Welcome to the Kimmerston Design web site and on-line portfolio.
You checked in to find out more, so here are some answers.
Kimmerston Design became incorporated on 1 January 2003 as the next step on a steady logical progression from ‘sole trader’ to a multi-national global corporation (expect that announcement around the year 2025). Meanwhile this is essentially a change of name and of legal status. The company remains in the capable hands of founder and now director, Dave Grey and company secretary Kris Grey.
When was the company formed?
The business was originally established in September 1995 by designer Dave Grey to provide a cost-effective alternative to the larger regional agencies, and to offer a more personal, professional and creative design-to-print service by blending traditional design skills with the latest digital technology.
What do we do?
We offer a bespoke design to print service specialising in below-the-line projects, from leaflets and posters to brochures and annual reports. We have carved a particular market niche with newsletters. We treat each job as an individual project from first visual to final delivery. While happy and able to produce occasional advertisements for our regular clients, we have no desire to be a 'full service' agency or media buyers. We know what we do best and we do it well.
Who's in charge?
The company founder, designer Dave Grey, studied Fine Art and Applied Design in Sunderland from 1977 to 1981. After qualifying he worked originally as a cartographer and graphic designer in the public sector and also freelanced as a graphic designer, artist and model maker. He was elected to the Chartered Society Designers in 1987. He moved into the advertising business as a designer and soon progressed to studio manager. Extensive studio experience, and further in-post technical and management training equipped him to branch out on his own in 1995. Since then the company has constantly upgraded and developed to increase its output and improve its service.
Who else is there?
In addition to the multi-talented in-house team, Kimmerston Design has strong links with many other agencies, repro bureaux, printers, photographers, copywriters and freelance designers based primarily in North East England. We utilise this network to ensure the best results and the best value for our customers. If we can't do it for you ourselves, we'll probably know someone who can...
What about big names and blue chips?
We can't say too much about it, but we do occasionally take on overspill work from other leading design companies and advertising agencies when they have a particularly heavy workload or a flu epidemic in the studio. Some of the region's top agencies know they can rely on a fast professional turnaround in times of desperate need. This way we also get to work on national and international accounts outside our normal remit. Win Win!
Where are we?
By 1998 the company had outgrown its original premises in Morpeth, Northumberland so we moved to North Shields, Tyne & Wear. This also gave us access to digital phone lines and broadband, as well as making us more accessible to our many Tyneside based customers. You can find a map with directions from Newcastle upon Tyne on contact page.
Who are our customers?
We produce work for a wide variety of clients ranging from individuals and small businesses to large firms and public bodies. We count local authorities and health authorities, universities and charities, plus service, manufacturing, telecommunications and engineering companies, retailers and sports clubs among our customers. We aim to offer the same individual attention to detail no matter what size the project or the organisation.
Did you know?
Some of Dave Grey's very early model work can still be found around the region... For example:
