About
Advocate verb: to champion a cause or vision
Advocate is the consultancy of Mark Epton. Since 1996 I’ve used the power of branding and design to champion organisations contributing to a greener, fairer and better world.
I deliver powerful brand, print and web design – enabling my clients to stand out from the crowd, communicate their message, inspire action, increase their profits and achieve their goals.
My work makes a difference because I’m on my clients’ side. I share their vision and I’m passionate about their success. I know how to articulate their aims – and advocate their cause.
Green credentials
Having been a designer at leading green organisations and a campaigner with Greenpeace, I established Advocate to champion organisations and businesses wanting to make a social, environmental and ethical difference.
Through the work I do for my clients I have a positive influence on our environment and society. However, by providing my service there is a small environmental footprint, which I am committed to minimising further.
Energy
What little electricity I use comes from 100% renewable sources. I am part of the Carbon Watchers scheme to save energy and my website is hosted on servers run by solar power.
Natural resources
Advocate’s stationery is printed on 100% recycled post-consumer waste, by a local environmentally accredited (ISO 14001) printer. I use electronic instead of paper-based communication wherever possible.
Electronic equipment
Electronic equipment contributes greatly to a design agencies social and environmental footprint. To avoid adding to conflict over minerals crucial to the manufacturing of electronic devices and issues of workers rights in developing countries, I have no intention of updating my ten-year-old mobile phone or buying a tablet device. See the Ethical Consumer website for more information. However, I obviously need a computer for my work and have to update it regularly.
Travel
Skype video calls are great! If I need to travel, I’m based a short walk from Stonehouse train station providing me with easy access to London and Oxford. And if I need to drive to a meeting I’ve got a very fuel-efficient car. I've personally vowed not to fly – you can't call yourself green and fly can you?
Waste
I recycle all office paper and cardboard. Old computer equipment is either sold or taken for recycling. Old toner cartridges are returned for refilling.
Associates
I tend to work with like-minded web developers, copywriters, photographers and illustrators.
Green design
I advise and encourage clients to consider sustainability throughout the design process. I promote the use of green paper, printers, printing practices and hosting companies– thereby reducing my clients’ environmental footprint.
Green award
Advocate claimed second place in the inaugural Stroud Green Business of the Year award, beating Ecotricity, Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust and a plethora of other green businesses.
Accreditation
Advocate is part of the SEE What You Are Buying Into scheme, where my social, environmental and ethical policies and practices are displayed for all to see.
Testimonies
Look Again
As well as being a great designer, Mark from Advocate has been enormously conscientious and supportive. He has listened to my needs, been clear and flexible and has always gone the extra mile, often beyond his brief as designer. I am now the proud owner of a new brand and marketing materials and I can’t wait to get out there with them!
Small Woods
I have enjoyed working with Mark through the entire process from initial concept ideas to final delivery. I have been particularly impressed with his ability to combine creative and imaginative ideas with a methodical and clear process of working in order to meet our specified deadlines. I am also grateful for his patience. We look forward to working with Mark on new projects in the future.
Practical Intelligence
We are a new small project and were lucky to find Mark early on. He came to us with a set of very clear questions which clarified what our work is about, how we wanted to present ourselves and who we wanted to reach. He was very generous with his ideas and thoughts from the beginning and helped us prepare a leaflet and a website coming up with directions we would never have got to without him. He continued to work on the website and come up with new ideas right to the very end continually improving things. He was also a pleasure to work with.
Stroud Valleys Project
We have worked with Advocate for a number of years, particularly on production of our annual report. As a small, local, environmental charity, this document is our key paper and web-based marketing tool. Mark has given us solutions that reflect and support our environmental policies and beliefs, and deliver a strong, clear image whilst still being cost-effective. We appreciate Mark’s contribution to all aspects of the design and editorial process, his ability to work to deadlines, and his insights into effective communication.
International Migration Institute
I have worked with Mark Epton on the development of a visual identity for a new research programme. He designed the programme’s website and promotional leaflet and will go on to help us with exhibition leaflets, annual reports and so on. Mark has a very thorough approach to design work. I have been impressed with his intellectual engagement with the task at hand: to generate a visual identity that expresses something of what the research is about, but also conveys a certain amount of solidity and gravitas. He is not afraid to play ‘devil’s advocate’ with proposed ideas, which makes for a very robust and well thought-through end product. In sum, I have found the experience of working with Mark very rewarding and I would highly recommend him.
The Hamilton Group
Mark worked closely with us to design both a new logo and our new website. He was meticulous and thorough in his thinking and delivery and his thoughtful and detailed approach, creativity and advice linked well with our ideas for the new organisation. He delivered on time and we are very happy with the result.
Forest Peoples Programme
Mark’s patient perseverance in keeping the development of our website going and consolidating an identity for FPP while faced with constantly moving goal posts as well as changing staff, proved him to be an exceptional person to work with. His sensitivity to our concerns, as well as his motivation, commitment and talent steered us through a maze of wants, options and ideas. Thanks to him we got there in the end!
University of Oxford
Mark designed a range of marketing and conference collateral for a university event. The visual identity he created for us was both powerful and flexible, which meant it could be adapted for use across the full range of material, giving the event a clear and coherent identity. Mark was a pleasure to work with throughout the project. Not only was he flexible and accommodating to meet tight deadlines, but he was never afraid to challenge; his approach is one which combines creativity and professionalism. We look forward to working with him again next year.
Refugee Studies Centre
The Refugee Studies Centre has been working with Advocate on a wholesale redevelopment of our branding and print design work. Mark has been wonderful to work with throughout and his designs are both clear and ingenious. His understanding of the processes and potential pitfalls of such an undertaking have proved invaluable. Mark’s knack of challenging us in just the right places is uncanny and always fruitful. His genuine interest in our work is reassuring which, combined with his reasonable rates, means we would have no hesitation in recommending Advocate’s services whole-heartedly.
Gloucestershire Wood Fuels
We had an excellent working relationship, which enabled us to create a logo that really captured our essence in a simple but forthright way. Mark asked all the right questions to relate to the intended customer and their key messages to design layout and tweak the words for our leaflet and website.
Stroud Valleys Car Club
Mark was retained by the Stroud Valleys Car Club to author our marketing campaign targeting particular groups for membership. He proved to be innovative and flexible in interpreting our aspirations, and effective and efficient in delivering attractive material to a tight timescale.
Ecos
Mark helped us to work through possibly the most difficult and emotive issue for an organisation to address – a name change. Mark was consistent and objective in his advice and helped the board of Trustees come to a decision which will have lasting benefit to the trust.
Soil Association
Mark Epton has proved himself to be a talented and creative designer. I have used him to design a campaign report and an appeal leaflet. On both occasions he came up with powerful solutions to difficult problems. He is also an extremely helpful person to work with. I changed my mind several times, adding considerably to his work load, which he cheerfully accommodated. With the appeal leaflet he showed that he has other skills, contributing to the editing and selection process in a very constructive way. I look forward to working with him again.
New Internationalist
Mark is flexible, diligent, open-minded and thoroughly literate in the world of graphic design. He’s also not afraid to strike out with some bold ideas and advance an organisation’s thinking about design along the way.
Good Energy
Mark Epton has provided an excellent service. It has been particularly refreshing to experience a quick understanding of the brief, see real thought given to a range of creative options and receive thought provoking views on our existing designs, messages and processes. The Good Energy rebranding and advertising campaign were very well received and have directly contributed to record response rates and sales levels.
Wiltshire Wildlife Trust
Mark was a pleasure to work with. His professional knowledge and experience coupled with his understanding of, and enthusiasm for, environmental issues have produced very effective campaign materials for us. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Mark as a designer who is knowledgeable, professional and reliable and who will provide excellent value for money.
Greenpeace
Mark is extremely motivated and committed to doing the best possible job. His talent is as apparent as his energy and enthusiasm.
Services
Core services
Branding
Identity
Graphic design
Web design
With associates
Marketing
Digital development
Copywriting
Photography
Illustration