Two design awards, 

a European Cup 

and fingers crossed... 

some new business.

Our second blog has ‘winning’ as a core theme. My team - United - have just clinched the European Cup; Da Vinci have gone one better, and won two international design awards...and most importantly, we’re on the road to winning our lifeblood - new business. What a rollercoaster ride of emotions in Moscow - for me, safe at home in front of the Sony Bravia, for the fans at the Luzhniki stadium and for millions around the world. But not for the Guardian’s miserable Richard Williams who described the scintillating match as “devoid of the exotic contrasts and unpredictable internal contests that once marked this most glamorous club contests.” He obviously missed the Juventus AC Milan 0-0 draw at Old Trafford in 2003. 

On to more important matters. Young designer Alex Dempsey’s ‘Legacy’ brochure won an internationally recognised design award (see left) for our client the University of Liverpool. And Stan, Kirsty and Leena’s Photoshop extravaganza - The 100 Facts booklet (see left again)- won similar acclaim for the same client. Wonderful news for the agency, and great news for our partners Taryn, Suzanne, Janis, Kerry and Jenny in Corporate Communications. 

Lastly, but not leastly, our little agency is on, what the peddlers of jargon call a business development push. I call it chasing new clients. We’ve just about got one in the bag, a couple of promises and more presentations booked. But the best way of getting new business is by recommendation. So, with no attempt at subtlety, if you like who we are and what we do for you. Please mention our name at every opportunity. If your name dropping wins us a client, I can’t promise a European Cup...but I can promise a case of wine! So we could all be on a winner.

Steve Lord
Creative Director
Da Vinci Communications

Ryan Giggs, cheese and pickle 

and our first blog

This is our first blog. It was Kirsty’s idea. She said our website was far from popular with Google. I said I wasn’t surprised because we haven’t got one (it’s being re-designed). Anyway, if it helps get Da Vinci Communications noticed then it’s fine with me, so I agreed.

But what shall I write about, I posed. Past, present or future? I’ve been around since Apple Macs were featureless, grey, nine inches square and sat so that you could rest your elbow on the top -much like the dormouse in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Squeezed between a march hare and a mad hatter waiting for his head to be stuffed into a teapot. Now those were the days.

But what style of writing shall I adopt, I mused. I’ve always admired the car writers in the Sunday magazines who are given a thousand words to review the latest Porsche. And then go on to describe in great detail the cheese and pickle sandwich at their favourite pub...in 900 words. Before delivering a 100 word finale touching on the car. But what if nobody reads it, I feared. I suspect that’s the risk you take. That, and unwittingly exposing your true self; courting libel; wasting time; flattering clients; cheesing off suppliers; name-dropping (Ryan Giggs was 10 feet away and didn’t say hello) and finally delivering written evidence, to the rest of the agency, that you are truly madly, deeply... crackers.

Well that’s 250 words without knowing where I’m going. I suspect I’ll be back later to talk about our agency, our work and our clients (if they’ll let me). In the meantime, why not take a look at three little projects that have passed through Da Vinci’s job bags in the last few weeks.

Steve Lord
Creative Director
Da Vinci Communications