A branding and creative agency based in Coventry is planning a 20th anniversary celebration knowing it not only has a drinks venue guaranteed but also a safe cab ride home – after landing two new contracts in lockdown.
The Jade Studio, based at Electric Wharf, specialises in all aspects of creative work from branding projects to nationwide campaigns, from large format exhibitions to web, online, motion and animation work.
It works across the UK but was founded two decades ago in a spare bedroom in Coventry and has marked that milestone by landing two clients close to home when lockdown was at its height.
Jade is now providing a full branding service to the pedi-cab business Hail Services, which includes designing its logo, advising on their brand messaging, and helping create a new website in the near future.
Jade also worked with new micropub Hops d’Amour – to be located next to the Belgrade Theatre at the site of the old ‘Singer shop’ – to create its brand and identity.
Both firms were also given creative guidance and advice that will help the businesses to make the most of their innovation and promote themselves effectively.
Business Development Director Jason Dickens said: “While we operate right across the country, it is always rewarding to work with firms who call Coventry and Warwickshire their home.
“It is that much more exciting when they are start-ups as we are playing a really key role in their development.
“We are very proud to have given our clients a great service despite the problems of coronavirus, and it’s fantastic we’ve been able to work with new clients in that time as well.
“Lockdown also gave us the opportunity to look at ourselves and do for us what we do for our clients on a daily basis.
“We are improving our ability to design and create websites in-house for our clients, as well as enhancing the animations we can create for them too.
“We are really looking ahead to next year and hopefully some normality. More importantly though, it’ll be our 21st year, so it’ll be time to celebrate – and we know where we will be going and how we will get home!”
And the agency has not only been providing their usual services, but also gifting help to local organisations that really needed it because of the pandemic.
Jade completed a branding project for Coventry’s Highly Sprung, the UK’s leading physical theatre company, who do fantastic work with the young people of the city.
Highly Sprung’s work struck a chord with the team at Jade, so they decided to provide their services pro bono as they realised that lockdown had really affected them and it was a great way of giving something back.
Jade helped design new brands corresponding to the four different age groups that Highly Sprung teach, from the very young dancers to the more experienced dancers aged 16 plus.
The team have also been upskilling and enhancing their motion and digital services that they provide to their clients all over the UK and internationally too.
The Jade Studio began life in 2000 when Jason, alongside friend and managing director Matthew East, received a grant from the Princes’ Trust. Since then, the firm has gone from strength to strength.
After starting in a bedroom, The Jade Studio now has a team of eight and has worked on some major projects for the region over the years, including creating the submission document that ultimately helped to bring the Olympics to the Ricoh Arena in 2010.
Jade were also part of the three-year bid to become UK City of Culture 2021, something the team are particularly proud of. The team still works with the City of Culture Trust daily in the run up to next year’s celebrations.
Matthew added: “We are really proud to be marking our 20th year. Although it’s been an extremely challenging year, there’s exciting times ahead.
“We’re really looking forward to the future and especially next year’s City of Culture celebrations, and Coventry’s resurgence in general which is great to see.”
CAPTION – The team at The Jade Studio. From left: Jason Dickens, Mikey Baxter, Anna-Marie Luca, Matthew East, Kerry Jackson, and Barrington Simon.