Ignite works on branding and interiors for proposed education centre

The consultancy is working on plans for the Renaissance Centre, which is proposed to sit on the Ribbleton site of Ashton Community Science College (pictured) in Preston. An amount of funding has been secured for the centre, but it is still reliant on securing central Government funding – which may be outlined in the Emergency Budget being announced this week.

The aim is to create an institution where students will manage projects for businesses and the surrounding community. For example, weddings could be held in the school hall, with hair and beauty students working on hair and make-up, and catering students managing the food.

Sharon Asquith, head of the school’s Ribbleton campus, says, ’The aim is to deliver projects in action for the local community.’ Ignite Retail Design, which has offices in London, Beijing, Rotterdam and Warsaw, was appointed to the work at the beginning of the year.

The consultancy had previously worked on a hairdressing salon for the school’s Ashton campus. It is carrying out work on the centre on a pro-bono basis.

The consultancy is creating a new identity for the entire college, as well as working on way finding and navigation, branding and graphic communications, and the interior design of the institution. Lauren Young, business development manager for Ignite, says, ’We’re trying to make the space look less like a regular school – we’re not using primary school colours, for example.

We want it to be modern and inspirational, and we’ve got the pupils involved and asked them what they want.’