Local:
BoxHead, Leeds
The Consult, Leeds
Propaganda, Leeds
TurnKey, Leeds
Design Project, Leeds
The Vast Agency, Leeds
Raw Design Studio, Manchester
Glorious Creative, Manchester
Design by Day, Manchester
Reform Creative, Manchester
Northside Creative, Liverpool
Smiling Wolf, Liverpool
For the local category I have decided to analyse 'Design by Day' located primarily in Manchester. I live in Wigan so when looking for a local agency I decided to go only as far as Manchester to the East and Liverpool to the West, and obviously the city which my course is in; Leeds. Design by Day has an 'Ethos' section on their coherently designed website which is an instant indication that this company has a soul, something that can be rare, but something that I like to see. They have high standards in regards to both the work they produce and the methods they use to attract clients. Honesty is a key attribute of the studio and they insist on thorough communication with the client and possible contributors, working collectively to create the best outcome for the best price. They are what you would call 'PC' and operate in an equal opportunities environment, ensuring fairness throughout. They are also environmentally friendly using the most efficent printers and inks available, whilst also recycling any possible thing they can. They even cycle to work!! I like this company's ethics a lot.
National:
Dedass, Sheffield
Ilovedust, London
Collaborative Thought, Cornwall
YCN, London
Marque Creative, Glasgow and London
Accept & Proceed, London
For the national category I just have to go with 'ilovedust'. The best way to describe them is by using their own words; 'a multi disciplinary design boutique'. They have two locations; a creative hub in the heart of Shoreditch, central London, and another in the middle of the Hampshire countryside. Their work is often diverse, due to the fact that they employ many freelance artists who bring their own unique style every time. There does seem to be minimal feel to most pieces, and always a strong typographical sensibility, something I can get on board with. They collaborate both in house and with global brands, ensuring both local and far reaching infamy. Illustration, product design, graphic design, type and animation are the categories that they work within. I have struggled to find much information on their ethics, however I'm sure this doesn't mean that they don't have any. One thing is for sure and that is their social importance. The amount of their works that are in rotation already is too numerous to count. High profile clients include Nike, MTV, Waitrose, British Airways, Toyota and many more. Technologically speaking they seem incredibly adept at working with computer software, with all of their work produced for print. That is of course apart from their animation pieces. Below are images that show the wide range of projects that they undertake; from packaging design to poster art and back to decorating a scooter they are incredibly diverse.
European:
Onlab, Switzerland
Bunch Design, Croatia
Mainstudio, Netherlands
123Klan, France
Happy Centro, Italy
Trapped in Suburbia, Netherlands
meeusontwerpt, Netherlands
Patswerk, Netherlands
For my European option I have decided to go with 'Trapped in Suburbia' located in the Netherlands. I can't lie I was initially attracted by images of their studio but once I had looked at their website and subsequently the work they have produced I was incredibly impressed. Their main area of design is 'visual communication' tying in neatly with my interests in the fields of info-graphics and type and image. In the philosophy section of the website it becomes clear the agency works very hard at being at the forefront of design, or as they put it 'on the cutting edge'. The company themselves list their clients as being; museums, churches, government, education, foundations and charities but also public relations and communications agencies, advertising agencies and commercial customers. This broad range of clients alone must ensure that the company is aware of pretty much every new development in the political, economical, social and technological fields. It also communicates that the company is non-discriminatory and that no client is too big or too small. The agency is also environmentally friendly or as they put it they are 'working with green printers and paper'. In terms of being 'on the ball' I would have to say that 'Trapped in Suburbia' is a great example of an agency with excellent marketing techniques and damn good design skills to back it up. Below is an image of their studio and an example of their work.
Transnational:
Creative Suitcase, Texas
Big Giant, Oregon
Enormous Champion, Brooklyn
Studio MPLS, Minneaplois
Methane Studios, Atlanta
Vahalla Studios, Kansas
Pen Pencil Stencil, Oakland
Parliament, Oregon
Buck, California
Firmorame, Brazil
Golpeavisa, Mexico
Young Monster, Tennessee
Legwork Studio, Colorado
Cuban Council, San Francisco
Peter Sunna, New York
So I got a bit carried away with my transnational list. I would be lying if I said that eventually living and working in America wasn't the main ambition in my life. It is. And after looking at such a wealth of studios and agencies I am now more excited than ever about the prospect. In terms of analysing just the one studio for the purpose of this task it has to be 'Methane Studios' located in Atlanta, Georgia. It was hard to narrow the list down and pretty much every one of the names above would be an amazing and inspirational place to visit. However what sets 'Methane Studios' apart from the rest is their dedication to just the one field of graphic's; poster design. The poster archive section on the website has provided me with more inspiration in one viewing than most other websites do. The studio is over 12 years old and originally started as a partnership creating silk screen prints for a music venue. It has since grown to a world renowned and critically acclaimed studio with too many awards to list. The two main designers work digitally but insist on not letting the computer determine the work they create and will often step away from it. Socially speaking their clients include numerous musical artists, ranging from well known to just establishing themselves, and conglomerates like CNN and Honda. Their one goal was to always tell a story, convey a message, and to make someone stop and think a little with their designs. I think this is a pleasant goal and something that I have always tried to do with my work. I think it is obvious that the partnership are not motivated by money and simply love doing what they do, and thats why they continue to do it decades after starting. I hope to be like this one day. Below are a few examples of the type of work they produce.
I think it's important to start small so in that case if I where to pick one of the agencies from above to promote myself to it would have to be the first one 'Design by Day'. They are a local company, we speak the same language and they look as thought they are just establishing themselves. A perfect time for me to make an impression on them. To get their attention I could first make initial contact by sending an email that explains my situation and how impressed in their work I am. To gage interest I could ask them to reply for a preview of my work. I would then send a simple link to my blog where all my work is visible. However the blog may seem overwhelming showing far too much detail that it unnecessary. Another option is to create a simplified online portfolio showing just my final pieces and a little explanation as to how I got there. Then I would sit back and wait to hear a response.
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