Form and Function.

We believe in details as much as in the bigger picture. Brands thrive or fail by their ability to spot and react to trends in the market. We understand that it’s not enough to have a pretty logo – and we are here to help you build your brand on solid foundations, with creative applications that will make you proud.

Our philosophy

What makes us different

Regine Wilber

Creative director

Steven Wilber

Data and software engineer

We handpick our clients. And once we start working together, we become the one thing in their business that’s ‘just sorted’.

That means anything to do with their branding, creative, content creation, graphic design for print or online and general marketing is being looked after, personally by myself and my team.

I have been lucky to enjoy the buzz of a large London design and advertising agency, working on creative campaigns for corporates, such as Mercedes-Benz, Penhaligons and JP Morgan Private Bank. Whilst the work experience was amazing, I missed the close relationship with the clients, usually managed by account handlers.

We set up Essence in 2003 to take those barriers out of the creative process and to deliver agency standard with a very personal touch.

We hand-hold our clients through all the stages of their branding and design project whether it’s print, web or social media.

Our services

Brand strategy

Helping you get your head around where your brand is and where it wants to be. Think brand audit, brand architecture and positioning. It pays long-term to have a solid foundation – and to re-visit your brand on a regular basis, not just when faced with a crisis.

Design, design, design

Once you have a plan, the creative fun part starts. Visualising a brand is both challenging and extremely exciting. It never really ends – but along the way we’ll craft your stationery, advertising, brochures, flyers, corporate literature, reports, white papers, exhibition graphics, signage – and of course your website and presence on social media. Oh, did we mention we have a fantastic network of local and national printers that can provide high-quality, fast-turnaround litho and digital print? Simply ask us for a quote to see if we can save you some money.

Tech (cause we love it)

If your business has data, you have a magic ingredient – if you know how to stir the cauldron. We embrace technology and will always look for new, innovative ways to make your data dance. That may be with tailored business automations that make your day to day life easier and give you more time, or it may be by designing complex on-site systems to manage your data.

Everything else…

Without wanting this to sound like a cop out – we really do try to help with anything your brand may need. Office interior graphics? Vehicle covers? Container designs? Corporate gifts and branded merchandise? Events planning? Talk to us – we are here to help!

Rachel Bryant

“Regine’s design and build of my website and branding was first class. She took a vague idea and turned it into a creative, fresh looking brand and website. I couldn’t imagine using anyone else!”

Director, Trinity IP Solutions

Expertise

Brand strategy

Brand Discovery, Audits, Positioning, Values, Analysis

The heart of your business defined, discovered and developed. We’ve worked with large organisations, such as the West Midlands CSU (NHS), Lichfield Cathedral and Forest YMCA, as well as smaller enterprises to assess and shape a long-lasting strategic foundation.

Branding

Brand identity design, Brand guidelines

Taking a concept for a brand to be translated into visuals – it’s more than just a logo, but a logo is a very important part of it. We have worked on countless brands, starting from scratch or evolving an existing identity with respect and care for the core values.

Graphic Design

Design for Print, Web and social

We love design. Bringing a brand to live with engaging, memorable visuals is a deep underlying passion to everything we do. Ultimately, we want your brand to do well and to make you feel proud when you present it – be it with your marketing material, or on your website and online channels.

Advertising

Copy writing, Print and Digital ads

Our roots lie in advertising and creative direction, and we excel in fast paced creative challenges with tight deadlines, overcoming the big issue that ‘everything has been done before’. We think there is plenty of ‘new’ in the world to advertise your business.

Digital

Online Strategy, Social Media, Blogs, E-shots, Automations, Dynamic Content

The web is more colourful (and confusing) then every – so many channels, so many opportunities! If you can’t see the wood for the trees, we can help you define a suitable strategy and implement it on your website, digital marketing and social media presence. All with GDPR in mind.

Consultancy

Kickstarter / Crowd Funding

Having run a successful Kickstarter campaign for one of our clients, we have learned a ton. If you are planning a crowdfunding project, talk to us and avoid some of the pitfalls of this very different approach to product development and engaging with customers. It’s definitely a crowd thing!