Hiya, we’re Shape. A down-to-earth web design and branding agency based in Atherton, just outside Manchester.

We’re here to create work we’re genuinely proud of. We’ve picked up plenty of awards along the way for both branding and web design, but what we really care about is helping brands look better, sound better and get found online.

We are a full-service agency specialising in web development, web design, eCommerce, Craft CMS, Shopify, Organic SEO, content writing and hosting. Yeah, we keep a few plates spinning. But that’s how we like it – everything under one roof, done properly.

What probably sets us apart is how we work day-to-day. Our culture is a big deal to us. We’ve built a team and way of working that genuinely prioritises work-life balance. It’s not just something we say we prioritise, it’s something we actively show daily. Happy team = better work. Simple as that.

This article is a proper intro to who we are, what we do, how we work, and what it actually feels like to work with us.

Nice people, serious standards

MadeByShape was founded in 2010 by Andy Golpys and Jason Mayo, and we’ve been building brands, websites and long-term client relationships ever since.

We’re an award-winning web design and branding agency in Manchester, working with a mix of start-ups, independent businesses and global organisations. Over the years, we’ve worked with names including the likes of Gary Neville, the NHS, Rise at Seven and YMU, but we care just as much about the smaller brands with big ideas. Every project matters to us.

Our team is made up of designers, developers, SEO specialists, content writers, accounts, support and client relations. Different roles, different personalities, same standards.

Some would say we’re super casual in how we speak, and we definitely are – but we always take our work very seriously. We offer a bespoke, professional and trustworthy service, without making the process feel stiff, or overly corporate. We like to have a laugh along the way because we think working with us should feel fun for both sides. We want clients to feel comfortable asking questions, sharing ideas and being honest with us from day one.

Our preferred CMS is Craft CMS because it gives clients more control, flexibility and fewer annoying restrictions. At Shape, it’s no secret we’re not big fans of WordPress at all. Ask anyone on the team, and they’ll probably have something to say about it 😂🫣.

Don’t worry, we won’t bore you with the details here, but if you’re curious, we’ve put together a comparison article that explains exactly why.

We’re also a verified Craft CMS and Craft Commerce partner, which means our development experience and professional practice have been reviewed by Pixel & Tonic, too.

What makes Shape different?

When you work with Shape, you get direct access to the people actually doing the work. Designers, developers, content writers and SEO specialists are involved properly, not hidden behind layers of account management.

We collaborate from start to finish. We listen, advise, challenge when needed and try to make the process feel extremely clear from the very start. We’re not here to nod along and say yes to everything if we think (or know) there’s a better way. We’d rather be honest straight away than let a project drift in the wrong direction.

The goal is simple: create something that both sides are proud to show off.

What we actually do

We’re a web design and branding agency, which means we can help with a whole lot of stuff under one roof:

• Branding and brand repositioning

• Bespoke website design

• Craft CMS development

• Shopify eCommerce websites

• Organic SEO

• Content writing and tone of voice

• Web hosting and technical support

• Art direction for new visual content

• Collaboration with freelance photographers and videographers

That last one matters. A brand can have a great logo and a nice website, but if the photography, video or visual content doesn’t match the quality, it can hold everything back. Stock photos only get you so far.

So, when a project needs it, we art direct shoots and work with trusted freelance photographers and videographers to create fresh content that works for the brand.

This is pretty much the only thing we ever outsource. Everything else is handled in-house. But when it comes to photography and video, we bring in specialists we trust to get the best possible result.

When it comes to branding, you want something you’re genuinely proud of, right? Something that feels like you, connects with the right people and stands the test of time. Not something you’re looking to change again in 12 months.

That’s why we design for longevity. We take the time to understand who you are, where you’re going and how your brand needs to show up across everything you do. The goal is to get it right from the start – whether you’re a small business starting from scratch or an established brand that knows it’s time for something better.

Branding isn’t something we’d recommend trying to DIY, and that applies to whatever stage of business you are at. Why? Because it usually ends up costing more time, more money and a lot of back-and-forth before you land where you should’ve been in the first place.

We like to put it this way – you wouldn’t cut your own hair, would you? Nope, you’d stick with a barber you trust, right? Well, the same goes for your brand and is exactly why hiring a branding agency makes a huge difference.

As a full-service branding agency, we don’t just stop at the logo either. We look at the bigger picture – how your brand works across your website, your content, your marketing and every touchpoint your audience comes into contact with.

Branding capabilities

1. Brand strategy

2. Brand design

3. Brand guidelines

4. Brand tone of voice

5. Brand implementation

6. Brand repositioning

Let's explain them a little more in detail so you know what you're getting👇

Brand strategy

Before anything visual, we look at where you sit.

We carry out in-depth research into your industry, competitors and audience to understand what makes you different and where you should be positioned. It’s about getting clear on who you are, who you’re speaking to and how you should show up.

Brand design

This is where things start to take shape visually.

We design all creative aspects of your brand, including logo design, typography, colour palettes, iconography and overall visual direction. Everything is built to feel consistent, recognisable and aligned with your brand’s personality.

Brand guidelines

Once the brand is created, it needs to be used properly across all touchpoints.

We produce clear brand style guidelines that show how everything should look and feel across different platforms. This keeps your brand consistent, whether it’s being used internally or by external teams.

Brand tone of voice

Your brand isn’t just how it looks, it’s how it sounds.

We define how your brand communicates, from messaging and personality to the way you speak to your audience. The aim is to make sure everything you say feels natural, consistent and recognisably “you”.

Brand implementation

A brand should work in the real world and we offer guidance on how that should look for your brand.

We apply your brand across all touchpoints, including websites, marketing materials, print, packaging, office interiors, t-shirts, brochures and more. Every interaction should feel joined up.

Brand repositioning

Sometimes your brand just doesn’t match where you are anymore. Maybe the company has grown. Maybe the audience has changed. Maybe the brand feels a bit behind the quality of the work. That’s where brand repositioning comes in.

We can keep the useful equity you already have and improve everything around it. The aim isn’t always to rip everything up and start again. Sometimes, it’s about being smarter and making more considered changes so your brand finally feels like where the business is now.

We handle brand projects in-house, from research and theory to design and implementation. No passing things around to random people you’ve never met. Just a team that gets stuck in and cares about the outcome.

Bespoke web design

We design websites around your brand, audience and business goals.

That includes UI, UX, wireframes, responsive design, strategy, testing and launch. It doesn’t matter if you’re a fresh start-up building from scratch, an established business needing a refresh or a global brand looking for proper digital support, we’ll shape the process around what you need entirely.

As a web design agency, one thing we’re big on at Shape is putting the user first. Always.

We won’t add something just because it looks good. If a design feature interrupts the user experience, slows the site down or makes things harder to use, it’s not making the cut. Simple as that. We’d rather strip something back and make it work properly than overcomplicate it for the sake of visuals.

Every web design decision has a reason behind it.

We think about the full journey. What does the user need to know? Where should they go next? What content do they need? Is the website mobile-friendly? How will it be managed after launch?

A website should never just sit there looking pretty. It should do the work for you.

Craft CMS websites

Craft CMS is our preferred content management system because it gives clients control without forcing them into unnecessary restrictions. As a verified Craft CMS and Craft Commerce partner, our Craft CMS services include website design, development, WordPress migrations, hosting, multisite, maintenance and multilingual websites.

Craft lets us build websites properly from the ground up thanks to its features. Custom fields, sections and relations mean content can be structured around the exact needs of the project, rather than squeezing everything into a rigid template.

For clients, that means the website is easier to manage. For us, it means fewer compromises in design and web development.

Shopify websites

Shopify is a great option for brands that need to sell products online quickly, reliably and without unnecessary hassle.

We position Shopify as the more affordable eCommerce option at Shape, especially for businesses that need a clean, user-friendly store with solid built-in features. It’s good for fashion, interiors, beauty, lifestyle and product-led brands that want to get selling without overcomplicating the setup.

We use Shopify because it’s a solid choice from a cost point of view. It comes with features like secure payments, order management, shipping setup and customer accounts which means less time (and money) spent building things from scratch. For a lot of brands, this might be their first professionally built website or maybe their first step into selling online. Budgets can be tight, and we get that. We want to help businesses grow no matter where they’re starting from or what budget they’re working with.

Shopify supports mobile commerce, order tracking, SSL, shipping rates, customer profiles and a wide range of payment gateway integrations. Shopify integrates with Shopify Payments and over 100 other payment providers worldwide too.

If you’re looking to launch an online store without overcomplicating things, as a Shopify agency, we know exactly how to get you up and running properly and set up for growth from day one.

SEO that joins the dots

SEO is for businesses that need more enquiries, traffic, sales and visibility.

Our SEO work can cover technical SEO, link building, digital PR, on-site content, blogging, metadata, keyword research and page performance. But more importantly, it joins up with the rest of the project.

SEO is not just one person doing keyword research in a corner. It affects how the site is built, how pages are structured, how fast the website loads, what content is written and how users move around the site.

Our development, SEO and content teams work together so the strategy actually makes sense for each brand. No one-size-fits-all campaigns. No pretending every business needs the same thing.

Content with a proper voice

Content is where a brand starts to come alive and have a real sense of personality.

We can help with:

• Tone of voice

• SEO content

• On-page website copy

• Blog content

• Press and digital PR content

• Keyword research

• Thought leadership

We’re not here to write generic marketing copy that could belong to anyone. We get to know you so that the copy sounds exactly like you, speaks to your audience and gives people a reason to trust you.

Content helps people understand what you do, but it should do more than just explain; it should make you memorable, too. Think about the likes of Ryanair. Their tone of voice is cut-throat, direct, funny and a bit tongue-in-cheek, and whether you love it or hate it, you remember it.

That’s the power of tone of voice. It does a lot of the heavy lifting, helping your brand stand out and actually stick in people’s minds.

When content works hand-in-hand with SEO, it has a better chance of being seen by the right people in the first place.

Hosting that fits the project

Web hosting is one of those things most clients don’t want to think about, but it matters.

We help clients choose the right setup for the project, not just the cheapest server. That could include dedicated servers, cloud hosting, shared hosting, security and technical support.

A website needs to be secure, scalable and robust. It needs to support the CMS, handle traffic and allow the business to grow. We can deal with setup, CMS integration, testing, deployment and launch, so clients can focus on running their business.

Why it matters

1. Keeps the website stable

2. Supports performance and SEO

3. Protects the website from security issues

4. Allows the site to grow as the business grows
   
   

How our services work together

The best projects usually happen when everything comes together.

What we mean by that is each part of what we do has a direct impact on the other. Look at it this way: your brand shapes how your website looks and feels. Your website structure supports SEO. Your content helps people understand what you do and why they should trust you. Hosting keeps everything fast, secure and stable. Photography and video bring personality, people and products to life.

None of these things should sit in separate boxes. They all affect each other.

That’s why we like to look at the bigger picture. Not just “you need a new website”, but we ask the hard questions like what does that website need to say? How does it need to perform? Who does it need to attract? And what happens after launch?

We help you figure all this out and build based on what we know your brand needs.

The team

No egos, multiple personalities.

That sums us up pretty well.

We’re a team of designers, developers, content writers, SEO specialists and client support – with a few studio dogs too 🐶. We’re a mix of different people with different strengths, but the shared bit is that we’re all approachable, honest and really easy to talk to.

We want the whole process to feel collaborative and human from the very start. When it comes to client communication, there’s no awkward agency-client barrier, no overcomplicating things, just a proper working relationship where everyone’s involved.

A lot of our client relationships don’t just end when the project does, either. We stay in touch, we still see people, go out for lunch, and sometimes even co-work alongside them. That says more than anything – we’re not just here for the project, we’re here for the long run.

The studio and work-life balance

Our studio is based in Atherton, around 20 minutes from Manchester and that was a very intentional decision for us.

Years ago, we had a city centre office, but it didn’t really work for us. The long commutes, the rush, the cost … it just didn’t add anything to the quality of the work or the day-to-day experience for the team.

So we moved.

We selected a location that gives the team a better quality of life, easier commutes and a space that feels more like us. It means less time stuck in traffic and more time actually doing good work (or just having a life outside of it).

The studio environment is a bit of a home from home. It reflects our people, our work and our personality. It’s somewhere people want to come to, not somewhere they feel like they have to be. Clients love it too. We’ve had plenty pop in for a cuppa and a chat… and some even like it so much, they end up staying to even work for a bit. Our doors always open 😌.

We’re super flexible too. The team can work from home or from the studio, whatever works best for them. For us, it’s about creating an environment where people feel trusted, supported and able to do their best work.

We enjoy being together for work, socials and the occasional Christmas trip or workation, but we also know people do their best work when there’s a proper balance.

That said, we’re not strangers to having a good time – we make a real effort to plan things throughout the year to get everyone together, whether that’s darts nights, Go Ape, or the odd trip away. We know how to party 😂.

Perks and values

It makes sense to talk about our perks here at Shape, because it’s something we’ve put a huge amount of thought into when deciding what kind of business we wanted to build.

We didn’t want to take the same approach you see in a lot of places, where it's rigid and restrictive for the team. Instead, we thought about what we’d want from an employer, and built things around that.

Turns out, it works.

A big part of that is trust. There’s no micromanaging, no unnecessary rules – just a team of people who are trusted to do their job properly. When that’s in place, everything else tends to fall into place, too.

Some of our perks at MadeByShape include:

• Early Friday finish

• Christmas break (2 weeks off to spend time with family and friends)

• Flexible hours

• Hybrid working

• Training and development

• Cycle to Work Scheme

• MacBook Pro

• Spotify subscription

• Pet-friendly studio

• Performance bonuses and commission potential

And one of the big ones: we only choose to work with nice clients.

That might sound simple, but it makes a massive difference to how we work. We always do a vibe check to make sure that, on both sides, the partnership is going to work,

Another thing that might raise a few eyebrows elsewhere – we trust our team to get on with life when they need to. Whether that’s a haircut, picking a child up from nursery or sorting a nail appointment, there’s no asking for permission. You just go and do it.

As long as the work gets done and time is balanced, that flexibility takes the pressure off and makes day-to-day life a whole lot easier. After all, we’re all human and we want to be the kind of people (and business) that actually supports that.

Start-ups to global brands

We work with ambitious start-ups, independent brands and global organisations.

That includes sectors like fashion, healthcare, agency, education, corporate, fitness/sport, retail and property. Some projects are big. Some are smaller. Some are brand new. Some need a serious refresh. We like working with people who care about what they’re building.

And just to be clear – we’re not just here for the “sexy” industries. We’ve worked across all sorts, including the ones people might not shout about (think scaffolding, manufacturing, logistics… you get the idea). Every business has a story to tell, and we enjoy figuring out how to make it stand out.

Referrals say a lot

Over 55% of our projects are referrals from clients already with us, which says a lot about how we work.

People recommend Shape because the process feels easy. We’re personal, honest, collaborative and care about long-term relationships, not quick wins.

We don’t just disappear after the launch either. You can’t get rid of us that easily! If clients need ongoing support, SEO, content, hosting or future improvements, we’re here for that too.

The kind of clients Shape suits

Shape is a good fit for:

• Passionate business owners

• Brands that care about quality

• People who want advice, not just order-taking

• Nice people who value collaboration

You don’t need to have everything figured out before speaking to us. That’s part of the job. We’ll help shape the idea, ask the right questions and work out what makes sense for you.