Recommendations...
Below you’ll find a few contacts who I have worked with recently and would have no hesitation in recommending – they cover design, web design, communications, photography and printing – pretty much all you need. They are, from my experience, exceptional at what they do.
Web design, branding and digital
I had the pleasure of working with Lines Group during my time at the charity Hope for Tomorrow. I immediately felt that I could trust them, although I gave them a near impossible task – to build a new website within nine weeks. To put that into context it should take six months. They hit the deadline and delivered a site that transformed the charity’s branding and ‘shop front’; something that will hold it in good stead for the future.
Lines’ project management, client contact, design and technical capabilities were superb, and surprisingly, even with the tight deadline, we very much enjoyed working together.
If you’re looking for a dependable, high-quality web design company, look no further. Worth noting that they can also bring much more to the table with their extensive experience in branding, advertising and software development.
Take a look at their portfolio.
Freelance graphic designer
I’ve worked with Craig Chiswell for 20 years. He’s a graphic designer based in the Forest of Dean. Chances are that you’ve seen his work without knowing it, as he specialises in magazines and publications.
Craig offers a comprehensive range of creative design services including newsletters, advertising, branding, leaflets, flyers, large format banners and exhibition stands.
He’s great to work with and always delivers.
Freelance photographer and videographer
Matt’s been a photographer for decades, having spent much of his time in newspapers.
When it comes to photographers, there are some terrific freelancers out there and Matt is one of them. The newspaper industry has laid off thousands of photographers over the past two decades, but their loss is everyone else’s gain. Good press photographers, like Gloucestershire-based Matt, have great people skills too. They’re used to high-pressure environments, so they can frame your photos quickly and professionally. They’ve also had to adapt to the world of video.
Photography and video are vital for modern comms, so a freelance photographer is a tremendous asset. Back in 2023 Matt, in his capacity as one of the founders of local newspaper Stroud Times, came out to a press launch and, on a miserable, rainy day captured some great images and even filmed a video story, which you can see here.
It’s worth giving him a yell. You’d be surprised how cost-effective high-quality photography and video can be. Take a look at his work.
Lithographic, digital and large format printing
Typecraft offers a comprehensive range of printing services. Over the past 20 years I’ve predominantly used them for newsletters, annual reports and leaflets. They’re great on price, quality and service – which is pretty much everything you need!
They can print short and long runs, digital and lithographic and are specialists in large format printing such as exhibition systems, banners, vehicle graphics, shop/office graphics, point of sale material and graphics installation.
