Published on: Sunday, 11 May 2014

Cork University Hospital’s (CUH) sustainable healthcare programme recently received a new brand designed by CIT Crawford College of Art & Design BA (Honours) in Visual Communications students under the direction of Valerie Renehan (Lecturer), and with the support of Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), writes Finbarr Buckley

On the 1st May, 2014, eight student groups presented projects with a professional pitch presentation to CUH representatives, of which three received awards from Tony McNamara (Chief Executive Officer, CUH).

A number of initiatives and awareness activities have taken place on the CUH campus to help achieve their goal of reducing carbon emissions and improving energy efficiency by 33% by 2020.

The hospital’s fledgling sustainable healthcare programme, which under Paschal Kent’s leadership, the support of staff and the Green Advocate Network, have already realised significant energy savings and efficiencies; an increase in waste recycling; and reduction in waste cost disposal.

A key part of future initiatives was the development of a brand in keeping with the CUH ethos and logo to anchor all future communications.

Seeco (designers: Derek Fitzgerald, Liam Madden, and Owen Clery) took the first place award to tremendous applause from the large student and hospital management audience which included Valerie Renehan, Paschal Kent (CUH Sustainable Environment Officer) and the students Industry mentors, Frank Dowling (Dowling & Dowling) and Jim Horgan (Horgan Communications). The winning team brand SEECO, created a strong connection between people to achieve lasting social, environmental and economic change. With guidance from SEAI, David Cairnduff, (Huguenot Marketing Agency) and the CUH programme team, the group’s design also had to have the greatest flexibility to work across numerous mediums and future campaigns.

Paschal Kent was thrilled with the venture commenting, “CUH is delighted to have the opportunity to work with CIT and SEAI on this important initiative. All the students worked so hard and were a pleasure to work with.”

The creative brief outlined how the brand needed to engage with a wide audience and explain the hospital’s purpose in its energy efficiency and sustainable healthcare programme. The new brand will be central to all communications and activities and will work alongside established energy brands like An Taisce, Green Campus Award, SEAI, Power of One, Health Cities, and EcCoWell.’

Mr Tony McNamara, CEO of the CUH Group, congratulated the winners on the high standards and the professional approach shown throughout the project, "This is a culmination of the partnership approach that developed between CUH and CIT."
 

Seeco designers: Derek Fitzgerald, Liam Madden, and Owen Clery won first place.
Greenheart designers: Sarah Condon, Steve Clifford, Jason Grant, and Ryan Kavanagh won second place.
Glaspidéal designers: Michelle Boland, Sofia Arvanius, Jordan Daly, and Cian Frahill won third place.