Design and Brand Agency

The Business of Brand.

You can’t be all things to all people. That’s the first law of brand. 

We are not a marketing agency or a PR company and we are not digital marketers. Yes, there's a strong connection and we have a deep knowledge of these services. But first and foremost we are designers. For us, it’s all about finding opportunities, designing the change, and designing the difference.

Read how we design the difference >

We'll connect your creative strategy with your business strategy, set the direction, create the branding system, and align your team. We set the tone for all other marketing activities. Because if you don't get the platform right, then the subsequent marketing activity is already compromised.

The Engine Room is a design and brand agency that grounds creativity in commercial thinking. Our client list is international, yet we remain true to our Yorkshire roots. We are a member of the Design Business Association which underpins our results-focused ethos and our commitment to 'best practice' delivery of design services. 

We have seven Design Effectiveness Awards to our name.

Our people

Our people are our heads and our hearts. Business thinkers. Design thinkers. Commercially driven and creatively inspired.

They are the ones who create the work that gives you a unique voice, tells your individual story, and drives positive change.

We are experts in brand strategy and identity, naming, creative copywriting, communications design and development, photography, animation and video production.

Lesley Gulliver Managing Director
Darren Evans Design Director, Founder
Leo Parker Creative Director
Neil Herke Senior Designer
Ben Woodhead Senior Designer
Natalie Smith Senior Artworker
Bailey Waterhouse Designer
Our principles
We’re a small team with a lot of experience. Creative thinking is a given, so our focus remains on customer service. Not just because we genuinely care, but because relationships built on mutual trust deliver better outcomes.

Our principles guide us; we like to think our clients share them.
- Put people first
- Plan with your head
- Deliver with your heart
- Never settle
- Leave a positive impact
Share our principles? 
Get in touch >
Effective, by design
We’ve won seven DBA Design Effectiveness Awards. That’s not just about beautiful design, it’s about design that works and delivers on its goals. It's design that makes a difference.
It’s always great to be recognised and rewarded. Especially when that recognition is shared with our clients. And even more so when the award celebrates the positive business benefits of that design.
dba
Here’s the list of our DBA design effectiveness successes, and the clients who banked the benefits:
LUSU rebrand
2023 - Silver Award
LUSU Sports
LUSU smashed their targets to deliver more inclusive sports training in Schools by 650% after a strategic rebrand resulted in a clearer propostion.
Read the report >
PAXMAN Pioneers in Scalp Cooling
2019 - Silver Award
Paxman Coolers
This UK-based MedTech business posted growth results of 465% compared to a global market rate of 120% whilst retaining and embedding a family-led persona.
Read the report >
GRAFT Strategic brand for manufacturer
2017 - Grand Prix Winners
Graft Brand
A post- rebrand uplift in annual sales revenue of 744% saw this manufacturer fly in the face of tricky market conditions and take the overall Design Effectiveness Award in 2017.
View Case Study >
GRAFT Strategic brand for manufacturer
2017 - Gold Award
Graft Brand
Against a backdrop of challenging conditions, this own-brand manufacturer transformed into a brand house and recorded some amazing results in the process.
View Case Study >
Dba comoodle
2016 - Bronze Award
Comoodle
Kirklees Council approached us to help them apply for the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Mayors Challenge. A £5000 investment realised a return of £1 million beating 150 cities in the process.
Read the report >
Xcercise 4 less
2014 - Bronze Award
Xercise4less
Kick-starting a period of substantial growth, this business saw a 70% increase in membership sign-ups post rebrand with 5000 members joining within one month.
Read the report >
Balance logo
2013 - Silver Award
Balance Accountants
With a five-fold increase in profit in the first year following their rebrand from Rogers & Co, this accountancy practice thrived through a recession.
Read the report >
Our brands
We don’t just tell your story. We design experiences and inspire actions that deliver real world ROI.
Our latest work >

Changing the face of cancer

View project

It's a SILVER!

View article
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