Portland Sets Up Retail and Travel Research Unit

In the UK, branding and retail design consultancy Portland Design has launched a standalone unit, offering consumer insights and trends for the retail, travel and leisure industries.

Founded in 1987, Portland Design has offices in London, Dubai and Istanbul from which it offers a range of services including research and insights, brand communications, retail master-planning and public realm design. The new Strategic Insights Unit (SIU) will be led by Head of Strategic Insights Terna Jibo (pictured), who joined the firm earlier in the year with a background in trend forecasting, consumer insight and strategic planning. Jibo worked previously at mobile marketing specialist Somo, and at The Future Laboratory, Crowd DNA and 2CV.

The unit will offer retail safaris, trend reports, ethnographic film and thought leadership conferences. Jiba says research will be designed to uncover 'human truths' which will be combined with strategy and creativity. MD Ibrahim Ibrahim says the company employs a 'people-centric' approach to futureproof clients' businesses, and comments: 'With his wide ranging experience, Terna boosts our ability to help our clients gain competitive advantage through actionable intelligence into consumer trends'.

Web site: www.portland-design.com .