Coca-Cola contract is so sweet for ATTIK

Sep 16 2008 by Henryk Zientek, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A DESIGN agency set up in Huddersfield is providing a new look for soft drinks giant Coca-Cola.

ATTIK, which was founded by former Batley Art School students James Sommerville and Simon Needham, has been signed up by Coke executives in Atlanta, USA, to create a brand identity for Coca-Cola’s sponsorship of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Leeds-based ATTIK, has already worked on Coca-Cola’s Coke Red product and its Euro UEFA 2008 campaign.

In addition, ATTIK is undertaking Coke projects via the drinks firm’s offices in London and Istanbul.

Coca-Cola supports football in more than 100 countries – promoting the game at grassroots level to sponsoring the World Cup.

Huddersfield-born Mr Sommerville said: “It’s great to be involved in a project of this magnitude, not only because it involves the highest profile brand in the world and the fact we will communicate our design language to millions of people worldwide, but it’s also football – a subject very close to our hearts.”

Along with the 2010 World Cup project, ATTIK have created two seasonal brand campaigns for Coca-Cola in other markets.

Working with Coke Istanbul in Turkey, Attik has just completed a re-design of the iconic Coca-Cola can for this year’s Ramadan period.

The new look features on Coke products sold in more than a dozen countries, including Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Pakistan, Indonesia, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Afghanistan.

Closer to home, ATTIK has also created the visual identity Coke’s Christmas 2008 for the second year running, under the supervision of Coke’s UK and German offices. The new look will feature on all Coca-Cola products, including Coke Red, Diet Coke/Coke Light and Coke Zero.

All the campaigns have been designed and created at ATTIK’s offices in Holbeck, Leeds.

Mr Sommerville, who oversaw all the work, said: “Over the past three years we have undertaken about 50 projects for Coke – where strong design and the ability to communicate Coke’s message to large audiences is a must.”

ATTIK was founded as a graphic design firm in a makeshift studio in the attic at the home of Mr Sommerville’s grandmother in Speedwell Street, Paddock. The fledgling business was financed with a £2,000 grant from The Prince’s Trust.

The agency later moved to Fitzwilliam Street before switching to Leeds. It also has offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco and has worked for international names including Warner Brothers, EMI, Toyota and Nike.