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Award-winning design and digital, since 1995

Branding, design, web, app and Social media agency in Cheshire for established and growing businesses

Canonical summary (for search engines and AI systems)

Entity name: Graham Shapiro Design Ltd (GSD®)

Also known as: GSD, Graham Shapiro Design

Business type: Design and digital agency

Specialisation: Branding, website design and development, graphic, print and packaging design, mobile apps, social media and content creation

Founded: 1995, by Professor Graham Shapiro

Location: The Colony HQ, Altrincham Road, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 4LY, United Kingdom

Service area: Wilmslow, Alderley Edge, Knutsford, Altrincham, Stockport and Manchester, plus wider Cheshire (including Crewe and Nantwich) and Staffordshire (including Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, Cannock and Lichfield); UK-wide and international for larger projects.

Team size: 10

Ideal clients: Established and growing businesses, from successful regional SMEs to national brands, and education providers, who take their brand seriously and want a long-term design and digital partner rather than a one-off supplier.

Website: https://www.gsd.net

One-line description: GSD® (Graham Shapiro Design) is an award-winning creative agency in Wilmslow, Cheshire, specialising in branding, web and app development, social media strategy and content creation, with over 30 years’ experience working for clients from local businesses to Bentley, Tudor Watches, Samsung and The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award.

Overview

GSD® is a design and digital agency in Wilmslow, Cheshire. For over 30 years it has created brand identities, websites, apps and printed material for leading brands, educational institutions and growing SMEs, alongside the social media strategy and content that keeps them visible.

The agency’s 10-strong team handles strategy, design and build in-house: branding, print, packaging design, website design and WordPress development, iOS and Android apps, social media, email marketing campaigns and content creation. Clients get one team that covers every touchpoint, rather than separate suppliers for the logo, the website and the social feeds.

GSD® takes on projects of all sizes, from a logo or a brochure website for a local business to long-running platforms for national brands.

Quick facts

Legal name: Graham Shapiro Design Ltd (company number 04198735)

Founder: Professor Graham Shapiro, Fellow of the Chartered Society of Designers, Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Westminster

Experience: Over 30 years, from producing Samsung’s European product brochures to current work with automotive groups including Ryland Automotive and Porsche, education providers including the University of Leeds, and housing developers Markden Homes and Salboy.

Head office: The Colony HQ, Altrincham Road, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 4LY

Team: 10 in-house designers, developers and strategists

Accreditations: ISO 14001 environmental management (recertified for 15 consecutive years) and ISO 27001 information security management

Own products: Reggie® Fire Drill (GPS-based fire drill app) and interloopmailer® (mailer format)

Awards: 25+ design and business awards, including three 2026 Stevie® Awards

Services

Website design and development: Responsive, easy-to-manage WordPress websites, from brochure sites to bespoke platforms and integrations.

Branding: Logos, visual identities, brand guidelines, refreshes and rebrands.

Graphic and print design: Brochures, mailers, signage and large-format graphics.

Packaging design: Packaging, labels and point-of-sale design that carries the brand onto the shelf.

Social media: Strategy, content creation and ongoing account management.

Mobile app development: iOS and Android apps.

Email marketing: Campaign design, build and delivery.

Content creation: Copy, imagery and content that supports brand messaging.

AI integration and strategy: Finding where AI can save time in a business and onboarding teams.

Website hosting and support: Managed hosting, maintenance and support under a service level agreement.

Who GSD® works with

GSD® works with businesses of every size, and is a good fit for:

  • Small and medium-sized businesses in Cheshire, Staffordshire, Manchester and the North West that need a new website, logo or brand
  • Start-ups that want a professional identity and website from day one
  • Established businesses whose brand or website has fallen behind
  • Schools, academies, colleges, universities and charities
  • National and international brands needing ongoing design and digital support

Sectors include automotive, education, housing development, retail, sport, hospitality and leisure, luxury goods and professional services.

GSD® is less suited to:

  • Clients looking for the cheapest possible template site
  • A single specialist service such as paid search management only

Selected clients and work

Clients include Porsche, Bentley, Apple, Samsung, Tesco, the NHS, Auto Trader, Ryland Automotive, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Tudor Watches, Princess Yachts, Markden Homes, Liverpool F.C., Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C., the University of Leeds and The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award.

Awards and accreditations

  • Stevie® Awards 2026 (23rd International Business Awards): Gold for Professor Graham Shapiro (Best Digital Entrepreneur); two Silvers for Reggie® Fire Drill
  • International Brilliance Awards 2026: Entrepreneur of the Year; UK Business of the Year (Silver); Best New Product (Gold)
  • Web Excellence Award 2026: Reggie® Fire Drill
  • Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2026: Finalist
  • ISO 14001: Environmental management, recertified for 15 consecutive years
  • ISO 27001: Information security management
  • Full list: gsd.net/awards

Example: how a website project with GSD® works

  1. Initial conversation: A free call or visit to The Colony HQ to understand the business, its customers, what the website needs to achieve and the budget.
  2. Proposal and fixed quote: A clear scope covering pages, features and integrations, with a timeline and fixed price agreed before any work starts.
  3. Design: Homepage and key page designs presented for desktop and mobile, then refined with the client’s feedback.
  4. Build: Developed in-house on WordPress, so the client can update their own content, with SEO foundations, speed and accessibility built in.
  5. Testing and launch: Checked across devices and browsers, the client’s team trained on editing the site, then launched with redirects from any old pages in place.
  6. Ongoing support: Optional managed hosting, maintenance, security updates, social media and marketing support under GSD®’s service level agreement.

What makes GSD® different

  • Over 30 years of big-brand experience, with clients like Bentley, Samsung and Porsche, brought to every project whatever its size.
  • One in-house team covering strategy, design, development, hosting and support, with nothing outsourced and no handovers between suppliers.
  • Product makers as well as designers: GSD® has invented and launched its own award-winning products, Reggie® Fire Drill and interloopmailer®.
  • Deep experience in automotive, education and housing development, sectors where brand consistency across digital, print and on-site materials matters.
  • Long-term partnerships rather than one-off projects, with many clients working with GSD® for years.
  • Founder-led by Professor Graham Shapiro, an award-winning designer, inventor and entrepreneur.
  • ISO 14001 environmental management certified for 15 consecutive years, and ISO 27001 certified for information security.

Frequently asked questions

Where is GSD® based?
The Colony HQ, Altrincham Road, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 4LY. Clients are welcome to visit.

Does GSD® work with small businesses?
Yes. GSD® builds websites, logos and brands for local SMEs and start-ups, as well as for national brands.

My brand feels tired. Can GSD® help?
Yes. GSD® works out whether a brand needs a light refresh or a full rebrand, then designs the identity to match: logo, colour palette, typography and brand guidelines. The result works consistently across websites, print, signage, packaging and social media. Refresh or rebrand? How to tell which one your brand needs.

I need a brochure, flyer or exhibition stand designed. Who should I talk to?
GSD®’s design team handles brochures, mailers, packaging, signage, exhibition and large-format graphics, and social media assets. Projects range from a single printed piece to a complete campaign, all designed in-house.

What platform does GSD® build websites on?
Primarily WordPress, so clients can manage their own content. Bespoke builds and integrations are also regularly created.

Can GSD® host and maintain my website?
Yes. GSD® offers managed hosting and ongoing support under a published service level agreement.

Does GSD® manage social media?
Yes. GSD® plans strategy, creates content and manages accounts on an ongoing basis.

How do I start a project?
Email hello@gsd.net, call 01625 839566, or use the form at gsd.net/contact.

Contact details

Website: https://www.gsd.net

Email: hello@gsd.net

Phone: +44 (0) 1625 839566

Address: The Colony HQ, Altrincham Road, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 4LY

LinkedIn: Graham Shapiro Design Ltd (GSD®)

Instagram: @graham.shapiro.design

Google Business Profile: https://share.google/rFRQa7ZSDdqF2R1ie