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Leading North West design and marketing agency, nicepond, will go head-to-head with retail giants Marks and Spencer and Asda at this year’s prestigious UK Packaging Awards.

The Windermere-based agency has been nominated alongside six other companies in the Sustainable Pack of the Year award for its pioneering eco-packaging design, Tri-Ply.

The innovative concept was commissioned by leading homeware and kitchen retailer, Lakeland, for its new pan range. It marks a significant breakthrough in packaging design as the tripod-shaped box increases space efficiency for shipping and merchandising, achieving an overall reduction in waste and transportation of an impressive 50 per cent.

Tri-Ply’s ingenious shape is eye-catching for consumers whilst reducing waste and material costs for the retailer. It also communicates the benefits of the pan range itself, which has an energy saving triple layer of stainless steel and aluminum for fast, efficient heat transfer.

Bob Wallace, Marketing Director of nicepond, commented:

“It’s a real honour to be nominated amongst some of the UK’s leading retailers and design agencies, such as M&S and Asda. The UK Packaging Award is a highly respected accolade and to see our name alongside the industry’s elite is a significant achievement for the company.”

He added:

“Tri-Ply is a unique design concept that has added a brand new dimension to retail packaging design. Therefore, significant credit must go to our highly creative and innovative design team who literally did ‘think outside the box’!”

The UK Packaging Awards 2009 – run by leading magazine Packaging News – celebrates the achievements of the packaging industry and the exceptional design and production of its work. The awards will be judged by an independent panel of experts based upon the environmental impact, design, usability and the degree of innovation of each nominee’s entry, nicepond will join other UK design and marketing agencies from around the UK at London’s Grosvenor Hotel for the award ceremony on 4 November 2009.

Press Release | Design Week

Dear editor,

As a creative industry that thrives on styling an ever-changing society, it deeply saddens me that we are neglecting the very thing that sets us apart – our vast and varied heritage. Why? Because of a serious imbalance that seems to be emerging between the number of men and the number of women entering into the profession and developing to senior level.

In recent years, we – like many agencies – have advertised for positions, such as Creative Director and Senior Conceptual Designer, only to be met with tens, if not hundreds, of applications from men vying for the role. This compares to a paltry one, perhaps two, from women.

I consider this to be a sad reflection on an industry that appears to bang the drum as a socially, culturally and gender-aware profession. Yet the reality is somewhat different. If we are to nurture and grow our sector, it’s essential that we attract a wide range of people – both male and female.

Agencies must lead from the front in encouraging universities and trade bodies, such as the Design Business Association and the Design Council, to highlight this serious misgiving. If not, our profession is in danger of losing its eclectic appeal due to a growing Neanderthal attitude.

Our search continues for an additional Creative Director to head our team, so we await current responses with bated breath.

Bob Wallace, Marketing Director of design and marketing agency, nicepond

Press Relsease

Marker Wallace makes a major rebrand to become nicepond

Leading design and marketing agency Marker Wallace is making a real splash after undergoing a complete image makeover, rebranding as nicepond.

The North West agency – based in Windermere, Cumbria – has unveiled a major corporate rebrand after 20 years as Marker Wallace.

The fresh identity marks a new era for the company, which has grown to become a highly respected agency. It boasts a stellar client list that includes: kitchen and homeware retailer Lakeland, English Lakes Hotels Group, as well as niche projects for high street pharmacy Boots and photographic giant Kodak.

The refreshing redesign aims to convey an image that is contemporary, clean and fresh, while acknowledging how the brand has evolved over the last two decades. nicepond intends to use the corporate rebrand as a springboard to significantly widen its client base by targeting an increasing number of blue chip clients with its unique and flexible design and product solutions.

Established by Bob and Pat Wallace in 1990, nicepond has built up a team of 14 talented designers and marketing professionals at its offices near the shores of Lake Windermere. It provides a unique range of in-house studio services including design, branding, photography and illustration – both technical and creative.

Bob Wallace, Marketing Director of nicepond, said:

We work tirelessly to create the right image for our clients, so we felt it was about time we made our own splash by refreshing our corporate identity. We wanted our new brand to reflect who we are, where we’re from and what we specialise in. As we’re based in a restored Victorian building located close to Lake Windermere, the beautiful and tranquil setting became the perfect inspiration for our new name and company ethos. Like the lake, Nicepond is a creative eco-system and a pool of talent that is constantly evolving.

The corporate rebrand secures nicepond’s position as one of the region’s leading design and marketing agencies.

The company was recently commissioned by Lakeland to develop a new eco packaging concept. The unique box is the first of its kind in the UK and will launch a new product range in Lakeland catalogues, online and throughout the retailer’s 42 stores in July. The tripod-shaped boxes increase space efficiency for transportation and merchandising compared with standard square or rectangular boxes.

Press Release

They say Christmas comes earlier and earlier each year. But for one Windermere company, getting wrapped up in the festive season twelve months ahead of schedule is all part and parcel of the job!

nicepond – formerly known as Marker Wallace, one of the region’s leading design and marketing agencies – has embarked on a major Christmas packaging project for kitchen and homeware giant, Lakeland.

The company has been commissioned to develop a Lakeland Christmas packaging range in preparation for a rush of Christmas sales from their catalogues, online and throughout the retailer’s 42 UK stores.

Bob Wallace, Marketing Director of nicepond, said:

Over the last 15 years, we have designed and produced a wide range of innovative packaging for Lakeland. We’re very used to meeting tight deadlines, but getting into the festive spirit in Spring is always a rather unusual experience for the team!

He added:

Increasingly, large retailers are having to prepare for the festive season as soon as possible, particularly as shoppers are expected to hit the shops even earlier this year to help spread the cost and combat the current economic climate. We will be working closely with Lakeland over the coming months to ensure they’re fully prepared ahead of the festive season.

Marker Wallace, which rebranded as nicepond in April, was established over 20 years ago by Bob and Pat Wallace. It has grown to become a highly respected agency which boasts a team of 14, including designers and marketing professionals at its offices near the shores of Lake Windermere.

Bob added:

We work tirelessly to create the right image for our clients, so we felt it was about time we made our own splash by refreshing our corporate identity. We wanted our new brand to reflect who we are, where we’re from and what we specialise in. As we’re in a restored Victorian building located close to Lake Windermere, the beautiful and tranquil setting became the perfect inspiration for our new name and company ethos. Like the lake, Nicepond is a creative eco-system; a pool of talent that is constantly evolving; and a celebration of what we have become.

nicepond is a design and marketing agency that provides a unique range of in-house studio services including design, branding, photography and illustration – both technical and creative.