making an impact!

Having created the ‘IMPACT!’ of science campaign for the Engineering and Physical Science Research Council (EPSRC) earlier this year (see it here), we have just completed an innovative new website, designed and programmed by Ben Jackson, Head of Digital Media at to the point, to showcase the 'impact' of their funding and research on society and the world around us.

click here to visit 'impact world' (www.impactworld.org.uk)

Dave Delpy, EPSRC Chief Executive said:
“Engineering and physical sciences research is crucial to creating a healthy, prosperous and sustainable society. It has huge impact on the world around us. We hope this website and our IMPACT Campaign will help the public understand why research is so crucial to the UK’s future."

The ‘IMPACT! World’ site launches October 2009 with a video welcome and endorsement by Lord Robert Winston. 10,000 pop-up direct mail pieces to support the launch are going out to their audience of government, academics, researchers and key stakeholders.

Our client, David Reid, Head of Marketing and Communications, said: "The use of innovative and creative design has been absolutely critical in helping EPSRC reach new audiences and raise our profile with important key stakeholders over the last 6 months - the work TTP have done for us has transformed our ability to communicate the importance of engineering and the physical sciences to society."

The illustrator we commissioned to deliver our vision was Ben Kirchner. We then brought these iconic illustrations to life upon the interactive planet – so the audience were encouraged to interact with them.

Ben Jackson comments: "Through user testing and feedback we ensured there are several different ways to navigate the site. Accessibility was important so we ensured the entire site could be easily navigated by keyboard alone whilst also providing more standard text based versions of the content so it's available to all."

The time from brief to delivery has been less than three months. Science and Innovation Minster Lord Drayson said that: “this new website shines a deserving light onto the contribution science and engineering make to the UK. It offers a fascinating insight into how home-grown technologies are tackling some of the biggest challenges we face such as improving our quality of life and stimulating the economy.”

IMPACT! World is the latest activity in EPSRC’s IMPACT! campaign launched at the Cheltenham Science Festival in June. The campaign aims to demonstrate how UK scientists and engineers are solving some of the biggest challenges facing society.

Simon Hutton, MD at to the point says:
“Our digital work is going from strength to strength. For us the exciting part has been to deliver something radically different from our other digital work and design and programme it entirely in-house. This really demonstrates our ability to be flexible and deliver print and digital solutions that are creative and appropriate for the target audience.”

From the positive feedback we received during the project, and further introductions to other research councils also based down in Swindon, we have now been tasked to look at three new sites to promote the activities of various RCUK research programmes (Research Council UK). These first three sites will cover Nanoscience, the Digital Economy and Energy.

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For further information please contact:

simon@tothepoint.co.uk or call 020 7378 6999.
David Reid, Head of Marketing & Communications, EPSRC: 01793 444502

Related press releases:

EPSRC's press release for Impact World:
http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/PressReleases/NewPlanet.htm

EPSRC's press release for the Impact campaign:
http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/PressReleases/impact.htm