Crabtree Hall creates ‘relaxing’ solution for mortgage shop>

Britannia Building Society has launched a mortgage shop retail format, called Britannia Simply Mortgages, developed by Crabtree Hall/Plan Créatif.

A trial outlet has opened in Solihull, and a second is due to open before the end of the year.

The building society appointed Crabtree Hall without a pitch after market research revealed customer demand for clear advice and “no pressure” sales techniques.

The Solihull branch now features an environment which aims to be more relaxing and less intimidating than a conventional building society branch.

Crabtree Hall was responsible for both interiors and external identity for the project. Wolff Olins redesigned Britannia’s corporate identity in 1995.

A “drop-in” system operates at the new branch, so no appointments are necessary, and videos and music keep the children entertained while the adults discuss mortgages. The format also includes an area for meeting and greeting customers, a product library, a coffee lounge and private interview rooms.

Crabtree Hall is developing a store in Taiwan for French supermarket group Casino, a long-term client. The consultancy is working in conjunction with the chain’s Taiwanese office on design and site planning. The store is to be located on a greenfield site.

Designers did pick up a gold and a silver Starpack award (DW 2 May). Pentagram won a gold for its shoe-box design for Superga, and shared a silver with Lippa Pearce for their collaboration on Halfords motor oil.

People have seen the faces of Christ and Elvis in the shapes of clouds, but Turner Duckworth has put the faces of military aviation designers in the background of five stamps depicting milestone aircraft. As the Royal Mail’s special stamps manager Rosena Robson puts it: ‘The aircraft are featured against a sky-blue background punctuated by white clouds. But on second glance the clouds are actually faces of the great aircraft designers themselves.’ The stamps, dubbed Architects of the Air, will go on sale on 10 June.

Alan Fletcher designed the Icograda poster of 1996 and not John Heartfield as stated in last week’s In Print supplement.