Testimonial from Jason Smith, Creative Director at UNLTD_XYZ

“Before setting up UNLTD_XYZ in 2011, I engaged Simon’s help for a period of time in a previous business venture in 2009 to advise and help us plan and implement a strategy to develop the business, which worked very well.  We kept in touch over the years and I reached a point in 2018 with UNLTD_XYZ where I felt the need for some external perspective on how to take the business forward. I turned to Simon as a consultant and sounding board to help me shape and structure the business for the next stage of growth.   Simon came on...

Testimonial from Ed Griffiths, Creative Director at Jedco

I recently had the pleasure of working with Ed Griffiths (Creative Director) and his team at Jedco, the highly regarded Product Design firm originally set up by John Elson back in 1984. Ed Griffiths joined the firm in 2003 then became majority shareholder in 2010. John is still involved but Ed is leading the business day-to-day with the help of a small team. Ed and John approached me mid-2019 to help them; clarify their Objectives and Strategy for the business, to review and develop their Positioning and to provide ideas and direction into their Marketing Planning going forward. Working with...

Claim up to 33% of your innovation costs

You’ll probably know that the UK Government is keen to promote R&D investment to encourage economic growth – one way this is being tackled is thorough R&D tax credits whereby you can potentially claim back up to 33% of your innovation costs. Most agencies that are eligible are in the habit of submitting claims as and when the nature of their work allows. However, I’m discovering that some agencies are unaware, so I’m making some enquiries on behalf of two firms that assess and often successfully process R&D Tax Credit claims to HMRC. Claim values for some agencies can make a significant difference, and every...

How prepared are you?

Following the early spread of COVID-19 here in the UK, I posted this short piece Review>Plan>Act on Coronavirus which touched on the significant impact of the virus on one of my clients, and the ever-present need for proactivity in our working behaviours. As some clients start to emerge from lockdown, designers are advised to assume that clients (both existing and new) will be most receptive to, and look to surround themselves with, the very best talent they can afford to partner with to tackle the challenges and uncertain times ahead. To help them survive, and potentially thrive, clients will look...

Creative Leaders conversations light the way

A pleasure to be invited by Simon Dixon to contribute my thoughts to the final part of the DixonBaxi series of insight based pieces conversing with creative leaders across the industry around how they are coping, and how their vision of the future is affected by the C-19 crisis.  DixonBaxi reached out to friends and heroes in the industry they know and admire to ask their thoughts on three questions, to which I gave these responses:  What do you think your most potent learning has been during this situation? Those on the front foot who invest in developing and understanding...

Review>Plan>Act on Coronavirus

Right now, creative firms are busy gaining clarity and being proactive on how they address the challenges of the coming months. Having a clear strategy for survival is essential for many.     I’m seeing and directly involved in the significant impact of Coronavirus on one of my clients. In recent months we’ve been gearing the business for expansion and suddenly we are in survival mode, busy reviewing, rapidly planning and acting on decisions to ensure the business stays afloat. We’re forming a plan of action that ensures operational continuity at a sustainable cost to the business, whilst thinking how we can be constructive and proactive...

Will good client service always be the designer’s Achilles heel?

I’ve just managed to look at the 6th annual report on What Clients Think 2019-20 launched in late November by Up to the Light in association with the DBA. It presents the findings of 525 interviews conducted with clients of design agencies, and aims to monitor the health of client/agency relationships. It’s probably the closest you’ll get to getting inside the head of your clients – and prospective clients – and finding out what they really think about you. The findings make compelling reading.   If you’ve been following these reports for several years now, as I have, you’ll also get a sense of deja vu. Many...

Testimonial from Dr Susie Ranford, Managing Director at 4c

Rewarding way to start 2020 hearing that my work with product design and engineering consultancy 4c in Glasgow has served the talented Dr Susie Ranford in her role managing a significant transitional period at the firm through 2019… “I have found the work that you did with 4c partners Robin and Will very insightful and helpful to me over the last year. I believe that it has helped me put in place what I hope is a good support structure which will serve Will and the team well in 2020 and beyond. Thank you!” Dr Susie Ranford – Managing Director,...

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