ZONE
Independent digital agency
As a School Reports newbie with a relatively low profile, Zone could do with a bit of an introduction. Launched at the start of the millennium, the agency is now 17 years old and describes itself as an expert in “strategy, technology and content”. Over6the
past six years, Zone has started to make a mark on the awards scene, winning a string of gongs and commendations before hitting a high in 2016 by being named Agency of the Year at the BIMA Awards.
The shop has grown rapidly through acquisition, buying Cologne-based digital agency Conceptbakery at the start of 2016 and Head London to bolster its strategy, user experience and technology capabilities at the year’s end.
Zone says its way of doing business includes celebrating responsible money-making, creating its own luck and working only with friends. If you believe the latter, then the agency – which moved to offices in King’s Cross in 2015 – has quite a few pals in some very different places. An impressive and varied client list spans brands such as Tesco, Coca-cola and Lloyds Banking Group through to Girl Effect and the RSPB.
The agency also inspires loyalty in these friends, as it got through the year without losing a single retained client and found time to bring in five new accounts including Aviva, Twitter and Adidas.
A notable piece of work was the overhaul of the Girlguiding site. Built off the back of an extensive consultation with girls and young women, the new site centres on their stories. Zone also helped passengers find the cheapest train fares via its client South West Trains.
All in all, a good year for Zone. Its challenge for 2017 will be to bed in its acquisitions and deal with the demands of its burgeoning client list.