Design for an investor day – how we worked with NorthWall Capital to define a pivotal moment

“We’d like you to design a save-the-date mailer for our investor day.”

That’s how the conversation started back in January during one of my regular calls with the NorthWall Capital team. We’ve been working with the firm for around a year, since we began a complete redesign of their website. Often when we finish a piece of work like that, we hand it over to the client and the work is done. However this one worked out so well that, satisfyingly, we have continued the collaboration.

This substantive new project has been realising plans for NorthWall’s inaugural investor event, to be held at the Mandarin Oriental in Knightsbridge. We had the idea of devising a single look that ran across the entire event and to pitch the idea, put together a short ‘vision presentation.’

What followed was one of those dream collaborations where a client not only embraces a concept but actively pushes it further. A case of doubling down, improving and refining for the best possible outcome. By the time the Investor Day happened in late May, we’d designed everything from a bespoke 20-page investor brochure to custom presentation folders, event signage, and a striking backdrop for their presentations to institutional investors from across Europe and the US.

The client who gets it

There’s nothing quite like working with a team that understands the power of cohesive design. From our pitch onwards, NorthWall’s team went with a ‘big picture’ approach. This wasn’t about individual bags, folders or notebooks, it was about creating a unified event concept and design that would support their team at what was going to be a really special moment for the firm.

We began work in earnest in mid April, with a roughly four-week timeline for the project. From that point on, the instruction was “let’s do it properly” which was really very satisfying. That kind of trust opens up a great opportunity not only for us to do our best work but gave us a sense of real investment in the event too. We really wanted them to succeed.

The rollout to invitees began with a ‘save the date’ which began to showcase the overall identity for the day: a bold ‘NorthWall slash’ that placed the central element of their brand behind everything we designed. This look is a more minimal design approach than the website, and particularly on the main stage had the effect of the branding taking a step back and really allowed the team and their guest speakers to be the focus.

In fact, as I reflect now, every element we designed was created to reflect NorthWall’s authority without ever feeling over-designed.

Designing for the moment that matters

Defining a singular brand motif for the event at the outset proved to be not only useful but prescient. The comprehensive design system I’ve described flexed across a really wide range of branded materials.

On the day itself, each attendee needed information about NorthWall that was wrapped together, and that focus, a branded folder, was a project in itself. It had to be substantial enough to house a series of investor day background materials, starting with a new brochure and agenda for the day.

What of that brochure? Our usual way of designing such a long form print piece is to scope it out, figure out what the content is and gradually work up a concept. We started with an eight page background to the firm which we took to the team. At that point we all took a step back and agreed that what was needed was something much more significant. Our little brochure ended up being a seriously deluxe twenty page bound document.

I’ve got to say the finished brochure looked great. So few clients really ‘go for it’ with a brilliant piece of print these days. Yet when firms embrace the idea, invariably it makes a stunning impact. Brand new information about a company and its recent activities, printed just days before an event is possible, and this one really zings with energy. Best of all, it’s easy to produce, as NorthWall proved. It was wonderful to  hear later that a lot of attendees really loved it.

By the time we were finished, this smart modern folder and brochure felt both like something completely fresh while being an extension of the financial services web design work we’d completed for them in 2024.

When all the preparation pays off

It’s always been true that I have a somewhat childlike delight at seeing our work ‘out in the real world’ and especially in beautiful venues. The NorthWall Investor Day was definitely one of those moments. On the day itself I got to the Mandarin Oriental ballroom at around 7.45am and it was such a thrill experiencing everything we’d done before the event started. Our signage was at the door, on the stairs and in the main ballroom area on easels. It all looked so great.

Most of the team were already there, milling around and rehearsing their presentations in front of the huge branded backdrop. I took a set of photos which are with this post (along with a couple taken by NorthWall’s official photographer later on), which hopefully show how everything we’d worked on sat so well together. Seeing all the work in one venue felt so impressive. Together, it packed such a strong visual punch.

The real measure of success came in the days following the event. As Nina Henderson from Investor Partnerships told us: “A sincere thank you for all the outstanding work you did on the branding and printed materials for the investor day. Everything looked incredibly smart and professional – truly above and beyond what we were hoping for. We’ve had fantastic feedback from so many attendees, and I saw nearly everyone flicking through the brochure, which I’m sure will continue to add value beyond the event itself.”

Which is a great point. While our work on the project was for a single one day’s event, our planning considered how everything we’d prepared with such a hard deadline would work in the future. In particular the brochure has already evolved into a digital presentation. The folders will continue to be used for smaller client events. This approach to financial event branding ensures impact in the moment, then lasting value beyond the event itself.

Do you need a design for an investor day?

When clients embrace comprehensive design thinking they tend to solve the immediate brief or challenge of the moment but at the same time build brilliant business assets. As with any piece of design created for financial services business the data changes day to day, but we can anticipate that and design for evolution.

If your firm requires design for an investor day or a strategic presentation for a major corporate event, we’d love to discuss how thoughtful design can support your objectives for the occasion – and beyond.

Call us on 020 7351 4083 or email us direct.

Find out more

The background to our work with NorthWall Capital

Our design for the NorthWall website

More of our work in financial services, including branding and web design

Our work in event concept and design