Toby Wins Ego Design Competition

Graphic design student Toby Rampton has won a competition to design the logo and brand identity for City College Norwich’s new Retail Skills Academy shop, Ego.  Toby will now work with the design team at Farrows to develop his concepts into the final designs for the shop which opens in Chapelfield soon. 

Toby will work with the Norwich-based creative design company to produce the final look for Ego’s shop front and its marketing.  The innovative new retail outlet will sell designer and quality clothing and fashion accessories for men and women.  Uniquely, members of the public will be able to sell their unwanted fashion items through Ego, as well as buying quality “investment” fashion items that have been sold-on by others.  

Toby, 18, from Toftwood, said: “I looked at other shops’ signs and tried to come up with something modern which reflects the fact that Ego will be a clothes shop by including textiles in the design.  I also used a speech bubble because Ego will be a new kind of shop which people in Norwich will be talking about.  I was quite surprised to have won the competition.  Working with Farrows to develop my design ideas for the shop will be really good for me, as I will be able to highlight this experience in my personal statement for my university applications”.

Farrows’ Managing Director, Heather Farrow, said: “When we heard that the Retail Skills Academy needed a brand identity we wanted to offer our expertise in branding and merchandising to help the project go forward. Toby had the strongest idea and will work with us to develop the final branding, logo, shop signage design and artwork. From the students’ point of view it will give them experience and an excellent name on their CV.”

The design contest followed a public competition held in the Norwich Evening News last month to name the shop, which was won by Cameron Button, a Business student at the College.     

Ego will help to develop retail skills and knowledge for existing and aspiring retailers.  Students and others developing their skills through the Academy will staff the shop, learning about all of the key elements of retailing in a real trading environment with real customers.  Next to Ego will be a dedicated Retail Skills Academy advice centre, offering existing and aspiring retailers access to a wide range of training opportunities and business services. 

The Retail Skills Academy courses will cover all areas of retail, not just fashion, and will be open to anyone from small independent stores to large chains to individuals wanting to get into retailing for the first time.  The Academy is proud to be running the Mary Portas Master Classes, developed by the star of the popular BBC series Mary Queen of Shops.     

For more information about Ego and the training that will be offered for retailers and individuals through the Academy, please contact Sue Dougal on 07535 717271 or email sue.dougal@ccn.ac.uk.