Strategic Design for Impactful Community Engagement in Ashbury
Public consultation is a strategic opportunity to build trust. For SevenHomes' Ashbury project, I designed a cohesive visual toolkit - from the website and boards to print materials and feedback forms - to ensure their development concept was presented with clarity and professionalism.
Role:
Creative Lead
Strategic Communications for Planning & Development
Client:
Seven Homes ↗
Project:
Strategic Design for Public Consultation
Bridging the Communication Gap
Public consultation is more than just a regulatory requirement; it's a strategic opportunity to build trust and gather invaluable insights. For SevenHomes, a housebuilder focused on quality and sustainability, the challenge was to introduce their Idstone Road development concept to the Ashbury community in a way that was not only accessible and clear, but also genuinely engaging. The goal was to ensure the community felt heard and understood the vision behind the proposals.
My role was to be the creative lead, bringing a strategic communication framework to the entire project. By collaborating closely with the project team, I was able to transform complex technical plans and data into a cohesive visual narrative. This process empowered both the SevenHomes team to have more productive conversations and citizens to provide informed and meaningful feedback.
A Unified Toolkit for Engagement
The solution was a full-scale communication toolkit designed to guide the community through every step of the consultation process. Each piece was meticulously crafted to ensure a consistent message, from the first point of contact to the final feedback submission.
Consultation Boards
Eight A1 boards were designed to be the centerpiece of the in-person event. They distilled complex topics like site constraints, landscape impact, and technical data into digestible visual information, empowering the SevenHomes team to have more productive conversations with residents.
Project Website
A bespoke Squarespace website served as the digital hub, providing 24/7 access to all materials and featuring an integrated online feedback form. This extended the conversation beyond the physical event and helped reach a wider audience.
Online Feedback System
The design of a seamless online form and a data collection spreadsheet streamlined the process of gathering and analysing digital feedback, providing invaluable data for the final project report.
Print Materials
I designed a direct-mail leaflet to announce the consultation, as well as a user-friendly physical feedback form, providing a tangible and structured way to capture on-site insights.
“Anna’s attention to detail...ensured a smooth and successful project from the outset.”
Measurable Success and Professional Impact
The strategic design of the consultation materials was a key factor in the project's success. The clear visuals helped citizens truly understand the proposals, and the feedback gathered was crucial for informing the next steps of the project.
This collaboration with SevenHomes demonstrates how thoughtful design can be a powerful tool for planning consultants, land promoters, and architects. It shows that investing in clear communication builds trust, meets regulatory requirements, and ultimately leads to better project outcomes for local authorities, housing associations, and PR consultants in the construction industry.
"SevenHomes appointed AH Studio as lead design consultant for our marketing material for a bespoke new development project in Oxfordshire. Anna’s attention to detail in understanding our brief and requirements was immediately noticeable, ensuring a smooth and successful project from the outset. Our in-house style was seamlessly incorporated into the marketing materials, creating a professional and consistent approach for our public consultation event. In addition, a bespoke website was created to provide additional information, and online forms enabled us to gather valuable feedback following the event, helping to inform our strategy moving forward. We would not hesitate to work with AH Studio again in the future."
— Jack Barnes MRICS, Senior Land Manager, Project Coordinator
Could your next project benefit from a strategic approach to design?
FAQ
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It's about de-risking the planning process. High-quality, clear visuals and a cohesive presentation not only meet regulatory requirements but also foster trust with the community. This leads to more constructive feedback, better data, and ultimately, a smoother path toward project approval.
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The service provides a complete, end-to-end toolkit. This includes all necessary design, development, and setup: a bespoke website with hosting and a custom domain, branded physical and online feedback forms, an integrated data spreadsheet for all responses, professionally designed A1 event boards, and all accompanying print collateral like leaflets. It's a comprehensive solution tailored to your project.
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A project timeline is always tailored to your specific needs, but a typical consultation package, from initial brief to final delivery of all materials, is managed over a structured timeline. We work closely with your project team to establish a clear schedule for content, design, and production, ensuring all deadlines are met well ahead of the consultation event.
Have more questions?
Contact AH Studio to discuss how a professional design approach can benefit your next project.
