Creating cultural change in Greater Manchester
Client
Rochdale Development Agency
Project
Rochdale Creates
Services
Sectors
The Brief
Rochdale Borough Council approached us to help reposition Rochdale's story, placing culture and creativity at the heart of its place-making strategy. The goal is to create an ecosystem of collaboration and unity among organisations and individuals, with the brand serving as a rallying point — a collective movement that unites, inspires, and empowers. The brand should showcase the stories of Rochdale's creative and cultural communities, and demonstrate their value to help attract investment and create a better living environment.
Supported by Arts Council England's Cultural Development Fund, Rochdale Development Agency are working on a creative focused initiative to unlock local economic growth and productivity, enhance the attractiveness of Rochdale as a place to live, work, visit, and invest, and also strengthen local leadership, partnerships, and capability. To be truly transformational, they need branding that paints a vision for the future; something distinctive and ambitious enough to challenge existing perceptions and inspire a sense of ownership among residents.
The Solution
Following a phase of on-the-ground immersion and stakeholder engagement, we shaped a Brand Strategy, Manifesto and distinct verbal identity that harnesses the energy, ambition and heritage of local communities, placing creativity at the heart of Rochdale. Visually we brought the story to life with a modern, ambitious and deliberately edgy typeface developed with Fatype and a directional monogram that unlocked a system built around angles and intersections.
Creating cultural change in Greater Manchester
The Brief
Rochdale Borough Council approached us to help reposition Rochdale's story, placing culture and creativity at the heart of its place-making strategy. The goal is to create an ecosystem of collaboration and unity among organisations and individuals, with the brand serving as a rallying point — a collective movement that unites, inspires, and empowers. The brand should showcase the stories of Rochdale's creative and cultural communities, and demonstrate their value to help attract investment and create a better living environment.
Supported by Arts Council England's Cultural Development Fund, Rochdale Development Agency are working on a creative focused initiative to unlock local economic growth and productivity, enhance the attractiveness of Rochdale as a place to live, work, visit, and invest, and also strengthen local leadership, partnerships, and capability. To be truly transformational, they need branding that paints a vision for the future; something distinctive and ambitious enough to challenge existing perceptions and inspire a sense of ownership among residents.
Rochdale Borough Council approached us to help reposition Rochdale's story, placing culture and creativity at the heart of its place-making strategy. The goal is to create an ecosystem of collaboration and unity among organisations and individuals, with the brand serving as a rallying point — a collective movement that unites, inspires, and empowers. The brand should showcase the stories of Rochdale's creative and cultural communities, and demonstrate their value to help attract investment and create a better living environment.
Following a phase of on-the-ground immersion and stakeholder engagement, we shaped a Brand Strategy, Manifesto and distinct verbal identity that harnesses the energy, ambition and heritage of local communities, placing creativity at the heart of Rochdale. Visually we brought the story to life with a modern, ambitious and deliberately edgy typeface developed with Fatype and a directional monogram that unlocked a system built around angles and intersections.
Expressing opportunity and aspiration
We developed a Big Idea that’s dynamic and flexible. It can be used on its own, as part of a campaign or as a central internal thought. As a two-part statement: Rochdale Creates always remains, with the second element able to be switched and replaced. They can be very top-level about Rochdale in general, or they can be very specific to an event or creative discipline. The only rule is that they are always positive. They should play a key role in shifting perceptions about Rochdale and expressing an aspiration of what Rochdale can be.
The Visionary Changemaker
Modern, ambitious and unconventional
Setting the stage
Throwing shapes
