BT invites contenders for roster

BT has invited design groups on its 100-plus across-the-board quality suppliers’ list to apply for its separate print roster. The increased roster is expected to complete in March and is part of an overhaul of BT’s design procurement process.

The client is also nearing completion of its first multimedia roster and plans to form separate design rosters for France, Germany and Italy next year for alliances in those countries. These will cover the full spectrum of design, although the emphasis will be on multimedia and graphics. BT head of design David Mercer is not ruling out the use of some UK consultancies for work in these countries.

In its latest move BT has invited design groups on its quality suppliers list to apply for its two-year-old 15-strong print roster, set up because the quality suppliers’ list was “unworkable”. But many on the quality suppliers’ list still believe they are effectively on that roster, which they are not, says Mercer.

BT’s current print roster includes Stocks Austin Sice, Johnson Banks, Coley Porter Bell, Design House, Wolff Olins, Trickett & Webb, Harlequin, MPL and Red Square (DW 1 August). These are expected to remain on the roster. Mercer has not yet decided the size of the new roster, but says it will contain “quite a variety” of groups.

Meanwhile, following the three-strong product design roster announced earlier in the year, BT is set to release details of a new 10-12 strong multimedia roster. The final selection will be made from a shortlist of 23 groups taken from an initial list of around 100 (DW 1 August 1997). BT expects to make a decision before the end of the month.

Mercer has confirmed Wolff Olins’ branding work for Concert, the joint venture between BT and MCI, is extremely unlikely to be used for its intended purpose, after the collapse of their deal. But he says the name and some of the design work would be considered for any subsequent deal which might replace it.

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