PD Ports

Bringing clear logic to complex logistics

Client

PD Ports

Project

Brand Development & Design System

Services

Art Direction, Brand Identity, Brand Strategy, Campaign Design, Copywriting, Design, Internal Marketing, Photography, Print Management, Web Development

Sector

Maritime & Logistics

Bringing clear logic to complex logistics

The Brief

With little more than a logo and two colours as a brand world, the PD Ports brand had started to drift over time as people created their own interpretations. With no guidelines to support printed materials, each new publication had a different personality and each department had their own way of doing things. The brand needed some overarching logic and some underlying principles.

Background

Employing more than 1,200 people, PD Ports own and operate ports along the East coast of the UK; unlocking key markets in the North, South, Midlands and Scotland and providing access to the hub ports of Europe and further afield.

The Solution

Better has worked closely with PD Ports for over eight years and one of our primary focuses has been bringing logic and consistency to their design system. This long term project encompassed analysis, redesign and guidelines for everything from internal communications and newsletters to vehicle livery and heavy machinery. Starting almost from scratch with an existing logo we created the flexible container system and established a consistent design framework across all physical assets, culminating in extensive guidelines and a redesign of their online presence.

Bringing clear logic to complex logistics

The Brief

With little more than a logo and two colours as a brand world, the PD Ports brand had started to drift over time as people created their own interpretations. With no guidelines to support printed materials, each new publication had a different personality and each department had their own way of doing things. The brand needed some overarching logic and some underlying principles.

Employing more than 1,200 people, PD Ports own and operate ports along the East coast of the UK; unlocking key markets in the North, South, Midlands and Scotland and providing access to the hub ports of Europe and further afield.

With little more than a logo and two colours as a brand world, the PD Ports brand had started to drift over time as people created their own interpretations. With no guidelines to support printed materials, each new publication had a different personality and each department had their own way of doing things. The brand needed some overarching logic and some underlying principles.

Better has worked closely with PD Ports for over eight years and one of our primary focuses has been bringing logic and consistency to their design system. This long term project encompassed analysis, redesign and guidelines for everything from internal communications and newsletters to vehicle livery and heavy machinery. Starting almost from scratch with an existing logo we created the flexible container system and established a consistent design framework across all physical assets, culminating in extensive guidelines and a redesign of their online presence.

A flexible container

Building out from the PD Ports logo, a flexible container brought consistency to layouts and branded content. Guidelines allowed the container to move and flex and even become transparent, all the while retaining structure and bringing consistency to the brand system.
PD Ports Flexible Container
PD Ports Northern Gateway Spread
PD Ports Short Seas Brochure
PD Ports Northern Gateway Spread
PD Ports Short Sea
PD Ports Spread - CSR
PD Ports Brochure - UK Ports
PD Ports - Our Values Leaflet
PD Ports Short Seas Brochure Spread 3
PD Ports Short Seas Brochure Spread 4
Teesport Rail
PD Ports Employee Bulks
PD Ports Bulks Warehouse
Mobile Image 1 of the Website
Mobile Image 2 of the Website
Mobile Image 3 of the Website
Pipe
Kirsten Donkin PD Ports
PD Ports Teesport Illlustration
Guidelines
PDPorts TessportIt Billboard
“After working initially on some small creative projects, Better have become a key part of the PD Ports marketing function helping us to deliver brand continuity across all our online and offline media. They are a friendly and experienced team, they are always prepared to go the extra mile.”

Kirsten Donkin

PR & Communication Manager, PD Ports