European Union to communicate more clearly thanks to Mechelen agency

Umbau, the marketing and communication agency from Mechelen, has been selected by the Publications Office of the European Union (part of the European Commission) as one of three permanent agencies for a 4-year framework contract. Agencies from across Europe took part in the public tender. Umbau was founded in 2023 by Bert Heyens and Koen Helsen.

What is the Publications Office of the European Union?

The Publications Office of the European Union produces and distributes all official publications, infographics and data visualisations of the EU institutions. These are laws and reports that need to reach the European citizen: from Eurostat figures on climate and renewable energy reworked into a clear factsheet, to the procedures of the European Court of Justice captured in a series of infographics, or communication for the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union that needs to be accessible to a broad audience.

Why did the European Commission choose Umbau?

In assessing the tender, Umbau's existing track record carried significant weight. The agency works today for organisations where communication is complex: because of multiple audiences, departments, markets or stakeholders, or because of technical content that still needs to work for everyone. For the European institutions the scale is larger, but the communication challenge remains surprisingly familiar.

"Every marketing manager knows the problem", says Bernard De Ruyver, partner at Umbau. "You have a technical product, a complex service or a file full of jargon, and yet someone needs to understand what it's about within seconds. Simplify complexity is therefore more than a baseline for us, it's the core of our work."

What exactly does the framework contract involve?

The framework contract runs for 4 years. In practice, this means Umbau is called in on demand. Umbau is one of three agencies allowed to carry out these assignments.

"Anyone who has ever had to make one story work for different departments, countries or audiences knows how quickly complexity builds up", says Bert Heyens, co-founder and partner at Umbau. "For clients such as Barco, KU Leuven or Q8 the context changes, but not the principle: first understand what is essential. And then make sure people actually understand it too."

From marketing agency to European institution

For Umbau, this framework contract is one of the largest institutional assignments since the agency was founded in 2023. "We approached this tender the way we approach every other project", says Koen Helsen, co-founder and partner at Umbau. "Not acting bigger than we are, but being sharp in what we do. Being able to take part alongside the European Commission is a welcome confirmation for us: the size of your team doesn't determine how far you get. The sharpness of your approach does."

The assignment fits within the broadening Umbau has undergone in recent years: alongside B2B companies such as Q8, the agency increasingly works for governments, public institutions and international organisations.

Frequently asked questions

What is Umbau?
Umbau is a B2B marketing and communication agency from Mechelen, founded in 2023 by Bert Heyens and Koen Helsen. The agency specialises in organisations where communication is complex due to multiple audiences, departments, markets or stakeholders.

What does the framework contract Umbau signed with the European Commission involve?
Umbau was selected by the Publications Office of the European Union as one of three permanent agencies for a 4-year framework contract for graphic design and visual communication.

How many agencies received this framework contract?
Three agencies, including Umbau, were selected as permanent partners of the Publications Office for this framework contract.

Which other clients does Umbau work for?
Umbau works for, among others, Barco, KU Leuven and Q8, and has expanded its portfolio in recent years to governments, public institutions and international organisations.

When was Umbau founded?
Umbau was founded in 2023 by Bert Heyens and Koen Helsen.