Skidmore Turnbull at Earls Court

Communications specialist Skidmore Turnbull has been appointed to create new identities for London’s Earls Court and Olympia. The appointment follows a six-way paid creative pitch held last month.

The UK’s second biggest exhibition venue was bought in a £183m deal in October by the Morris Family – the group behind the Business Design Centre in London’s Islington. Andrew Morris, chief executive of the venue’s holding company, Earls Court and Olympia, has stated previously that the two companies will maintain their individual profiles.

The rebranding programme includes designing logos for Earls Court and Olympia as individual venues, plus identities for three related organisations – Clarion Events, Earls Court and Olympia Group, and Earls Court and Olympia London.

The first stage of the project will be unveiled next week, with the remaining elements scheduled to be launched in January.

“The separate identities will be required to work on a stand-alone basis while retaining a clear visual link between each of the elements. We will apply these identities to a wide range of marketing literature and stationery as well as signage and advertising,” explains Skidmore Turnbull managing director Mark Turnbull.

ECO group marketing manager Alison Berends says: “We selected Skidmore Turnbull because of its clear grasp of the complexities of the project as well as its work. This is a project which will need firm strategic direction as well as strong visual solutions.”