Q + Q, an international partnership of design and branding experts, recently created a new corporate identity for Flint Group, the world's second-largest provider of inks, plates, pigments, and other materials to the global printing, converting, and colorants industries.

Flint Group was formed in late 2005, when Flint Ink of Ann Arbor, Michigan USA merged with XSYS Print Solutions of Stuttgart, Germany. Both companies had manufacturing operations, subsidiaries, suppliers, and customers throughout the world. With the merger, they faced a significant challenge: to unify a diverse set of corporate cultures and communicate the new company's stronger position in all of its markets.

To help them meet this challenge, the new company turned to Q Gmbh (Wiesbaden and Berlin, Germany) and Q LTD (Ann Arbor and San Francisco, USA). The Q + Q partnership combined its experience in European and North American markets to create a brand system that conveys the company's new identity to all its audiences worldwide. 

Working with corporate marketing teams in Michigan and Germany, Q + Q designed Flint Group's new logotype, specified how the new brand should be used in corporate materials, and produced advertising in 12 languages to introduce the brand to Flint Group's international markets. 

"The Q + Q team was a strong partner in our rebranding program," said Rita Conrad, Flint Group Vice President, Corporate Communications. "Their cross-cultural perspective on the design elements more accurately reflected the international nature of our organization. The result was a complete and professional identity system, which we have implemented throughout the company."

 "This was a fascinating and important project for our international partnership with Q LTD," said Thilo von Debschitz, principal of Q GmbH. "The Q + Q team demonstrated that we are an essential resource for clients who need powerful branding and communications in Europe and North America."