East Herts District Council serves the towns and villages of East Hertfordshire including Hertford, Ware and Bishop’s Stortford, delivering essential local services such as planning, housing, waste collection, and community development. Guided by its vision of a prosperous and sustainable future for residents and businesses, the council has worked closely with Phelan Barker to elevate its communications and engagement across a range of initiatives.
BRANDING | GUIDELINES | TYPEFACE | SIGNAGE | WAYFINDING | DIGITAL | SOCIAL | MARKETING
Our partnership with East Herts District Council began with a brief to refresh and refine their corporate branding. We streamlined the colour palette, refined the existing logo, and introduced graphic devices to help communicate the council’s pride in its community while improving clarity and consistency across channels.
Over the past three years, this collaboration has grown into an ongoing relationship, with Phelan Barker delivering a series of successful marketing campaigns and community initiatives that connect residents and celebrate local life.
Recognising the value of local markets to community life, East Herts District Council commissioned us to create a new brand that reflected the breadth and quality of produce available across the district.
We developed a bold, characterful identity inspired by the classic road name sign a familiar and welcoming symbol of place. Designed for versatility, the brand works seamlessly across different markets and locations, from street markets to farmers’ markets, ensuring a cohesive visual identity that’s instantly recognisable.
To promote the council’s arts initiative, which runs across September and October, we created a vibrant and expressive brand that celebrates creativity in all its forms.
Using a palette drawn from the council’s core colours, we paired bold typography with the strapline “Discover your creative side”. A flexible graphic frame device allows imagery of local art, performances, and workshops to be easily incorporated across digital, print, and social platforms, ensuring consistent and eye-catching promotion.
As part of the council’s commitment to healthy living and sustainable travel, the Pedal or Stroll campaign encouraged residents to get active whether cycling to school, walking to the shops, or exploring local attractions.
We developed a dynamic brand identity that conveys positive movement and inclusivity, supported by adaptable graphic assets for use across social media and print. The campaign’s approachable tone and visual energy ensured it appealed to audiences of all ages.
James and his team have been an invaluable partner in helping us communicate often complex service changes. Their work is consistently of an excellent standard, and they take the time to fully understand each brief offering thoughtful, constructive challenge where needed. They’re also a genuinely friendly and approachable team who go above and beyond to deliver work that truly resonates.
Lindsey Creed, Head of Communications and Digital Media
The branding and supporting materials were developed to appeal to a broad audience, from young people exploring future careers to adults looking to upskill or return to work. Clean layouts, approachable messaging, and vibrant yet professional visuals were used throughout to communicate confidence and possibility.
Because many of the courses are available both live and on-demand, the campaign also needed to convey convenience and adaptability. The overall design language reinforces the idea that learning can fit around everyday life, helping users feel that professional development is both achievable and accessible.
The latest initiative, Explore East Herts, inspires residents and visitors to discover the district’s wide range of activities from feeding alpacas to visiting pumpkin patches.
We created a versatile, playful campaign brand featuring a circular motif of directional arrows encircling the title Explore East Herts, inspired by signposts and compass points. The design includes a flexible call to action “Explore our activities” that integrates effortlessly with imagery and layouts.
The result is a characterful and vibrant identity that adds a sense of fun, energy, and discovery to every touchpoint.
