True North create giant Advent Calendar to celebrate Christmas through creativity
Brand and Design Agency True North have brought together a number of Manchester designers and illustrators to count down to Christmas in style, creating a giant advent calendar on the side of 24 Lever St in the city’s Northern Quarter. Behind each window sits a unique illustration, specially commissioned for this project.
True North, in collaboration with interior design practice Sheila Bird, wanted to celebrate the festivities through creativity and collaboration uniting all of the organisations based within the building, as well as guest illustrators from across the city, to bring Christmas cheer to the people of Manchester.
The twenty-four windows will show the best of Manchester’s creative talent, with each design being sold as a print throughout December. All profits from the print sales will be donated to Wood Street Mission, a charity which helps children and families living in poverty.
The giant advent calendar will feature work from highly acclaimed Manchester based illustrators including Stanley Chow, Young and Deanna Halsall.
True North has designed two of the windows themselves, including one that celebrates the work of Wood Street Mission. Other contributors include The Neighbourhood, Music, Hyper Island and Chilli Marketing and really highlight the talent and creativity these businesses bring to the city.
The idea was originally conceived in September, when Sheila Bird Director, Atul Bansal and True North’s Creative Director Ady Bibby decided to celebrate Christmas in a way that could involve the whole community. Soon after, True North spotted the potential in utilising the building and set about recruiting organisations.
Ady Bibby, Creative Director said “ We wanted to find a way to demonstrate the Northern Quarter’s creative talent whilst bringing a little festive cheer to the people who live and work here. I’m a big kid when it comes to Christmas and it doesn’t get bigger than this. “
Roseanne Sweeney chief executive of Wood Street Mission said: “Christmas is a difficult time of year for struggling families and we will be giving out toys and food to about 2,000 families and 4,500 children in the coming weeks. Funds raised from this engaging and highly creative initiative will help us get all local kid’s Christmas off to a great start.”
For more information please contact Ami Guest, Brand Communications Manager, True North on or visit True North’s website www.thisistruenorth.co.uk
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About True North
True North is a brand strategy and design agency based in Manchester. Established in 2001, True North is devoted to creating brands that drive business. We develop brand propositions that drive strategy and coherence, and campaigns that build brands and ensure stand out. With clients ranging from large commercial businesses to smaller, non-profit organisations, we have won major awards for creativity and effectiveness.
We print all our stationery in-house, on FSC accredited GF Smith Colourplan citrine 135gsm.