Work Stephens House & Gardens

The need for a new name and brand

Avenue House Estate is a Grade II listed house with extensive gardens. Following a precarious history, the estate is now financially stable and engaging with HLF on grant funding to restore its unique gardens back to their former glory and create a visitor centre with better facilities. We worked with a steering committee of staff, trustees, volunteers and friends of the house to rename the site to Stephens House & Gardens. The new identity and brand language reflects the history of the house, bequeathed to the public by Henry ‘Inky’ Stephens of the Stephens’ Ink company and makes for a more memorable identity to new visitors.

Website

A new responsive website design and build allowed the client to promote the various ways in which visitors can engage with the house, through visiting, hiring, learning and supporting. The strong 'inky' brand language is carried through in illustrations and a bright colour palette.

stephenshouseandgardens.com

Literature

Working closely with the client over a period of 3 years we have developed a number of key items of literature including the visitor leaflet, children's tree trail leaflet and visitor guide book. In addition leaflets to join the Friends and to leave a legacy help the trust gain financial support.

Event promotion

Our long standing relationship with the client means we are regularly commissioned to develop a flyer or poster to promote an event at the House or in the gardens. We enjoy employing the distinctive brand language in a playful way which attracts attention and has meant that all their events are a sellout.

WWI centenary exhibition

WWI Centenary was celebrated with a special exhibition commemorating the House's time as war hospital and celebrating the Stephens' family history during the war efforts. The exhibition was hosted within the dining room and featured an original wartime bed. The exhibition will show and be developed every year for the 4 years of the centenary, with variations to show different elements of the House

Merchandising

We developed a range of small and fun merchandise which can be easily purchase by heritage lovers and schools visits.

Trust materials

An identity for the Trust which manages the site was created to sit within the family brand. New fundraising literature has been designed including this legacy leaflet.

Fundraising

As a free attraction it is important to continue to fundraise to support maintaining the Gardens. These simple signs attached to the railings at each of the four entrances encourage donations with an engaging piece of copywriting

New signage

Supporting Stephens House & Gardens in completing a HLF grant to reinstate the gardens and make them more accessible with new directional signage and interpretation signs around the grounds. We designed all of the enamel sign graphics and branding.

What's on leaflets

On-going leaflets to promote the range of events at the house and gardens. The design is flexible so we have been able to add panels as every 4 months the events increases. Each cover highlights the season in the gardens.