Ad Gefrin

Working closely with renowned design agency Studio MB, Astley helped concept build, manufacture and install a suite of internal and external branded assets which culminated in achieving top awards at both the Sign & Wrap and Sign Industry Awards.
Our internal teams supported the client’s agency – Studio MB – with practical translation of their concepts, providing samples and technical drawings for each sign—ensuring that every element embodied the site’s historic character and met the client’s expectations.

From hand-chiselled Celtic stonework to intricately crafted timber signage, our team poured craftsmanship into each component.

As an experience-based and visitor-centric venue, Ad Gefrin wanted their signage to feel as though it had emerged naturally from the landscape—rooted in local culture, yet refined and modern in its finish. Every item had to reflect the site’s Northumbrian identity while meeting the practical needs of a high-traffic visitor attraction.

Studio MB had created a superb set of visual concepts, and our role as signage partner was to initially offer consultancy on how to achieve the practical implementation.

Spanning almost 3m in diameter, the 3D roundel was designed to be an impressive venue focal point depicting the brand’s logo in a Celtic design that giving a nod to Northumbria’s Golden Age. The roundel was briefed to look as if it was copper, to reflect the distillery whiskey copper stills.

Other assets included wayfinding, both internally and externally, that focused on the customer journey and experience at the venue.

To answer the aesthetic characteristics of the brief, we employed several key members from a number of our departments to carry out a detailed prototyping phase. This type of exercise allowed us to sample various materials and application processes in order to achieve the ‘look and feel’ that the agency and client had in mind for the finished scheme.

For the 3D roundel, our shopfloor were heavily involved in establishing how to achieve the 3D build of the roundel and how to create a faux ‘cooper’ finish without using such a heavy and expensive material. We chose aluminium for its lightweight yet flexible properties—safe for wall mounting and capable of mimicking a cast look. Our CNC team layered routed aluminium, which was then finished in our paintshop with a bespoke copper-effect coating.

The success of this project was recognised with a Gold award in the Architectural Category at the 2024 Sign & Wrap Awards and in the 3D and CNC categories at the Sign Industry Awards in 2025. It not only showcased Astley’s design and technical expertise, but also gave our team the opportunity to learn and apply new skills—highlighting our commitment to innovation and growth.