Work Stephens House & Gardens

Celebrating the house's historic owner with a rename and rebrand

Fit Creative helped steer Stephens House & Gardens through naming, branding and our key marketing tool – a new responsive website which looks great on all devices and really encapsulates what our offer is all about. What I really value apart from their creativity is a proactive approach to new initiatives, along with sound pragmatic thinking which often turns a rough idea into something well rounded and finally into a tangible reality.

Malcolm Godfrey
General Manager
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. 

Also for this client

Branding

Stephens House & Gardens branding

Renaming and rebranding this Grade II house to celebrate its history – the home of 'Inky' Stephens.

Out of the ordinary

Stephens House & Gardens fundraising

Simple railing signage which calls to attention the need to support the gardens financially. 

Marketing

Stephens House & Gardens promotions

Creating the marketing materials with a distinct 'Inky' language.

Out of the ordinary

Stephens House & Gardens 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. 

Digital

Stephens House & Gardens website

Following a rename and rebrand of the House we created an online home of 'Inky' Stephens to reach a wider audience with a fully responsive website.

Out of the ordinary

Stephens House & Gardens WWI exhibition

Celebrating the World War I centenary with an exhibition showcasing the House's use as VAD hospital and the Stephens' family war history. 

Marketing

Stephens House & gardens venue hire

Promoting Stephens House & Gardens spaces for corporate, private, and special occasions. 

Marketing

Stephens House Gardens What’s On leaflets

A programme of events at Stephens House & Gardens is now so well established that it required an events leaflet. Each leaflet is developing as the programme grows so we are now up to 10pp DL size. The front cover always aims to show the gardens in a fresh way and reflect the season. 

Branding, Marketing

100 in 100

As Stephens House & Gardens celebrates 100 years of the legacy to Finchley, it seemed a good time to raise funds for its future and ensure that it continues to be a haven in North London. We created a campaign graphic to celebrate and promote the anniversary. 

Top of page