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stevencymbler.com
branding : communication : design
The Orator
The world famous Cambridge Union Debating Society is a true British iconic institution, and the oldest. Across three centuries, thought provoking figureheads of their time have graced this stage, like Greta Thunberg, Bill Clinton, Winston Churchill and Sigourney Weaver. Following a £3.4m investment in the Society's union bar, our challenge was to do what no-one had done in over 150 years, to craft a brand new name and positioning for a future facing generation of diners and debaters.
Strategy : Positioning : Naming : Design
The original union bar name, 1815, paid homage to the year the Debating Society was established. We set about re-shaping one of the most important brand assets, its name, from a numerical solution into a literal concept. A name that in one hand celebrates its rich heritage, and in the other unlocks a new vein of contemporary storytelling.
We united strategic areas of consideration to craft a classic name The Orator that artistically expresses decadence in heritage and the art and delivery of the spoken word. Think astute British tone of voice to previous clients, The Financial Times and Rolls-Royce Nuclear.
"Not to offend the designers of 1815, but The Orator is a big step up, the brasserie cleverly named (orator means 'a public speaker, especially one who is eloquent or skilled'), is full of quotes from ex-Union speakers."
The Tab
"The name itself sums it up perfectly: it is a space to speak, discuss, debate, and think freely with friends, over a delicious coffee, meal, or glass of wine."
Varsity
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