Who We Are

thinkingplace is the UK’s only place specialist – it’s all we do.

We make a difference through fresh thinking, insight, experience and inspiration. We understand what success will look like for places and then help them to achieve it.

We work with people who want their place to be more successful – whether that’s their city, town, development or neighbourhood.

We get results by keeping things simple, going back to basics and by straight talking, giving places the confidence to do things differently. We engage with people (not consult them), listening to their ambitions for their place and capturing their emotional connection with it.

We help to unlock the value and potential of a place by highlighting why it’s special, building on its assets and empowering the people who have an interest in it to do more.

We’re passionate about places, we love what we do and we hope that shows.

what we do

Places need to compete, stand out and get chosen. thinkingplace work with local authorities, developers, investment agencies and others to develop their place story bringing different people in the place together to agree a shared ambition for their region, city or town.

This articulates why their place is special, highlighting its character and potential. We help them tell their story with fresh words, imagery, behaviours and often a new visual expression we call a ‘visual language’.

Our approach engages and energises people to become ambassadors for their place who we help to empower and equip to relay that story and champion their place. We bring the story to life through all aspects of the place from communications to street furniture, lighting to signage.

thinkingplace provide the foundations to help to create a distinctive place experience that works for and attracts the people that matter to you.

Wigan

Wigan is an important town on the edge of Manchester and keen to make best use of its history, businesses, location and people in growing its economy. The Council were keen to develop a new economic narrative for the area with the high profile involvement of business to ‘do things differently’ given the changing role of the public sector. It was also important for the town to shake off negative connotations linked to its industrial past and portray the forward looking and ambitious nature of the place and its role within the wider Manchester economy.
- Many companies came together to support the initiative and new relationships were formed between the private and public sector. The process created a ‘coalition of the willing’ who wanted to set a clear direction for the town and area and were more than happy to stand behind it.
- The creation of a new economic narrative for the place was linked to the desire to produce a fresh ‘Economic Framework’ forWiganto publically set out a ‘direction of travel’. The story development work provided the ‘glue’ and context for the resultant strategy document and ensured it was firmly rooted in the place.
- The story that emerged is certainly a long way away from the Wigan in many peoples minds; firstly it focuses on the fabulous green (and blue) spaces created from a legacy of mining; talks to the relationship with Manchester and Liverpool as Wigan sits at the heart of these great places and finally relates that success is in the blood whether that be in entrepreneurs or sportspeople.
- The private sector were energised by the work and evolved from being a steering group to becoming a Place Board providing leadership, direction and an ambassadorial role for economic matters.
Rhyl
The Welsh seaside resort of Rhyl is part of an inter-regional European project where thinkingplace is helping towns to look at how they can re-brand themselves, driven by the community and in a sustainable way.

Like many seaside towns Rhyl is seeking to reinvent itself and has chosen a route which harks back to its history; a traditional, family experience based on having fun together in a simple way from donkey rides to beach games. thinkingplace created a new story for Rhyl and it is now telling that in a host of ways.
- As befits a seaside resort the visual language for Rhyl is bright, brash and vibrant making it ideal to come to life in animated form. We have produced a show-reel animation which tells the new story and is designed for use by stakeholders, schools, cinema, in fact anywhere that has a screen!
- When high quality granite benches were being placed in the town centre they had to embrace the new narrative and so little stories that celebrate the performers that have been to Rhyl now adorn them.
- ‘A picture paints a thousand words’ is certainly true when it comes to places and Rhyl has a fresh and fun set of photography that really champions what the place is all about.
- A new, independent, place focussed website has been introduced that relates the whole notion of a traditional ‘beachscape experience’. Using the visual identity and words from the story it is the perfect landing point for those wanting to see what the new Rhyl is all about.

Downpatrick
Downpatrick in Northern Ireland is the resting place of St Patrick and has the only permanent exhibition dedicated entirely to Ireland’s patron saint. The objective was to develop a cultural quarter in the town that would tell the story of the town and its assets, improve the visitor experience and encourage people to move around the place. thinkingplace’s work was linked to wider masterplanning activity for Downpatrick.
- A major aim of the work was to move people from the ‘honey pot’ sites of St Partick’s grave and the visitor centre to other areas of the town so they could see more of the heritage sites and spend time in the commercial centre. We generated interest via stories and encouraging movement via trails.
- We developed the core design of the way finding totems and based it on the shape of a window in the ruins of Inch Abbey on the edge of the town. The materials used relate to the place yet give it modernity and gravitas.
- All aspects of public real were included in this approach such as bins, seats, railings and hoardings – often the simplest items can powerfully be adapted to tell the story. This doesn’t necessarily require bespoke items, ‘off the shelf’ street furniture can be easily adapted.
- This scheme also makes use of lighting which can be extremely effective in relating a story and mood especially where it can change colour. In this case blue light brings the walkway to the grave to life, adds to a feeling of safety and brings the major asset of the nearby river into town.
- Sometimes interest can be added by simply engraving stories that support the new place narrative into benches, paving or onto vinyls for glass. The secret isn’t always about cost often it is just thinking imaginatively about how to use the space to tell the story.

Holy Island

thinkingplace was appointed to deliver an inter-regional European project to devise an approach where smaller places could develop their own place brand using their local community in a sustainable way.

This particular part of the work focussed on Holyhead but was widened to include Holy Island, the piece of land on the north tip of Anglesey. As part of implementing and embedding the new story and visual expression that had been developed as part of the brand, thinkingplace produced a way-finding and signage strategy for the island.
- The new narrative for Holy Island and its expression is the driving force for the way finding system. This means that it is totally unique to the place and is another way of consistently telling the story.
- The aim is to move people around the island, taking people from especially busy ‘honey pot sites’ to elsewhere, increase dwell time and get visitors into the town centre. This resulted in different trails that took different periods of time and could be accessed on either car, bike or on foot.
- The way finding reflects the stratified aspect of the story; different experiences; different characteristics of place; different stratas of geology and a depth of history going back to prehistoric times.
- Our belief is that the way finding and signage should add to the place experience and generally be special enough for people to want to be photographed next to. This doesn’t mean excessive cost just thoughtful design linked to the story and a selection of materials were recommended.
- The way finding uses a myriad of ways to tell the story including local stories, Bluetooth stories, special stories for kids all within a theme such as ‘soldiers & seafarers. Our focus is on bringing the natural story of the place to life in an all embracing experience.
Aldershot

Grainger plc was appointed as development partner for a major regeneration scheme within the Aldershot Garrison with the Defence Infrastructure Organisation, Homes and Communities Agency and Rushmoor Borough Council. The Aldershot Urban Extension (Wellesley) is a mixed-use residential scheme delivering up to 4,500 new homes.

thinkingplace was chosen as one of Grainger’s partners to develop the ‘story’ of the ‘new Aldershot’ helping to link the Aldershot Urban Extension to the town, engage with local stakeholders and alongside other new developments deliver a new experience which enhances the town’s reputation.
- A new story for Aldershot has been created which focuses on how the town’s military legacy has provided the assets producing a place that focuses on the family, is a green and wooded environment, has fantastic access to the capital and coast and has a range of sporting and leisure facilities that can’t be matched in any other town in the South.
- Providing a shared ambition for the place that the Urban Extension is part of represents Grainger’s commitment to building a better Aldershot, not just producing a major residential development.
- The process has brought Grainger, the Council and stakeholders together to look afresh at the place and it is planned that this will lead to a wider involvement of the ‘community’ in developing the place.
- The story has led to new ways of communicating Aldershot through a unique visual identity and a growing bank of photography all based on the place’s new narrative. This is all designed to help ‘sell’ the place which will in turn help ‘sell’ the Wellesley development.

Harrow

thinkingplace is part of the Land Securities team which aims to realise the development potential of the strategically important 57-hectare Kodak site, Harrow View. In order to maximise the opportunity presented by this site for Harrow and as part of the London proposition it was important to understand a number of key questions; what Harrow is for, why is it distinct and how it should promote itself? As a result thinkingplace has:
- Created a new story for Harrow which articulates the entrepreneurial nature of the area, focuses on the quality of its education as epitomised byHarrow School, highlights that it is part of the central London experience being only 12 minutes away and reasserts its Metropolitan status as one of the economic drivers of the capital.
- Understood the ambitions of its people and translated these into a written narrative and proposition that has the support of the Council and other key stakeholders.
- Helped to develop an exemplar approach of localism by properly relating the Harrow View development to a shared ambition for the place.
- Developed a framework for marketing of the place and the site linked to the engagement of key players across the area.
- Created an image library that expresses the new story of Harrow.
Dún Laoghaire

Dún Laoghaire is a waterfront town in Ireland but most importantly it is Dublin’s seaside town. This is a place with a long history, a place of significance that has embraced characters and is characterful. For a lot of people it is known only as a port yet this is a sophisticated place with great architecture; it has been home to some of the world’s great storytellers James Joyce, George Bernard Shaw and Samuel Beckett.

The place has a real cultural gene with many festivals and events yet appears a little grey due to a combination of sky, stone and sea. The new visual identity had to build on the place’s assets, celebrate its character and change perceptions:
- There is a strong flowing ‘feel’ to the language reflecting its maritime links, the sea, wind and its forward looking approach. This is a place that is on the move, not standing still.
- The textures highlights the natural assets of place; the water, green countryside and sky but also reflect the historical importance of the town in the words written by the amazing writers it inspired.
- The sheer celebratory aspect of bright colours, animation and vibrancy reflects the major festivals and multi-cultural events that are held in Dún Laoghaire every year. You can step inside the experience and enjoy.
- This is a place that is urbane with a rural influence where investment in the quality of place complements the architecture of yesterday; that has great restaurants and cafes and beautiful nearby villages. It has a Dublin city feel allied to seaside sophistication.
- Dún Laoghaire wants to flaunt its leisure and cultural credentials whilst championing its entrepreneurial and aspirational attitude. It’s fun with a slightly more serious edge.

Coventry

Whilst the city has considerable assets, big brands, important neighbours and a bright future it has ‘punched below its weight’ and not celebrated its considerable successes. Most importantly it hasn’t properly connected itself with Warwickshire which forms a critical part of its offer.

The place story developed by thinkingplace has a central idea of ‘Coventry: a beacon for moving on and moving up’ supported by themes of ‘event central’, ‘peace & reconciliation’, ‘innovation, technology, enterprise & learning’ and ‘connection, Warwickshire, Birmingham, London’. This is a narrative requiring a very bold and impactful visual expression:
- The visual language reflects a confident, modern, forward looking place where urban reds and yellows meet rural greens and blues.
- This is a slightly edgy, conceptual treatment that champions knowledge, research, thinking and innovation.
- The idea of a beacon and centrality figures strongly with a feeling of radiating influence, guiding, leading, reaching out to people and places and shining a light on success.
- Equally this is a colourful, energetic, vibrant and animated language that reflects events, festivals, culture and the sheer diversity of the place and its population.
- The essence of the graphic is rooted in the light, radiance, shining nature, colour, drama and significance of glass and how it illuminates a place in so many ways, in so many colours and forms as seen in the cathedral, modern city centre buildings and the historic buildings of Warwickshire.

Rochdale

Rochdale is part of the Manchester city region but despite its excellent location has struggled to make best use of its considerable assets in helping the town compete. The town is situated within spectacular countryside, has lakes and waterways, benefits from one of the largest and best quality business parks in the North and has the largest open space of any town centre outside its stunning Town Hall.

The focus of the new story created for Rochdale by thinkingplace is ‘growing space’ supported by themes of ‘waterscape’, ‘co-operation’ and ‘network’. A highly distinctive visual language was created as part of the story and is the route to communicating many new messages:
- The design evokes growth and evolution both physically, attitudinally and in thinking – it is growing space in every sense reflected visually.
- The cellular form reflects the assets of the place fromManchesterto the townships and tourist attractions to people.
- Water is a strong theme in the language as one can see molecules, blue, waves and a flowing effect.
- The graphics show the different aspects of Rochdale working together, connecting in a co-operative fashion.
- The landscape is reflected in multi form dynamic representations that move, animate and evolve – you literally experience space growing.

Our People

John Till – Director

John is co founder of thinkingplace and has led many of our place projects including Northern Ireland, Coventry, Derry~Londonderry and our work with leading developers, Land Securities and Grainger. He has also developed major events strategies, created destination delivery vehicles and led long term ‘change’ programmes for places.

A regular speaker about place and how a fresh narrative and different thinking can be used to create new place leadership and a distinct sense of place, John’s great love of history, archaeology, landscapes and walking takes him literally and in thinking to many new places.
Peter Anderson – Creative Director

Peter is a graphic artist and designer who studied at Central St Martins College, London where he now also lectures. With his design team he has pioneering the innovative use of graphic language to express a place story delivering place communication activity for Northern Ireland, Coventry, Aldershot, Harrow and Dún Laoghaire amongst others.

Peter’s work is in the Tate Gallery and MoMA in New York and his TV branding successes include Eastenders, Sherlock, Primeval, Little Dorrit and Lark Rise to Candleford. Along with a totally fresh approach to how places can communicate Peter brings a touch of Irish sparkle to the team.
Kate Lindley Associate Director

The newest member of the Thinking Place team, Kate is passionate about ensuring places – and the people within them – fulfil their potential.

With wide ranging experience in both the public and private sectors, Kate has most recently been responsible for leading a number of transformation projects within local government, improving the customer experience within the context of place – changing engrained behaviours and practices, differentiating the customer offer – and saving millions in the process.

Kate is innovative, energetic and creative with an eye for the ‘art of the possible’. Having worked with politicians, residents, young people, unions and various interest groups, she is skilled at spotting the potential for – and then leading change by bringing diverse groups of people together to work towards a shared vision. Most importantly, she then makes sure that the vision is delivered – on time, to budget and in a sustainable way.

When off duty, Kate loves walking in her native Saddleworth and chilling out (after the kids are in bed) with a book and a nice glass of wine!
George Pye – Associate Director

George brings over 30 years’ experience in strategic marketing, branding, communications and relationship development in the public, private sectors. At thinkingplace he has project managed a host of place brand projects including Dorset, Derbyshire, Dún Laoghaire, Flint, Fife, Chesterfield and Coventry.

Skilled in stakeholder engagement, working with politicians, young people, communities and business, George brings a pragmatic, organised and methodical approach to projects. With tremendous attention to detail he always looks for more effective and efficient ways to deliver project aims. When George isn’t watching his beloved Liverpool FC he can be found exploring new places on the golf course!
Deb Tate – Director

Deb co founded thinkingplace with John and has led place transformation and economic story projects for Kent, Derbyshire, Dorset, Hull and Chesterfield. She has particular expertise in private sector engagement and developing a shared place ambition from often very disparate views.

Deb inspires and motivates to help move places and their people forward. A pragmatist, she excels at developing practical, deliverable solutions for places working with diverse interests, modest budgets or challenging communities. Deb is an occasional runner with various 10k’s and even a couple of marathons under her belt.
Lisa Steel – Office and Marketing Manager

Lisa has extensive experience of marketing gained in the telecomms sector and is the person who keeps thinkingplace on the straight and narrow. She’s responsible for developing and operating all of our administrative, finance systems and databases.

The ‘beating heart’ of the thinkingplace team Lisa’s at the centre of all our project administration and a key contact for clients. Lisa is exceptionally well organised, fun, sharp and dedicated and as with any working mum has the attributes to keep all the thinkingplace balls in the air at once!