Issuu

Designing Brighter Futures Creative Solutions for Education

Where Education Meets Creativity

In the ever-evolving landscape of independent education, standing out is more than a goal –it’s a necessity.

Shifting regulations, economic uncertainty, and increasing environmental responsibilities bring new pressures, while the race to attract students and exceptional staff grows fiercer by the day.

Now more than ever, the partners you choose can make all the difference.

At The Graphic Design House, we understand the power of your branding, campaigns, digital content, and marketing materials. Together, they have the potential to inspire and inform, foster a sense of belonging, stimulate action and build a thriving community.

We invite you to explore some of the exceptional projects we’ve delivered for Oxford University colleges and the independent school sector.

Let’s bring your vision to life and make your school’s story unforgettable.

Our relationship with Exeter College began in early 2021 with a brief to build and design a fundraising campaign to support an £11.3 million library restoration project.

Under the campaign strap line, ‘Write the next chapter’, we designed three direct mail packs, each telling a different part of the renovation story. We created a microsite, email template, a major donor brochure with slip case, and a 25-meter hoarding.

The first mailing launched the campaign to alumni and produced outstanding results, far exceeding expectations.

3.2% response rate achieved, raising

£250,000

Our creative approach took inspiration from the historic character of the gothic architecture and wisteria, for which the college is known. Their exquisite fine lines and details were highlighted using a combination of hand drawn illustrations, gold foil blocking and die-cutting.

Using our specialist design for print expertise, we were able to create a set of materials that engaged, conveyed, and delighted its audience. We recommended a mixture of premium silk and uncoated papers to heighten the sensory experience. For the brochure, we also added a translucent 8 page throw-out, enabling us to overlay ‘before’ and ‘after’ images.

Sharing the progress and ambition of the project with the wider community was particularly important to the college. To that end, we designed a 25 metre long, eye-catching hoarding which invited passersby to join in ‘writing the next chapter’.

The important thing to say is this, we trust TGDH. We trust them to support us in achieving our goals, to help us create the materials and communications we need – and to make sure they are beautiful and in budget. If you’re looking for an agency to help support your college campaigns, or mailings, then we could not recommend TGDH more highly!”

Adale Bennett Deputy Director of Development and Alumni Relations Exeter College, Oxford

We delivered

• Three direct mail packs

• Full colour printed envelopes

• A4 letters, 4pp, folded to DL

• DL concertina folded leaflets, 12pp

• Donation forms, A4 & square

• Postcard

• Bookmark

• Magnet

• Maltese cross leaflet with insert

• A microsite

• Email template (Mailchimp)

• A brochure with slip case

• Digital flip book

• A 25m hoarding

Previously known as The Northwood Schools Group, The Graphic Design House worked for more than a year to deliver a radical rebrand.

With the schools comprising a co-ed preprep and two single sex schools, we wanted to create a strong, unifying new look and tone of voice, making it easier for parents to understand the full education journey on offer.

It was important to appeal to existing parents with traditional expectations, while also attracting ‘new London parents’.

The creative had to be strong and dynamic in a highly competitive market. It had to bring together the heritage and core values of the individual schools so that the school community would have a strong sense of unity and coherence.

Uniting under the new name, Broomwood, we created an iconic visual identity that links their past with the future. Combining the existing Broomwood ‘B’ with the Northcote stag, it celebrates their heritage, provides a sense of belonging and purpose, whilst also signalling their dynamic, forward-looking ethos and culture.

That culture is encapsulated in a new school motto, “To Do Your Best, To Be Your Best”.

The brand has been brought to life across all areas of the school,

We delivered

• Creation of brand identity

• Brand values

• Brand guidelines

• School signage

Banners, posters, adverts mugs, Pupil challenge books, and more…

It’s been a real pleasure working with you all over the past few years, and on this project, in particular. I really couldn’t have done any of this without you.”

Ali Bucknall Head of Marketing & Admissions Broomwood

Long-standing client, Alleyn’s School, approached us to create a bi-annual magazine to engage both alumni and students.

Described as ‘a digest of ideas, opinion, and original thought’, the new magazine sought to showcase writing from teachers on topics significant to their work or personal interests. The challenge was to develop a design that captured the essence of an academic journal while delivering the accessibility and appeal of a traditional magazine.

Inspiration was drawn from renowned publications such as The New Yorker, Guardian G2, The New Scientist, and Monocle Magazine to deliver a template that artfully blended these two styles into a distinctive new one.

We took a minimalist approach combining large margins with a constrained page layout to create a clean, uncluttered design that allowed the content to take centre stage. By teaming Alleyn’s School’s sans serif font for the masthead with a classic serif font for the headlines, plus the use of drop capitals and quotes, we were

able to create a sophisticated yet approachable look that also enhanced readability.

We deliberately avoided obvious choices when it came to imagery, taking an abstract approach instead. This kept the visual tone intriguing and added depth and interest to the articles, drawing readers into the thought-provoking content.

The print specification of a magazine is just as important as the visual design. It has the power to make or break a publication’s perceived value. Choices about size, paper and print finishes will also affect costs.

Alleyn’s School wanted to harness the tactility of print to deliver an enjoyable sensory experience that also enhanced the perceived value of the publication. We took all this into consideration, alongside our understanding of their brand and vision, before making our recommendations.

Scan me to read the online version

The final product was a striking and sophisticated magazine that delighted students, staff and alumni. The execution elevated the school’s brand creating a publication that is both aesthetically pleasing and intellectually stimulating. We’re pleased to report that our design approach not only met the brief but also strengthened the connection between the school and its community, making the Alleyn’s On magazine a valued resource.

Artist: Maryam Hamadi (Cribb’s 2025) Alleyn’s Summer Show 2024

Alumni are incredibly important to their alma maters. At St Anne’s College, maintaining their ongoing support and involvement enriches the culture and experience of the entire college community. So too does the arrival each year of international students.

Providing a comfortable and secure home away from home for undergraduates has always been a priority at St Annes. The muchloved Bevington Road Houses

accommodation has been home to generations of students, and was in need of regeneration. They turned to us to create an impactful alumni fundraising campaign.

A lot of our campaign work has a digital focus but for the education sector, in particular, print adds a valuable extra dimension. We developed an overarching theme of ‘home from home’ across the visual style and messaging, creating a major donor brochure and microsite, with a direct mail campaign scheduled for 2024.

Our intention was to deliver a campaign that fostered a sense of belonging, comfort and familiarity. A feeling of emotional connection to place, whilst also looking beyond to a future life.

We harnessed the college’s distinctive window shapes to create a cut-out cover to represent St Anne’s core values, ‘forward looking and outward facing’. Featuring black foiling, sketches and architect’s

illustrations, the pared back design and use of tints deliver a result that feels safe and familiar to college alumni, yet fresh and captivating.

St Anne’s chose to present the donor brochure using a belly band featuring the Bevington Road Houses, which they selected from a range of design options. They were able to tailor the brochures to each recipient using a choice of eight ‘Recognition Opportunity Cards’. The execution delivered a beautiful and exclusive campaign that delivered results, whilst keeping to a sensible budget.

We often support in-house designers with our specialist design for print expertise. If that’s something we can help you with, do get in touch!

The Graphic Design House worked closely with us to produce a brochure for a major fundraising campaign. They were attentive and friendly, and we were thrilled with their innovative design, and the quality of the brochures and service provided.”

Jay Gilbert Senior Communications Manager

St Anne’s College

Alleyn’s School Alumni Magazine Summer 2023

The Home of Great Design

With two decades of design expertise working alongside clients such as Exeter College Oxford, Portsmouth Grammar School, St Anne’s College Oxford, and Broomwood, The Graphic Design House is a full-service design agency producing inspirational creative for ambitious brands.

More than a place, The Graphic Design House is a home where passionate experts from every design discipline work together to produce great work that builds brands and drives results.

We are truly integrated, bringing creative ideas and executions to life across every medium from social to animation, web to print. We do it

Our clients like us and stay Creative excellence across every medium

40% of new clients find us through recommendation. Twenty six have been with us for more than 10 years – a rare achievement in the design world.

We bring creative ideas and executions to life across every touch point and medium; from social to animation, web to print. We do it all and we do it well.

Work that wins

We produce great work that builds brands and drives results. Whether that’s new enquiries, increasing web traffic, or building brand awareness, we make it happen.

Creative with impact

We do more than make something look good. We produce creative that gets noticed, talked about and shared, leaving a lasting impression.

Experience you can trust

Our multi-disciplinary team combines expertise across education, charity, the arts and business, blending strategy and execution to deliver innovative results.

A true partner

From concept to completion across design, print and mailing, we take full ownership of your project. The buck starts and stops with us.

The complete solution

Part of a wider print and mailing group, our unique heritage means your stunning creative can be rolled out quickly, easily, on time and on budget across multiple touch points.

Simply unexpected

We keep our service simple and our designs impactful. Timely, responsive communication; efficient online proofing; fast reliable turnarounds and exceptional client service.