Case Study: Manchester Metropolitan University Students' Union achieves a vibrant rebrand and boosted sales with Holdens

Manchester Metropolitan University Students boost bar and restaurant sales by 130% with Holdens

The students' union at Manchester Metropolitan University, representing over 35,000 students, faced the challenge of creating an immediate and memorable brand identity and communications toolkit to coincide with the opening of its new £10 million building. The union partnered with the agency Holdens, which provided comprehensive brand strategy, brand design, and brand guidelines services to meet this challenge.

Holdens developed a creative solution centered around an inviting "smiley" motif designed to engage the union's diverse audience. They implemented this across a new brand identity, a detailed set of brand guidelines, and physical wayfinding and interior designs for the new building. The results were highly successful, with bar and restaurant sales increasing by 130% and student engagement on social media reaching an all-time high following the relaunch.

Manchester Metropolitan University Students