We don’t want to rule the world, we want to help save it…
This was the belief, the faith, the ethos from which Carbon Creative was conceived; it was the first message that was promoted to a world where global warming and climate change were less understood than they are today. Fast forward nine years and the thinking remains the same — a company whose heart for all that is green and good continues to grow ever stronger.
Carbon Creative is an award-winning branding and digital graphic design agency based near Media City UK in Salford, Greater Manchester. We service most industries and sectors promoting our clients with inspired thinking for branding, design, print, digital/website, marketing and PR services.
We are a modern digital agency, truly multi-disciplined with equal skill and enthusiasm for traditional print branding, web, digital and social media, film and motion graphics. We plan each project strategically and demonstrate an integrated marketing approach that makes best use of appropriate marketing channels to gain the most cost-effective results.
We design everything with intelligence and attention to detail, we love to be conceptual and thought provoking creating the ‘clever’ moment when you first see a piece of advertising. We do all this with a passion for creativity a mind for excellence and a heart for the environment. In short, our mantra, creatively inspired… naturally.
The year was 2002, the commonwealth games came to Greater Manchester and Northwest England went on the global stage. Brazil won the World Cup… again. Queen rocked the Queen as part of the Golden Jubilee celebrations and George Bush, arguably the most powerful man in the world, fainted after eating a pretzel!
Carbon Creative was just a twinkle in the eye of two creative professionals, Martin and Kate Hadfield, who had recently moved to Salford, got married and started a family.
Facing redundancy from a Manchester based agency and with two preschool children in tow, the design couple took a deep breath and decided to start their own company, a graphic and web design agency but with a difference: it would advocate sustainable communications, green design practice and raise awareness about climate change.
The Company was setup with a commitment to become carbon neutral, unusual for any company at the time and unheard of for a creative agency. However, this rationale helped distill the ethos of the company whilst fortuitously helping to resolve the first dilemma of choosing a company name. Carbon Creative was born.
Like most small business start-ups, there was practically no operating capital and money was tight: however, a grant of £1,000 from Salford 100 Venture and an interest-free loan of £3,000 from the Prince’s Trust helped buy equipment and resolve initial cashflow. The fledgling business operated as a cottage industry from the family home for the first eight months until it was stable enough to make the jump to leasehold offices.
Working initially out of a living room it was a challenge, Kate Hadfield recalls, “ I remember one occasion of a customer popping over to brief me in on design a project whilst my children were jumping up and down on the sofa, it was quite crazy at times but we managed to grow the business quickly to the point that we could afford to rent our first office and some part time child care, I think most of the customers found those moments endearing, that particular customer is still with us and has become a friend as much as a business associate”
Carbon Creative is now approaching its tenth birthday and has shown steady growth, attracting like-minded staff and clients who care. Key highlights in the company history include the purchase and subsequent eco-refurbishment of a business property near Salford Quays and winning Salford Business Awards — Green Award in 2010.
Carbon Creative an award winning graphic design and digital agency based in Salford Manchester. Established in 2002 as one of the first creative companies in the UK with a commitment to become carbon neutral. The company has received media and press interest for its continuing environmental campaigns, most notable was the launch of a tree planting campaign in 2006 dedicating trees to be planted in Salford and Greater Manchester for clients and for every order placed.
In 2007 the company relocated to business premises to facilitate the inclusion of green power generated from 100% renewable energy. In April 2010 Carbon Creative was awarded Winner of the Salford Business Awards — Green Award for its environmentally friendly business operations within the city.
Today Carbon Creative continues to innovate in ethical and sustainable business practices working to promote the clients and values it cares about. Solid company growth has seen further commitment with the launch of www.treeinspired.co.uk, www.carboncolo.com and a relentless passion to plant more trees, currently standing at over 3,700 tree dedications as of 2011.
To see a complete list of what we offer visit our design agency manchester services section. If you wish to have a chat
call 0161 877 3500.
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