Creative know-how
Research:
Gaining a clear understanding of the brand and how it is perceived is essential in creating an effective creative strategy, concept and design solution. The process I use to gather the data to build a brand picture involves interviews, desk research, competitor audit and a communications audit. Finally bringing the conclusions together and recommending specific actions to develop the creative brief that will ultimately deliver tangible benefits for the clients marketing.
Strategy
Brand strategy defines a product or services positioning and its unique values. It is the foundation from which everything else flows, I've developed a disciplined and thoughtful approach to producing creative solutions to today's marketing opportunities, it makes a single minded proposition come alive in a compelling way. To achieve this the starting point is the brief. The shortest statement of any brief will be the single minded proposition, having defined who we are talking to and what we want them to do, or think, ask the question - if you had to write the brief on a poster, what would it say?
Design
Customers don't see the creative brief or the creative strategy, they see the communication, I place great value on the role good copy and art direction combined with creative thinking can play in producing exciting and effective solutions. The professionalism and facilities to take the brief through to implementation and delivery. Not only does this allow me to respond quickly but also means I have tight control over all artwork and digital files leaving the studio.
Implementation
I have developed long-lasting relationships with printers and associated facilities such as copywriters, web developers and photographers to offer clients an integrated service managed by me and offering a single point of contact.
The Design Council Research
Different designers manage the process of design in different ways. But when The Design Council studied the design process in eleven leading companies, they found striking similarities and shared approaches among the designers they talked to. This is one way of mapping the design process and give more detail on the key activities in each of the process's four stages.
The 'double diamond' design process model
The double diamond diagram was developed through in-house research at the Design Council in 2005 as a simple graphical way of describing the design process.
Divided into four distinct phases, Discover, Define, Develop and Deliver, it maps the divergent and convergent stages of the design process, showing the different modes of thinking that designers use.
Discover
The first quarter of the double diamond model marks the start of the project. This begins with an initial idea or inspiration, often sourced from a discovery phase in which user needs are identified. These include:
The first quarter of the double diamond model marks the start of the project. This begins with an initial idea or inspiration, often sourced from a discovery phase in which user needs are identified. These include:
Define
The second quarter of the double diamond model represents the definition stage, in which interpretation and alignment of these needs to business objectives is achieved. Key activities during the Define stage are:
The second quarter of the double diamond model represents the definition stage, in which interpretation and alignment of these needs to business objectives is achieved. Key activities during the Define stage are:
Develop
The third quarter marks a period of development where design-led solutions are developed, iterated and tested within the company. Key activities and objectives during the Develop stage are:
The third quarter marks a period of development where design-led solutions are developed, iterated and tested within the company. Key activities and objectives during the Develop stage are:
Deliver
The final quarter of the double diamond model represents the delivery stage, where the resulting product or service is finalised and launched in the relevant market. The key activities and objectives during this stage are:
The final quarter of the double diamond model represents the delivery stage, where the resulting product or service is finalised and launched in the relevant market. The key activities and objectives during this stage are:
