Bristol specialist creative agency Workbrands has relaunched as Shaped By in a move reflecting how the marketing landscape has changed dramatically since it began 16 years ago.
Founded by Nick Farrar and Steve Goss in 2005, Workbrands has grown from a bedroom start-up to a 15-strong agency based in Bristol’s Paintworks creative quarter. 
It has steadily extended its influence and expertise within the tech sector on both sides of the Atlantic over recent years, working with global companies including Autodesk, Rubrik and Nutanix.
While these businesses build tech products, they are really in the business of change. Shaped By’s aim is to produce brand identity and creative marketing that helps changemaker brands likes these communicate how their technology changes people’s lives for the better.
Nick who trained in furniture design before breaking into the creative scene in Bristol 25 years ago, still heads Shaped By with co-director Steve Goss along with business director Dave Corlett, creative director Tom Ovens and client services director Wei Kee.
Nick, pictured, said: “The marketing landscape has changed dramatically over the years. Now, the need for effective communication through great design has never been more important.
“As an agency we’re continually evolving to meet this challenge and felt it was the right time to recognise this with an ambitious and playful new brand. 
“The Shaped By brand name and core concept reflects the fact that, as humans, we are all shaped by our life experiences, our environment and the people around us: we are a constant work in progress.
“Similarly in a work context, the Shaped By team shapes the outcome of a project through our collaboration with clients.”
Shaped By expands on the idea that there is a direct link between the level of creativity invested in marketing, and the impact that it has.
The Adobe State of Create report shows that companies fostering creativity boost their market share by 1.5 times compared to those that overlook it.
The Shaped By team believes that for changemaker brands to reach their potential, creativity needs to be a sustainable part of their culture: a means by which they can carve out deeper connections with their customers on the premise of bold, authentic stories told in an original way.
Nick added: “These days everyone is battling for attention – brands are using an increasingly sophisticated armoury of marketing tools to push their message in front of people, which is great, but it’s only half the challenge.
“Without real consideration to what you’re putting in front of your audience, you risk missing the opportunity to create those positive reactions which are vital for each stage of a business relationship.
“At Shaped By we aim to take clients on a journey, we dig deep to understand what makes them tick and why their audience needs them in their lives. Then we help them to communicate that message with a real sense of purpose and deliver it in the right time, in the best format and in the right place.”
