Design Week

2 weeks ago | designweek.co.uk | Clare Dowdy

Jonathan Kirk wants to talk about clients. The Up to the Light founder, and author of the What Clients Think Report – based on 680 client interviews and produced alongside the Design Business Association – believes relationships are key. In fact, he argues that the quality of client relationships, rather than the quality of thinking or creative output, is the biggest differentiator between design agencies. But what does a good client relationship really look like. We spoke with Kirk to find out.

2 weeks ago | designweek.co.uk | Clare Dowdy

Whenever a redesign gets a lot of attention, the focus of the design industry and the media is understandably on the new look – whether it’s loved or hated. But what about the design that’s been dumped? Often that work was also unveiled with much fanfare, and heralded as the way forward, a new beginning for the company. The last six months has seen a flurry of this sort of thing. Wolff Olins’ 2021 abrdn mark was rolled back as the brand brought back those much-mocked missing “e”s.

3 weeks ago | designweek.co.uk | Rob Alderson

From saying no to learning business best practice, design leaders share the things they wish they'd been aware of. It feels like barely a day goes by without a new design studio announcing its arrival on social media. As the industry shifts amid economic uncertainty, and more designers set out to start their own thing, we asked ten leaders what they wished they’d known in the early days of running a design business.

3 weeks ago | designweek.co.uk | Rob Alderson

Our weekly design/leader interview series ends with the same prompt. “Complete this sentence – ‘I wish more clients…’”At least half of the answers feature the same handful of words – bolder, braver, risks. Across these interviews, and many other conversations with designers, a picture of frustration emerges. Of nervous clients making playing it safe. Of designers forced to rein in their ideas. And of a creative culture where things look the same.

4 weeks ago | designweek.co.uk | Rob Alderson

Rachel Fairley and Sarah Robb explain how to approach a rebrand in a more holistic, flexible and long-term way. There is a strange tension in the design world in this current economic climate. While businesses need to strengthen and focus on their brands to move forward, budgets are down, and internal stakeholders need more convincing that a rebrand will drive tangible impact. For Rachel Fairley and Sarah Robb, we need to change how we think and talk about rebrands.