Mark Studio kicks off Manchester sports

Manchester City Council is looking to capitalise on its profile as host to a series of world sporting events in 2008, with the help of Mark Studio.

The Manchester design consultancy is working with the council to umbrella-brand six sports events in a bid to raise the profile of Manchester as a premier sports destination at both a national and international level.

‘It’s a great opportunity that allows Manchester to endorse the fact that we have the resources and venues to host these sort of events. It’s a huge deal for the city and the surrounding region,’ says Kathyrn Wolstencroft, marketing manager at Manchester City Council’s chief executive’s office.

Expected to launch at the end of July, the branding will highlight events including the Uefa Cup Final, the Paralympic World Cup, UCI Track Cycling World Championships and the Fina World Swimming Championships.

In February, Mark Studio won a paid creative pitch against undisclosed North West consultancies to develop the design and creative work for a campaign spanning the Web, advertising and promotional print.

Wolstencroft explains that although Manchester City Council is working in partnership with the sporting organisations on this ‘strategic campaign’, each individual event will have its own style of branding, created by their chosen design consultancy.

She says that, at present, only Fina has appointed a design consultancy, Manchester group Dinosaur, to work on elements like branding and signage for its event.