Cheshire West and Chester Council set to pay £500 for logo - North West Media News

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Cheshire West and Chester Council set to pay £500 for logo

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Wednesday, 13 August 2008

In a move that could prove to be a blueprint for how all clients source their marketing services creative work, the soon to be formed Cheshire West and Chester Council has initiated a competition to find designs for its new logo.

The prize for crafting the corporate identity? £500.

Those How-Do’ers that took issue with the spending of public funds on designs for Oldham and Wythenshawe may think that this is an enlightened approach to public sector branding.

Those of you that work for design or creative agencies might not.

Cheshire West and Chester Council comes into being in April, at which point it will start delivering services and replace the local authorities in Chester City, Ellesmere Port and Neston, Vale Royal and Cheshire.

Ahead of this it has pinpointed its broad objectives and brand values as being ‘dynamic, forward thinking, inspiring, professional, fresh and innovative’ – all values that should be represented in the new identity.

The winning logo, as picked by the Council Executive, “must be able to work across a range of communication tools and publications, including letterheads, adverts, websites, vehicles and uniforms.”

Which, to the casual observer, may appear to be a pretty stringent brief more in line with typical public sector tenders than fun competitions.

Entrants should also “include a written submission of no more than 200 words explaining how your logo conveys the aims and image of Cheshire West and Chester Council.”

How-Do’ers that fancy getting their hands on the £500 should click here and get their entries in by 29 August.

In a similar move How-Do would also like to announce the start of its own competition.

We’d like our site visitors to write news articles, features and industry comment pieces relating to the North West media and marketing fraternity.

The pick of the bunch will be published on the site as and when we receive them and at the end of the year the ‘How-Do Executive’ will pick an overall winner and perhaps buy the writer a pint. Maybe even two.

Good luck everybody!

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Comments (14)

1 By Mr_Osato, on 13-08-2008 09:49
Still a good £450 too much - can none of these people use Quark?

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2 By Moose, on 13-08-2008 09:48
Is there a particular email address we need to send these pieces to Mr How Do?

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3 By hack, on 13-08-2008 12:41
Writing articles for nothing? I seem to recall a similar ploy at the Manchester Flash, and the Northwest Times. And people knock newcomers such as The Darrener and THE Magazine for not paying freelancers!

(Message from the Ed: The How-Do competition thing was a bit of a larf. However, we do want to hear from you and always value your feedback/opinions/news/views. Use the link at the end of each story to get in touch or email us directly at contact@how-do.co.uk . Thanks for reading, Ed)

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4 By Mark, on 13-08-2008 10:29
The brief says:

"You can hand draw your logo or produce your design on computer. If you hand draw your logo use a sheet of white A4 paper. Your design can be portrait or landscape and should fill as much of the page as possible."

It makes me feel five years old again.

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5 By Moose, on 13-08-2008 12:28
Mark make sure you wash your hands after painting.

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6 By chestertaxpayer, on 13-08-2008 12:57
Anything that saves taxpayers a few bob is OK in my book. And what is wrong with the logo at the top of the article? It says everything - aprt from the word Council, but that can be understood anyway. No need to bring in the bullshit merchants, save your cash councillors.

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7 By Woody, on 13-08-2008 14:38
A lot is wrong with that logo at the top of the article!!

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8 By Oliver, on 14-08-2008 09:48
Cheshire East Council has already begun work in its logos using the concept of something called an 'in house resources'.
See the story and picture in Wilmslow Express.
http://www.wilmslowexpress.co.uk/news/s/1059422_its_all_in_a_name__and_a_logo

Its nice to see that neither of these councils are spending a fortune on thier logos as it is simply not needed.
That said, once they have a fancy chief executive I bet we will see six figure sums spent on brand relalignment. Watch this space.

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9 By Save Our Taxes, on 14-08-2008 18:54
After Hemisphere’s ‘Transport for London-esque’ and ludicrously expensive Oldham logo, this idea comes as a breath of fresh air.

As for Oldham, our future Prime Minister’s favourite think tank thinks everyone should get out of there. The logo was useful then!

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10 By Oldhamsbiggestfan, on 15-08-2008 18:37
Strangely, I believe David Cameron’s right-wing think tank was actually right about Oldham. Some northern towns, like Oldham, are completely beyond saving (even with a million pound logo). People should leave Oldham for a better life. Americans move from state to state all the time.

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11 By Mr Sock, on 20-08-2008 08:11
Ruddy marvelous! It stops all the crap creative agencies which vulture around the public sector, MDDA and Manchester Digital for work. Naming no names....

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12 By journo, on 20-08-2008 08:38
Well said Mr Sock. I read the 66-page report from Policy Exchange last week. Not only was it parodied by the lazy, parochial dimwits in the northwest media, especially the boneheaded BBC, but I agree with 99 per cent of it. The theme is that northern town cannot expect to revive dead industries with regeneration cash once the toriescome in. Labour ministers have poured zillions into wasteful regeration. Time is up for some of the quangos and the vultures.

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13 By WhatLogo , on 03-09-2008 11:07
Hidden away on the Shadow Cheshire West and Chester website are the logos. No mention of competition winner though
Only five days to vote

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14 By Woody, on 03-09-2008 17:31
1 & 3 are may favs.

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