This week we held our second place branding seminar, at the London School of Economics. Max Nathan and Suzi Hall of LSE Cities presented alongside Ian Stephens of Saffron on the emergence of new place identities and their role within the ‘quirky’ London brand.

While Max covered the “active naming” of Tech City in East London, Suzy considered the “vernacular cosmopolitanism” of two South London high streets – Ian meanwhile presented on Saffron’s work in developing a brand for Nine Elms, central London’s newest hotspot. Place branding author and consultant Malcolm Allan has already written on the event here.

The event was chaired by writer and consultant John P. Houghton and we acknowledge the kind support of LSE Cities in hosting the event.

A podcast of the event can be heard here, with presentations given below:

Max Nathan – ‘Silicon Roundabout vs. Tech City’
Suzi Hall – ‘Street: the paradox of an ‘ordinary brand’
Ian Stephens – ‘Place branding’

We also invited audience members to contribute pictorial views on their conception of London place identity – you can view a selection of these on Picasa.

Image: Dorothy

Room NAB.1.04, New Academic Building, London School of Economics
January 22, 2013 from 6:30pm

Sign up via Eventbrite

The London Mayor Boris Johnson has spoken of his desire to “put the village back into the city”, but what does this mean in a 21st century metropolis of global communities? The purpose of this event is to explore this question by asking what’s being gained by formalised and unformalised processes of neighbourhood branding in London. It also aims to explore how imagined identities such as ‘Tech City’ fit in with London’s more established communities around Hackney; the differentiation in the economic and social offer provided between different parts of the city; and, with the increasing global awareness of London’s neighbourhood brands outside the UK, such as Notting Hill or Shoreditch, what part the neighbourhood brand can play in London’s future economic prosperity.

This event brings together a mix of speakers – academics, public relations professionals and branding practitioners – based on their experience in the marketing, and/or research, of one or more areas of the capital in order to explore these questions.

Confirmed speakers:

Max Nathan, LSE
Georgina Voss, Brighton University
Suzi Hall, LSE
Ian Stephens, Saffron Brand Consultants
Andrew Carmichael, Creative Process (formerly Creative Lewisham Agency)

Chair: John P. Houghton (Shared Intelligence)

You can now view photos of our last event, held at the University of Greenwich Economic Development Resource Centre, at their website.

‘Bleak Towns: does place reputation matter?’ #bleaktowns

17 September 2012, 18.30 onwards

A discussion between Owen Hatherley and Sam Jordison, chaired by Andrew Stevens.  The event will consider how reputation and perception of place guides policy and residents’ experience. 

Owen will talk about the ideas and inspirations behind his new second volume of architectural reportage from Britain’s cities, A New Kind of Bleak (Verso). He will be joined by Sam Jordison, who also writes for The Guardian, to discuss the 10th anniversary of his popular volume of urban criticism Crap Towns and its new edition, due out next year. Both will debate the kind of post-war town planning and New Labour regeneration which is covered in their work and the impact of reputation on place.

Hosted by the University of Greenwich Economic Development Resource Centre, this free event will be of interest to those working in and around place marketing, economic development and urban regeneration. To register click here.

Room HH103, Hamilton House, University of Greenwich, Park Vista, London SE10 9LZ (nearest BR Maze Hill or Cutty Sark DLR & North Greenwich tube)