grabbing hardware releases tech behemoth Apple is doing some pretty exciting things in typography development.

Among these is this IOS release of a type called New York; an homage to a serif Apple has used on and off since the early 1980s days of Macintosh.

Apple techies say: “This all-new, Apple-designed serif typeface is based on essential aspects of historical type styles and is designed to work on its own as well as alongside San Francisco.”

It’s bloomin’ gorgeous and suits our company name – Edwin Ellis – just perfectly.

Time for a rebrand?

Visit https://developer.apple.com/fonts/

 

Edwin Ellis Creative Media has been appointed by Colmore BID to write, design and produce Colmore Life magazine.

Colmore BID represents the commercial heart of Birmingham with over 35,000 employees and five million square feet of office space. It spends an amount of its levy income on marketing and promotion of the Business District, in addition to public realm projects and major events such as the annual Colmore Food Festival, which this year takes place on Friday, July 5 and Saturday, July 6.

Colmore BID recently secured by renewal ballot its third five-year term representing more than 500 businesses in the Colmore Row area of the city. The new term starts on April 1, 2019.

Colmore Life is a free, seasonal magazine distributed to city centre offices, bars, restaurants and commuter collection points such as Snow Hill station. The magazine will be given a new design and editorial structure as part of the Edwin Ellis Creative Media commission, which begins with the summer 2019 edition.

The agency also produces ‘Edit’ magazine for Retail BID Birmingham and manages PR and digital news creation for various Birmingham companies plus mass-participation events the Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10K and Vélo Birmingham & Midlands cycle sportive.

Colmore Row, Birmingham. Picture: Edwin Ellis Creative Media

Commenting on the Colmore Life commission, Stacey Barnfield said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be working with the BID on Colmore Life magazine and thank the team for giving us the opportunity.

“We’re working tirelessly to bring the magazine to ‘Life’ with a new design and content that reflects a constantly-evolving Business District.

“Expect to read about all the District’s movers and shakers, launches and lunches, plus food and drink suggestions to fill evening and weekend diaries.”

Our thanks to Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce for featuring this announcement in its daily news bulletin here.

We were thrilled to bricks with the media response to our press release and images announcing the life-sized Lego Noddy Holder, commissioned by Retail BID Birmingham.

The 43,000-brick recreation of one of the Midlands’ most famous musicians, who is synonymous with Christmas, was featured by the BBC Birmingham online, the Birmingham Mail, Birmingham Post and Express & Star. Popular social media-led publishers such as Brumpic and Birmingham Updates also gave the great man a mention.

Noddy in the news: Coverage in the Express & Star, Birmingham Mail and Birmingham Post

 

Here is the press release in full:

IT’S CHRISTMAAASSSSS!

Take a seasonal selfie with life-sized Lego version of Slade star Noddy

Merry Christmas, Birmingham!… Visitors to New Street station will be greeted by a life-sized Lego recreation of one of the Midlands’ most famous musicians this Christmas.

Slade frontman Noddy Holder – best known for writing the Christmas anthem Merry Xmas Everybody – has been recreated in his famous yellow and red 1970s glam-rock suit using more than 43,000 Lego bricks, taking over 260 hours to build.

The colourful Noddy sculpture has been commissioned by Retail BID Birmingham, the Business Improvement District for the city centre retail area, and is in aid of the work of Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, with Noddy selfie-snappers encouraged to donate to the charity and support the #momentsofmagic campaign.

Noddy, from Walsall, has one of the most recognisable voices in rock music and his ‘It’s Christmas!’ chant during Merry Xmas Everybody has become an instantly recognisable seasonal staple.

Slade built a fanbase around the world during the 1970s and became as famous for their flamboyant clothing and live performances as they did their chart-topping singles. Noddy is the proud recipient of an MBE for his services to music.

A quick selfie with Lego Noddy Holder

The Noddy sculpture was designed and built by Bright Bricks, the UK’s only specialist Lego builders.

In addition to colourful new LED lighting on trees on New Street, High Street and Lower Temple Street the Lego statue is another attraction unveiled by the BID to help brighten the city centre during the Christmas shopping period.

The BID is also keen to raise awareness of the outstanding work at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, where ‘Moments of Magic’ happen every single day.

Whether it’s a ground-breaking piece of medical research, the sound of a patient giggling as they’re entertained in their bed or the sight of them playing in a newly-refurbished playroom, this Christmas the hospital’s charity is on a mission to make sure even more of these magical moments happen – not just at Christmas, but all year round.

Noddy Holder said: “I’m really chuffed! It’s a great honour to have the statue made and I know a lot of hours have gone into it. The fact that it is helping to raise funds for Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity at Christmas time makes it feel extra special.”

Steve Hewlett from Retail BID said: “The retailers wanted to create something fun that everyone visiting the city could enjoy and also raise money for the children’s hospital. The statue has been designed from an original band photo of Slade and it’s a tribute to a much-loved song and made from one of the most popular toys at Christmas.”

Serena Daw, Public Fundraising Manager at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “We are so incredibly grateful to Noddy Holder and Retail BID Birmingham for supporting the 90,000 children treated at our hospital every year in this truly magical way.

“Noddy is a local legend who is synonymous with Christmas and this iconic Lego statue is sure to put a smile on everyone’s face as they walk past. We would like to urge everyone who takes a moment to enjoy Noddy’s lifesize statue to think about the sick kids in our hospital this Christmas and to consider making a donation to help us make every moment magical for them.”

For more information on Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity’s Christmas campaign, Moments of Magic, visit bch.org.uk/christmas or text MAGIC to 70456 to donate £5.

Retail BID Birmingham is giving city centre visitors the opportunity to say ‘Thank You’ to all those involved in the war effort by displaying large poppies throughout the city centre retail area.

Twenty-five trees on New Street, Temple Street and High Street will be lit red using the Retail BID’s new LED lighting system for the duration of Birmingham’s Poppy Appeal – Thursday, October 25 until Armistice Day, Sunday, November 11 – to create a beautiful visual statement in support of the work of The Royal British Legion and to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

The Royal British Legion, which has a branch on New Street, provides lifelong support for the Armed Forces community – serving men and women, veterans, and their families.

By the end of the First World War more than a million British and Empire Forces were among the dead, a further 1.25 million were injured and a fifth were disabled for life.

Four million soldiers returned home to find a shortage of housing and jobs, and a struggling economy. Despite this they brought the same resolve to peace that they had shown in the war, helping to rebuild Britain.

Retail BID, the Business Improvement District for the city centre shopping and leisure area, is backing the Legion’s ‘Thank You’ initiative, which encourages people to get involved in all sorts of activities in memory of those who served, sacrificed and lost their lives in the First World War.

Trees lit red on New Street

The Poppies were unveiled on Thursday, October 25, when the tree lights were also switched on. They will stay in place until Armistice Day, which this year has added poignancy, as it recognises 100 years since the end of the First World War.

Richard Norgrove, Chair of Retail BID, said: “Birmingham has a long history of supporting the Royal British Legion and it’s something we as businesses should respect and recognise.

“We endorse everything the Legion does and hope it can raise even more funds during the Poppy Appeal to support their great work.”

Steve Hewlett, Retail BID Manager, said: “Retail BID has made a significant investment by spectacularly lighting the trees throughout the area to support events and activities in the city centre and this was the perfect opportunity to launch the lighting and the large poppies in support of the Royal British Legion and to recognise all of our armed forces.”

Sophia Snell, Royal British Legion Community Fundraising Manager, said: “This Poppy Appeal, as we mark 100 years since the end of the First World War, The Royal British Legion is asking the nation to say ‘Thank You’ to the entire First World War generation who served, sacrificed and changed our world.

“Everyone has a reason to say ‘Thank You’. We all have a connection to the First World War and the Legion wants to encourage the people of Birmingham and beyond to recognise the legacy that generation left us, whilst also remembering today’s generation of veterans, those currently serving and their families. With this in mind we are very grateful for the support we have received this year from Birmingham’s own Retail BID who wanted to mark this centenary year with a display of poppies along New Street – a poignant lit up display that says Thank You to Birmingham’s own First World War generation.

“We hope this display will encourage people to think about the legacy that resonates through the city and also create awareness of the Poppy Appeal and its aims to support the Armed Forces community today.”

Press release issued by Edwin Ellis Creative Media on behalf of Retail BID Birmingham.

An innovative exhibition held at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery in the summer of 2017 has been shortlisted for a national award, with a public vote taking place between October 17-25.

Thresholds, a virtual reality art project by internationally-acclaimed artist Mat Collishaw took audiences back over 170 years to the dawn of the photographic era. It was part-funded and supported by Colmore BID, the Business Improvement District for the Colmore Row area, while respected photographic historian Pete James, who sadly passed away in March 2018, was a driving force for the exhibition.

VR headsets allowed Thresholds visitors to walk around a recreation of ‘The Model Room’, an exhibition of Manufactures, Inventions, Models and Philosophical Instruments staged at King Edward’s School, New Street, in August 1839.

The exhibition revealed how Birmingham was at the forefront of developments in the technology that revolutionised the way we see, record, represent and understand the visible and invisible world. The experience was fully immersive, with visitors walking freely through a digitally reconstructed room using virtual reality headsets.

The remarkable Thresholds VR exhibition

Thresholds has now been recognised by British BIDs, the support organisation for BIDs across the country. It will compete with events in London, Nottingham and Bournemouth for the ‘Place Marketing’ prize, which honours creative exhibitions and events that help attract visitors to towns and cities.

Thanks to public support, Colmore BID won the same award in 2016 for its #nicklinunseen outdoor exhibition in Snow Hill Square, which celebrated the work of Birmingham photographer and lecturer Phyllis Nicklin.

Mike Best, Colmore BID Board Director, said: “I am very pleased to hear that Colmore BID has been shortlisted for a prestigious national BID award for Thresholds. I was highly impressed with the innovation underlining the Thresholds project, exemplifying the history and forward thinking status of the Colmore area and partnering with Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, attracting and enchanting an audience from Colmore BID and the wider city.

“This shortlisting happening in our ballot period for a third term is recognition both of the good work the BID has done and the excellent prospects for the next five years.

“We are asking people to vote for Thresholds to help give it the recognition it deserves; there is only a short amount of time to get involved!”

Members of the public have one week to vote for their favourite BID Award via the British BIDs website between October 17-25 only. Visit britishbids.info/services/national-bid-awards

The winner will be announced on November 8 at the British BIDs National Conference in Cambridge.

Press release issued by Edwin Ellis Creative Media on behalf of Colmore BID.

Edwin Ellis Creative Media has produced a hard-back coffee table-style book for a nationwide arts and education organisation.

The 290-page glossy book, called ‘experience COLOUR’, looks at how light and colour has influenced scientific and artistic thinking over the centuries.

The book was produced for the Ruskin Mill Land Trust, the sister organisation to the Ruskin Mill Trust, an Independent Specialist Provider offering a range of course subjects to learners with complex needs.

In addition to online availability, the book will be sold at the experience COLOUR exhibition, at the Glasshouse Arts Centre in Stourbridge (until October 14). The exhibition invites visitors of all ages and abilities to explore the fascinating science and art of colour through large-scale installations, displays and experiments.

Following on from a successful European tour, Glasshouse Arts Centre is the first UK venue to show the exhibition.

Edwin Ellis Creative Media was launched by former Birmingham Post editor Stacey Barnfield and its PR clients include The Simplyhealth Great Birmingham Run, the Vélo South cycle event, Colmore BID, Solihull BID, Lightbox Digital and Associated Architects.

The agency also publishes a quarterly magazine for Retail BID and manages content for Colmore Life magazine.

experience COLOUR is Edwin Ellis’s largest single publishing commission since the agency was founded in the summer of 2015.

Edwin Ellis Director, Stacey Barnfield, said: “experience COLOUR was a fascinating project to work on and we’re thrilled with the result.

“Producing a book that features the work of Turner and Rothko and pages of colourful scientific experiments required a simple, consistent design theme and typographic style that ensures the stunning works of art become the focal point.

“We hope this is the first of many books, catalogues or brochures we publish for arts and education organisations across the UK.”

Dr Troy Vine, Editor of experience COLOUR, said: “As editor of this book containing articles by more than 20 authors it has been a tremendous help to have the solid support and professionalism of Stacey.

“On top of that, the layout is exquisite and the quality of the printing and binding greatly exceeded my expectation. Everyone who has bought a copy has commented on its quality and great first impression.”

Find out more about experience COLOUR at https://www.rmlt.org.uk/about-experiencecolour

The thousands of participants who sign up for this year’s Simplyhealth Great Birmingham Run will be heading back to Broad Street after organisers unveiled a new and improved route for the annual 13.1-mile event.

In a reverse of previous routes which finished along Broad Street, the event will now start on the city’s Golden Mile before taking runners to handsome Highfield Road in Edgbaston and down the infamous hill of Lee Bank Middleway, once a challenging incline near the end of the half marathon.

Participants will then do a lap of Cannon Hill Park and world-famous Edgbaston Stadium before turning back to the city centre after they reach beautiful Bournville.

The Simplyhealth Great Birmingham Run finishes before thousands of cheering spectators on Jennens Road and the Aston University Campus Charity Village.

In addition to the route changes, which were implemented following feedback from participants, the Great Birmingham Run reverts to its popular earlier morning start time for 2018.

And anyone who entered the Simplyhealth Great Birmingham 10K will receive £10 off their entry fee for the Simplyhealth Great Birmingham Run half marathon. To sign up visit: greatrun.org/great-birmingham-run

David Hart, Partnerships Director for the Great Run Company, organisers of the Simplyhealth Great Birmingham Run, said: “We listened to feedback from runners who took part in last year’s half marathon and have worked with our partners at Birmingham City Council and transport agencies to create this new and improved route for 2018.

“The Simplyhealth Great Birmingham Run is one of the flagship events in the Great Run series and we are striving to make it more popular than ever.”

The Simplyhealth Great Birmingham Run features the Business Challenge, which invites office teams to compete for fastest-time trophies and those all-important bragging rights in the corporate world.

The Business Challenge is a great way of supporting CSR commitments, raising funds for company charities or foundations, or simply boosting office morale and team spirit in the workplace.

To sign up, visit greatrun.org/great-birmingham-run

ENDS

Press release issued by Edwin Ellis Creative Media on behalf of the Great Run Company.

We’re always seeking new ways of raising the profile of our clients and placing them in front of new audiences.

And with Rob Pollard, founder and CEO of Birmingham-based Lightbox Digital, having such a fascinating story to tell about entrepreneurship, business growth and the region’s digital sector, a podcast seemed a great solution.

Our thanks go to Dan Harrison at the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce for sparing the time to interview Rob and for giving him the opportunity to share his story.

Listen to the podcast here.

We just love seeing our clients make the headlines in print, online and broadcast. So, we had a brainwave; what if we published a magazine featuring ALL our clients in one neat little online publication. Ta dah…

This is the first edition. It’s called Client News (does what it says on the tin) and it shows we’ve been busier than a bee in a tar bucket.

Hope you like browsing through the magazine and if you’re a business looking for a different approach to PR or comms support, please give us a holler.