Read parents’ manual This Way Up

London consultancy This Way Up has designed a raft of resource materials to support Parent Information Point, a National Family and Parenting Institute initiative set to launch nationally in the autumn.

The scheme will see ‘parenting professionals’, such as local education authorities, health workers and school staff, hold two-hour information workshops in schools and community centres.

Its aim will be to help parents cope with the transitional stages in their children’s development, which NFPI identifies as taking place at ages five, 11 and 14.

This Way Up has designed print materials, including a 50-page ‘toolkit’ or training manual, a poster and a flier, plus a CD-Rom and three PowerPoint presentations for practioners’ use.

NFPI policy and public education manager Anne Page tasked the consultancy with creating ‘upbeat, easy-to-use and authoritative’ materials, This Way Up managing partner Steve Harvey says. The group responded by adopting a ‘bright and positive’ illustrative style. ‘The manual’s content focuses on three different age groups, so illustration seemed a good way to go,’ he explains. ‘The challenge was to make sure [the materials] didn’t appear too cartoony. They had to look serious, as well as illustrate a point.’

This Way Up won the work in March, on the back of its existing relationship with NFPI. Harvey and This Way Up creative partner Karen Harvey led the project.