Bath-based brand agency The House has developed the overarching concept and design executions for the University of Bath’s £66m fundraising campaign, launched to mark its 50th anniversary.
The new concept – Help Us To Look Further – was inspired by the university’s ground-breaking research achievements as well as Bath’s scientific heritage, which includes the discovery of Uranus by William Herschel. 
To tell this story, The House designed a suite of marketing materials to support the campaign’s launch event, including event invitations and a brochure.
The launch took place at the top of the Gherkin in London, followed by a dinner at Bath’s Roman Baths in Bath hosted by the university chancellor the Duke of Wessex, pictured.
University director of development and alumni relations Gavin Maggs said: “It has been a pleasure working with The House to develop our first fundraising campaign. I have been particularly impressed by their rapid understanding of our brand and donor base and am delighted with the end result.”
The House started by conducting research into donor motivations.
Its creative head Steve Fuller said: “It emerged that many of the university’s leading donors see it as a breeding ground for the Nobel Prize winners of the future and are excited by the prospect of funding future scientific breakthroughs.”
The House then facilitated a workshop for the university’s marketing, communications and major gifts team to find the stories that give life to the institution’s claim to be a nurturing environment for enterprising minds.
Steve added: “There are so many stories that clearly demonstrate how the great minds at the University of Bath look further. For example, some might look at straw bales and see animal bedding, but the University of Bath sees a way to end fuel poverty through its pioneering research in straw bale eco homes.”
As a visual echo of this notion, the brochure uses printing techniques that make some design elements only visible from certain angles.
The campaign aims to reach a range of audiences including alumni, present and future students, staff, business and higher education partners and the people of Bath.
