Subscribe

    Share
    Search

    Higher Education Marketing Services

    Whatever your marketing challenge, brief or problem – we’ve got you covered with creative solutions that hit the mark. We create concepts, shape strategies, deliver campaigns, craft brand narratives, develop student value propositions and write, design and produce all kinds of content. Video. Digital. Audio. Print. Events. Outdoor. You name it. We do it. And we go the extra mile to make it happen. On time. On budget. On brief.

    Brand Strategy & Positioning

    Standing out in a crowded market isn’t easy. Especially when everyone seems to be saying the same things.

    We get under the skin of your university, audiences and ambitions to identify what makes you different. We challenge assumptions. Uncover insights. Ask difficult questions. And find the answers that give you a competitive advantage. We turn these insights into a compelling proposition, clear messaging and distinctive brand story that gives people a reason to choose you.

    • Student Value Propositions (SVPs)
    • Brand Narratives, Manifestos & Messaging
    • Audience Research, Insight & Personas
    • Competitor Analysis
    • Inspiration from Global Brands
    • Brand Architecture
    • Brand Workshops

    Brand Identity & Design

    Your brand should be instantly recognisable. And unmistakably yours.

    From a complete university rebrand to a fresh creative identity for a new campaign, we combine strategic thinking with imaginative design to bring your personality to life. We create distinctive visual identities, creative platforms, design systems and guidelines that work brilliantly across every touchpoint. The result? A brand that stands out, feels consistent and connects with the people who matter.

    • Brand Identity & Rebranding
    • Visual Identity Systems
    • Creative Direction & Art Direction
    • Campaign Identities
    • Brand Guidelines & Toolkits
    • Digital & Print Design
    • Branded Communications
    • Editable Design Templates

    Creative Campaigns

    You don’t want the same old thinking. Neither do we.

    Our clients come to us for bold ideas, fresh perspectives and campaigns built on insight and powered by creativity. Whether you want to grow student numbers, showcase your research or build your reputation, we co-create concepts and campaigns that get people talking and deliver results.

    • Campaign Concepts
    • Undergraduate Recruitment Campaigns
    • Postgraduate Recruitment Campaigns
    • International Student Recruitment Campaigns
    • Clearing Campaigns
    • Open Day Campaigns & Event Marketing
    • Alumni Campaigns
    • Brand Awareness & Reputation Campaigns
    • Research Storytelling Campaigns
    • Employer Engagement & Partnership Campaigns
    • Fundraising Campaigns
    • National Student Survey (NSS) Campaigns
    • Integrated & Digital Marketing Campaigns
    • Business to Business (B2B) Campaigns

    Content & Storytelling

    Every university has incredible stories to tell. Stories that inspire, challenge perceptions and change the way people think.

    We’ll help you find those stories and bring them to life. Working with you and your community, we’ll shape how you speak, communicate your key messages and create compelling content to stir emotions and evidence what makes you different. From the first idea to the final artwork, we’ll take care of everything to connect with your audience and make your collective and individual stories matter.

    Writing & Storytelling
    • Creative Copywriting
    • Messaging Matrices & Tone of Voice
    • Writing Principles & Guidelines
    • Student, Alumni & Research Storytelling
    Film & Photography
    • Photography & Film Production
    • Scripts, Storyboarding & Film Editing
    • Shoot Management from Start to Finish
    • Animation & Motion Graphics
    Channels
    • Content Strategy & Planning
    • Web, Social, Email & Digital Content
    • Podcasts, Audio & Radio
    • Outdoor, Print & Direct Mail
    • Student Influencer Content & Campaigns
    • Events, Exhibitions & UCAS Fairs

    Creative Intelligence & AI Innovation

    The world of marketing is changing fast. And we’re excited by the possibilities.

    We’re constantly exploring new tech, fresh perspectives and smarter ways to help you stay ahead. We work with our partners Blings and Limy to offer you personalised interactive video emails and AI search visibility. Whilst our Waterfall Next Wave squad of college students gives us fresh ideas, insight and honest creative feedback. We combine human creativity, the perspectives of the next generation and emerging technologies to create better solutions for our clients.

    • AI Search Visibility & Discoverability
    • AI-Powered Content Recommendations
    • Student Insight & Concept Testing
    • Waterfall Next Wave Student Collaboration
    • Creative Workshops & Co-creation
    • Personalised Interactive Video Emails

    Waterfall CASCADE

    This is the source of all our thinking. CASCADE is our proven way of turning higher education marketing challenges into creative solutions through six connected stages. We work with you to discover your competitive advantage, shape your story and build brands and campaigns that people notice and remember. You can join us at the stage that’s right for your challenge.

    CASCADE stage: CA
    Competitive Advantage
    What will make people choose you?

    We start by asking questions and immersing ourselves in your world. Your data, insight, audience, competitors, ambitions and what you offer that others don’t. We challenge the brief where it needs challenging. Through research, conversations and workshops, we find out what you stand for and what will make you stand out.

    Together we define the purpose of the project, agree what success looks like, pinpoint what sets you apart and nail down your proposition.

    CASCADE stage: S
    Strategy
    What’s your story and what’s the best way to tell it?

    Your difference becomes an advantage when people understand why it matters to them. We look at the bigger picture. What’s the story we need to tell? What are the best channels to reach your audience? What are your priority messages the world needs to know about? This is where the creative strategy takes shape.

    Together we shape your narrative and establish what to say, where to say it and what we want our audience to think, feel and do.

    CASCADE stage: C
    Concept
    What’s the big idea?

    This is where our creative spark brings your proposition to life and you start to see, hear and feel your strategy in action. We develop distinct creative routes, each with a clear rationale to make everything unmistakably you. We’re talking straplines, headlines, writing principles and a new visual identity that elevates your brand.

    Together we develop a strong creative identity across different media that grabs attention and makes your advantage hard to forget.

    CASCADE stage: A
    Alliance
    Will it connect with the people who matter?

    This is where we collaborate with you to sense-check our creative thinking. We gather your views and decide which idea to back. We can test our concepts through focus groups and with Waterfall Next Wave, our squad of college students. We can also present to teams across your university to get buy-in at every level.

    Together we explore what ifs, keep what works well and change what doesn’t to strengthen the idea and its connection with your audience.

    CASCADE stage: D
    Development
    How does it all come together?

    With your feedback and input from your media agency, we refine and push the concept, crafting every detail across every chosen channel. We create final assets that tell your unique story in fresh ways and build a strong, consistent creative platform for you from digital, film, web and audio to outdoor, audio, print, photography and more.

    Together we produce the designs, copy, films and final artwork on time and true to your proposition and strategy.

    CASCADE stage: E
    Engagement
    How do we grow the momentum?

    Now it’s time to share your story with the world. We hand everything over to you and your media agency. We can also provide a campaign toolkit, editable templates, a messaging matrix and guidance, so your team can create its own assets and turn up the noise.

    Together we launch your campaign, measure its impact, review the results and analysis with you, and use it to improve the next wave of creativity.

    Got a challenge for us?

    Big ambition. Small brief. Tricky problem. Unexpected ask. Or just the beginnings of an idea. Whatever you’re working on, we’d love to hear about it and explore how we can help.