As Partner of The Duke of Edinburgh International Award we were very sad to hear the news that the founder, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh had died on 9 April 2021.
For more than sixty years HRH The Duke of Edinburgh dedicated immeasurable time and energy into making The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award what it is today. Because of his vision, leadership and dedication, the Award has transformed the lives of millions of young people across more than 130 countries and territories. His legacy will continue to reach countless more young people to the benefit of communities around the world.
He will be hugely missed, but his legacy will continue.
Graham Shapiro Design (GSD®) celebrated 25 years on 11 November 2020.
Our CEO & Founder Graham Shapiro commented: “November 2020 marked a quarter of a century since I first embarked upon what has proved to be a remarkable journey of discovery, innovation and achievement. I can scarcely believe what has been accomplished since Graham Shapiro Design (GSD®) began on 11 November 1995. At that time, I began operating as a sole trader, quite literally situated under ‘the stairs’ at Globe House Office in Nantwich, Cheshire in the United Kingdom.
Looking back at the start, winning the pitch to deliver all of the European product brochures for Samsung was pivotal. This was truly a great platform to springboard the business onto a successful future.
I have been leading my team to evolve, innovate and develop branding and websites in an ever-increasingly competitive global market. Starting out as a traditional Graphic Design business, followed by a move into Digital and New Media I continue to drive my business to create online and offline designs for some of the world’s most respected companies.
At GSD® our core is ‘design is life enhancing’ and like anything important is worth doing well. We have built our business on a strong culture where everyone has great ideas and our clients are the most important asset. Our team is passionate about creating innovative work to help businesses succeed.
There have been many incredible GSD® directors, managers, designers, suppliers and collaboration partners over the 25 years. This is my opportunity to acknowledge their work and extend my sincere thanks for their support, great work and dedication.
As a leader, I make a habit of looking to stimulate and inspire with my own energy, rather than seeking to censure or offer reproof. I am driven by an endless curiosity and whilst I know that some can find such a relentless quest to be unreasonable at times, it is for me at least, an abiding feature of what leadership is all about, when harnessed to the pursuit of excellence. I dream big and laugh a lot, surrounding myself with the best people along the way.
Our valued clients are incredible. Cultivating long-term working relationships with them provides so many dimensions to the harmony of all our dealings. This is something we share together and in turn, provides me with the best possible understanding of their brand attributes and values. It is this above all, that ultimately enables us to identify their needs and create exactly what they want. Long may it continue.
We have flourished over the years and weathered the more difficult months of 2020 with such fortitude, an acquired blend of tenacity and business acumen. We have emerged as a company endowed by experience, enriched by clients’ fidelity and now facing the future with confidence, all built upon a foundation of strong client relationships and satisfaction.
Finally, a special thankyou to my current GSD® team for continuing to support me to drive us forward, so that our future will be as great as our past.”
“In this time of uncertainty and unprecedented challenges for the whole world, my thoughts are with our customers, clients, partners and their families. With rapid announcements and the situation changing on a daily basis, I’ve been constantly impressed by the way our communities have adapted, and how quickly we’ve come to terms with new and different ways of living and working.
That said, the impact is being felt by individuals and businesses alike, so at Graham Shapiro Design, I’m overseeing measures that will ensure our services continue to meet our customers’ needs.
Keeping your business online
We know that our infrastructure provides critical services to our customers, and that communication and collaboration is crucial at this time. Please rest assured that our business will continue to operate as normal, and our designers and developers will remain on hand to carry out key tasks as needed.
Helping our customers and Supporting our employees
We are totally committed to helping our customers even through these testing times. You will still have our best attention at all times, whenever possible. Obviously, these are not normal circumstances, so we ask for your patience if required.
The nature of our business means our graphic and digital services can continue as normal with staff now working remotely at home, and we’ve supported this shift by adapting our ways of working. We’ve made sure to implement social distancing and stopped all physical interaction in line with the latest health advice, creating the safest possible environment for our staff.
In these uncertain times, we’re totally committed to providing a reliable service for you and your business, and supporting our community any way possible. We’re doing everything we can to minimise the impact on your design for print, websites, email, servers and other services, and we’ll continue to prioritise our customers and employees as the situation develops.
Thank you for your understanding, please stay safe.”
Best wishes,
Graham Shapiro
CEO & Founder
Graham Shapiro Design has successfully worked in close harmony with The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award over the last twelve months to reinforce the Award’s brand with a launch of updated guidelines and a new website.
The challenge of providing the innovative expertise and high-level insight that is required, carries with it a parallel responsibility to direct and preside over one of the most revered, trusted and respected international organisations serving young people across the world.
Operating in more than 130 countries, the Award inspires millions of young people to take control and make their own choices, and challenges them to find their purpose, passion and place in the world through a non-formal education and learning framework.
Graham Shapiro, CEO and Founder of GSD® said:
“I am very proud and honoured to support The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. The ethics of this wonderful charity are close to my heart and I look forward to the long term working relationship that we have agreed. It has been a pleasure to work alongside the Communications Team and deliver new brand guidelines and website for the organisation. Our aim was to design clear and current brand guidelines and brand resources which are easy to use effectively and accurately worldwide, to National Award Operators, partners and staff, educating them to understand how to use the brand identity, brand positioning and communications style.
He added: “I thank my whole design team for their support on these projects. I also want to give a special mention to Alexander Casey, Peter Wilson, David Goadby, Allan Carruthers, Nicola Hough and my Chairman John Mohin OBE. Without them, none of this would have been possible.”
Marianna Davis, Acting Head of Brand and Communications of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award said:
“We value the work that Graham and his team undertake because above all, they go to the trouble to understand the values and ethic that drive our work. They understand our vision and know that our objective is simple: to provide quality non-formal education and learning to all the young people who take up The Duke of Edinburgh International Award so that they gain the necessary skills needed for the world of today. With the help of GSD, we have been able to strengthen our brand identity so that we can reach even more young people across the world.”
Over the last year Graham Shapiro Design (GSD®) has built a strong working relationship with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. We are excited to announce a collaboration to develop and manage Four UVL websites worldwide for Fiat, Fiat Abarth, Jeep and Alpha Romeo.
FCA’s mass-market brands operate through two main subsidiaries: FCA Italy (previously Fiat Group Automobiles) and FCA US (previously Chrysler LLC). The company’s portfolio includes automotive brands Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Fiat Professional, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, Ram Trucks and SRT. FCA also owns industrial subsidiaries Comau, Magneti Marelli, Mopar and Teksid.
Industry: Automotive
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Area served: Worldwide
Key people: John Elkann (Chairman) and Sergio Marchionne (CEO)
The University of Leeds had a design requirement for website projects within a framework, aligned to or supporting the University’s existing brand. In April 2016 GSD® were chosen as one of their preferred digital suppliers.
Reggie® Fire Drill was launched on 17 September 2015, with our partners Citation at the stunning London venue Vinopolis.
Reggie® Fire Drill is the world’s first mobile application that allows businesses to take the fire drill register, anytime and anywhere.
Pictured above from left to right: Nick Hewer, Citation Ambassador, CEO of Citation Chris Morris and CEO of Reggie® Graham Shapiro.
GSD® were proudly announced as winners of the IBX Award 2015 for Reggie®
The International Business Excellence Awards recognise business excellence from across the world. The Finals and Awards Ceremony was the culmination of an engaging and exciting awards journey for all participants.
The Awards are a beacon for the UAE providing an un-matched festival of business. They are supported by respected thought-leaders and business excellence institutes and consultancies from around the world, and delivered by Awards International whose sole purpose is provision of expertise in business awards.
The Awards aim to support organisations and businesses as a vehicle for sharing best practice and for promoting continuous improvement, learning and personal development.
The Finals and Awards Ceremony for the International Business Excellence Awards 2015 were held on the 20th and 21st of May 2015 at the brand new 5* Hyatt Regency Creek Heights Hotel in Dubai. The two day event was an exciting affair celebrating business excellence and “best practice” from around the world.
Graham Shapiro, GSD® CEO & Founder commented “It’s been an exciting couple of years at GSD® and we are thrilled that Reggie® has won an IBX award 2015. We are extremely privileged and delighted to be recognised globally for business excellence, amongst some of the world’s most respected companies. Thank you to all associated with the IBX Awards, particularly the judges.”
Pictured above (from left to right): GSD® CEO Graham Shapiro proudly receives the IBX Award from HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Also in the photograph are HE Sami Al Qamzi, Director General of the Department of Economic Development (Dubai) and Mark Hamill, Managing Director of Awards International UAE.
GSD® has been announced as a finalist for Agency of the Year
for the Marketing Excellence Awards 2015.
The CIM Marketing Excellence Awards recognise creativity and originality delivered by marketers who are on the frontline of their business and celebrate the demonstrable results being generated through successful marketing campaigns.
GSD® CEO & Founder Graham Shapiro commented:
“I’m extremely proud when our designs and hard work evolve into success stories. We are delighted and honoured that we have been shortlisted as finalists within the Agency of the year category. Thanks to CIM and the judges!”
Our CEO Graham Shapiro, was highly commended for Digital Entrepreneur of the Year and shortlisted for an International Trade Award at EN Magazine’s North West Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2015.
Celebrating its 14th year as the North West’s premier business awards evening, recognising the outstanding contribution to business that this region has to offer.
It is one of the most revered and talked about events in the region with previous guest speakers such as Sir Alan Sugar and Michael Portillo and a judging panel consisting of highly successful entrepreneurs (including a dragon from TV’s Dragon’s Den) and previous winners such as Simon Nixon (Moneysupermarket.com), Jennie Johnson (Kids Allowed), Antony Preston (Pets at Home) and Tom Bloxham (Urban Splash).
Commenting on the award Graham Shapiro said: “It’s amazing to be highly commended for these awards. Massive thanks to EN Magazine, the judges, my collaboration partners, clients and brilliant digital team who continue to support me on exciting global projects.”
The event was held on the 21st October 2015 at The Mere in Knutsford.