Reviews

The buy:time story

"What a team of highly creative, inspiring and immensely personable people!" Claire Brynteson — MD buy:time, March 2003

"I walked into the offices of Giraffe early this year, sat myself down in front of Jim Shannon, Creative Director, and asked for an identity for a new venture. Oh, and a company logo too — nothing much!

A former investment banking professional, I had no experience in how to trademark an egg box, let alone a new company and a new service. I knew that branding was a very large part of business success, but in that arena, that's about all I knew. Jim sent me home with his favourite design book to kick start my imagination and I in turn, bashed out my first attempt at a "creative brief". I handed over the job to Jim; willing him to be my inventive eye — and that he was.

I had formed a company called buy:time and suggested to Jim that a play on busy people with no time, or perhaps images of egg timers could be what I was after. Apart from that, I wanted a modern, professional, trust worthy feel, but most of all something different, something new and refreshing. "Go to it", I thought, "and craft something magical, something I can be proud of."

He did.

I had very defined ideas of what I did not want, but Jim had to find what I did want. The two things I definitely did not like were people and cartoons while I have never been partial to green.

Giraffe gave me buy:time (colon in a green) and a branding of cartoon people — and I loved it instantly! Jim provided solid explanations behind his choices, which were impressive — a bit like a wine taster attaching descriptions to wines, from what seems like an eternal bank of adjectives — but I didn't really care because I knew it was "it" as soon as I saw it (even the green!).

I have since been swamped by compliments over the illustration of my product. The look and feel is eye catching, clean cut, individual, yet reassuring and very professional.

Since then, Stephen Newman — a Giraffe partner — has done a fantastic job of printing my stationery — Kim, Maria and Lori have all chipped in with ideas and feedback at all times — every bit as enthusiastic and productive."

Claire Brynteson. MD buy:time, March 2003

Since then buy:time — and our work — has been featured in the Times, the Evening Standard (twice), Harpers Business, Wedding and Home, London Magazine, RW and the Really Useful Column.