- I am a sustainably and ethically aware designer, though it is not always the driving force behind a brief. I can only benefit from a growing knowledge of this as I progress into the future.
- My passion lies with identity and branding, though I have a healthy appetite for illustration, layout and packaging.
- My skills include a good knowledge (and still learning) of the industry standard software, handcrafting and visualising initial concepts into something workable.
- I prefer to work with print based design, as there is something far more satisfying in creating a piece that you can hold and interact with physically, rather than digital or screen based media.
- For me, the future holds a career with one or two close colleagues, with the intention of expanding or moving to greater projects as my career progresses. I do not want to freelance on my own, yet I do not want to work for a huge agency. Somewhere in the middle of these two extremes is where I want to be.
- After college I hope to stay in the Leeds area for a year or so, depending on circumstances. Therefore my client base will be mainly in Leeds and it's surrounding areas.
- To travel further a field will require personal transport, something that will come naturally in the years following the college course, allowing me to expand my client base and potentially move to a more diverse or client specific city.
- The idea of a messages driving the design is something I have always considered and I believe my skills as a designer should be used to do good, to help and to raise awareness. Zerofee often donate work to charitable organisations, helping them receive more business - the book 'Good' by Lucienne Roberts has helped me form my own opinions on what design for 'good' really is.
- I want to market my business as a unique and exclusive option for clients interested in saving money through a sustainable option. Sustainability would act as part of my marketing, and selling strategy.
- I want to avoid being seen as a design 'manufacturer' like The Factory, a business that boosts it's sales with 'buy one get one free's' and 50% off. Companies like this cheapen the skills that we have spent so long earning.
Proposed position statement.
Task 4: Who else is out there - How good are they?
Swot analysis of two design agencies based in Leeds
Using these criteria
Using these criteria
- Portfolio
- Range of available services
- Contact opportunities and location
- Ease of website navigation
- Information available
Jammy
Strengths
- Website - simple and easy to navigate
- An adequate range of portfolio work
- Easy to identify branding strategy
Weaknesses
- Little to show available services
- No additional information (Who are they? What do they stand for? etc)
- Poor range of contact details
Opportunities
- Offer a better range of portfolio work
- Define range of services
- Design based for screen - animation, websites etc
- Include additional information - a personal touch and an insight into their ethics.
The Factory
Strengths
Strengths
- Large range of portfolio work
- Large range of available services
- Lots of additional information
- A personalised marketing strategy
- Special Offers + pricing
- Offers a printing solution through a printing.com franchise.
Weaknesses
- Slightly confusing website navigation
- Generic - nothing stands out.
- Low prices - low quality.
Opportunities
- Offer more specialised printing methods - spot varnish, metallics, die-cut
- Re-brand - a more specialised appearance for a more exclusive customer experience.
The factory has developed their own marketing strategy - PANDA
This is almost a marketing strategy in itself, another tool to make the client feel
like they're being taken care of.
