Hill//Johnson//The language of communication

The very word

Welcome to Hill Johnson Associates. Peter Thomas Hill and Michael Johnson, founder and owner of copywrights, joined forces to form the company in 2010. We are English writers and corporate language consultants based in Switzerland, with more years’ experience in the communications business than we care to admit. We write brochures, speeches, scripts and articles, invent slogans and company names, and create advertising and branding concepts.

But that’s not all. Acting as critical sparring partners, we work closely with companies, organizations and individuals to develop the ideas and concepts underlying their identity, values and vision. And then we find the right words to express them and write the stories that bring them to life.

The very idea

Communication is a process that depends on understanding. Our business is about creating understanding, across cultural and linguistic boundaries. To be understood, you first have to understand clearly what you want to say. Clarity of thought begets clear language – and vice versa. This applies as much to individuals as to organizations.

Our concern is the language of thought and expression. Ironically, in the age of information and the communication revolution, language is being devalued. The means of communication are too often blunt instruments, rather than the kind that can be finely tuned. We want languages to be valued, not demeaned. So we make a living by helping people say what they mean. Above the line, below the line and between the lines.

Parallel lives

We grew from similar roots in the North of England and led remarkably parallel lives, even attending the same university at the same time.

Our different paths brought us to Switzerland, where we founded families and found our vocation. Independently of each other, we made our names as freelance wordsmiths. We did the same kind of work, often for the same clients, who valued quality and flair. All without ever meeting.

When our paths did finally cross, we hit it off. We worked together on selected projects, confirming the adage that two heads are better than one. It seemed the only sensible thing to do was team up. The result is Hill Johnson Associates. The rest is the future.

Experience and expertise

We offer clients the benefit of many years’ experience of the Swiss market and expertise with the written word in English. Our own specialities are copywriting and conceptual work, scriptwriting, ghost- and speechwriting, translation and editing.

But for the many projects that demand other skills and languages, we have developed privileged relationships with a network of freelance professionals: strategic consultants, creatives, graphic designers, project managers and client advisers, as well as writers, editors, translators and proofreaders of English, German, French and Italian mother tongue.

We work closely with company leaders to identify and formulate the values, principles, aims and vision of their businesses, and express these through the corporate and brand identity. We add the value of our experience and expertise to companies made in Switzerland, communicating on an international stage.

Clients

Over the years we have worked with many of the biggest names in Switzerland’s corporate and communications landscape. We would be pleased to add the name of your company to our list.

Contact

If you’re interested in working with us or for us, please contact: Hill Johnson Associates GmbH Bellerivestrasse 18 8008 Zürich +41 44 210 22 00 mail@hilljohnson.ch www.hilljohnson.ch

© 2012 Hill Johnson Associates GmbH, Zürich Production: Fahrenheit Communications Ltd, Paris Design: Rulf Neigenfind, Paris

In other words

Wir sind zwei Engländer, die seit langem in der Schweiz leben und in der schweize-
rischen Kommunikationsbranche arbeiten. Unser Spezialgebiet ist das Schreiben von Texten, Broschüren, Reden, Drehbüchern und Artikeln. Darüber hinaus erfinden wir Claims und Firmennamen, und entwickeln Marken- und Werbekonzepte. Als kritische Projektpartner unterstützen wir unsere Kunden dabei, Ideen zu entwickeln, mit denen ihre Identität, ihre Wertvorstellungen und ihre Visionen definiert werden können. Und dann machen wir uns daran, die Worte zu finden, die diese Werte auf den Punkt bringen, und die Texte zu schreiben, die sie zum Leben erwecken. Unsere Expertise in der englischen Sprache stellen wir in den Dienst schweizerischer Unternehmen, die auf internationalen Märkten erfolgreich kommuni-
zieren wollen. Bei Projekten, die andere Kom-
petenzen erfordern, arbeiten wir mit einem Netzwerk erfahrener Partner – strategische Berater, Kreative und Designer, sowie Texter, Übersetzer und Lektoren anderer Mutter-
sprachen – zusammen.

Rédacteurs anglais basés en Suisse, nous avons une longue expérience de la commu-
nication: conception, rédaction, ghostwriting, adaptation, traduction et relecture. Nous rédigeons des brochures, des discours, des scripts, des articles, créons des slogans et des noms d’entreprises, et concevons des concepts publicitaires et de marque. Intervenant en sparring-partners critiques, nous collaborons avec nos clients à déve-
lopper les idées soulignant leur identité, leurs valeurs et leurs visions. Finalement, nous trouvons les termes qui les exprimeront et écrivons des textes qui leur donneront vie. Nous apportons la valeur ajoutée de notre expertise à des entreprises made in Switzer-
land, souhaitant communiquer au niveau international. Pour les projets qui exigent d’autres talents et langues, nous avons con-
stitué un réseau de consultants en straté-
gies, créatifs, designers, conseillers clientèle et directeurs de projets, ainsi que de rédac-
teurs, traducteurs et relecteurs de diverses langues maternelles.

Siamo redattori inglesi residenti in Svizzera, con diversi anni di esperienza nel campo della comunicazione. Le nostre aree di competen-
za sono copywriting, riscrittura, ghostwriting, adattamenti pubblicitari, traduzione ed editing. Scriviamo opuscoli, discorsi, copioni e articoli, concepiamo claim e denominazioni aziendali ed elaboriamo concetti pubblicitari e di branding. Operiamo come sparring partner critici in stretta collaborazione con i nostri clienti per individuare le idee alla base della loro identità, dei loro valori e della loro visione, trovando poi le parole giuste per esprimerle e per scrivere le storie che hanno contribuito a concretizzarle. Grazie al nostro know-how, contribuiamo al successo della comunicazione delle aziende made in Switzerland attive a livello internazionale. Per i progetti che richiedono anche altri talenti, ci avvaliamo di una rete di consulenti strategici, creativi e designer, nonché di redattori, editor, traduttori e correttori di bozze di lingua madre.