Best 25 Design Agencies in Scotland
It is also learning from its mistakes. It is specialising in niche market areas, it is focussing on quality and looking to expand into new geographical markets. But only when there is a need or a point – not just for the sake of a London office or a Soho address to flash on business cards.
Scottish agencies are looking to Leeds, Birmingham, London, Manchester and beyond. New York, Houston and Dubai are now home to some of Scotland’s best design consultancies as they look to drive onward.
The Scottish design industry certainly seems to be in good health. With that in mind, The Drum invited Scotland’s agencies to submit financial figures and client information and asked managing directors to rate their agency peers on their performance over the past 12 months.
After a stringent analysis of the financial figures by accountancy firm Baker Tilly, the results of the Peer Poll were compiled too to form the backbone of the research.
To complete the research to identify The Best 25, one final key area of research was undertaken. The client poll.
The client information supplied by the agencies was used to discover just how the agencies clients rated the design teams they employ.
The clients ranked their agencies on value for money, creativity, account management, strategic thinking and overall professionalism.
And so we have it: The Best 25 Design Agencies in Scotland, as decided by a combination of Client, Financial, Creative and Peer research.
For additional rankings, these 25 design consultancies were then contacted to supply creative portfolios to be judged, forming a final creative poll.
This year, in a departure from the norm, The Drum invited a panel of high profile clients to judge the portfolios.
Chris Dempsey, head of communications at Registers of Scotland (formerly chief marketing manager at the Scottish Executive); Clara Suess, marketing manager at UZ Events; Charlotte Cross, marketing manager at Scottish Ballet; and Lynn Dalgleish, head of marketing at Glasgow City Council; as well as The Drum’s editor, Gordon Young, made up the five-strong panel.
The judging process was captured by photographer Mark Seager.
But, what follows is an alphabetical run down of the 25 design agencies to make it onto our list. The next issue of The Drum will reveal how each agency ranked across the polls and will ultimately reveal who won Scottish Design Consultancy of the Year. However, in the meantime, we believe that for any client commissioning design in Scotland, this list forms an accurate, if not definitive, showcase of The 25 Best Design Agencies in Scotland.
442
What have been your major achievements in 2007?
25 percent growth in turnover since 2006; Significant blue chip client wins; Securing overseas business and further growth potential; Restructured management team and board; Diversification of offer into integrated, digital.
What new business have you won in the last year?
Tesco, Balfour Beatty, Remus Vomo (Ireland), Royal Yacht Britannia, DTZ Pieda, Maxxium.
Have there been any changes in structure?
New board structure/new chairman; Appointment of David Dunn as MD; Overseas premises in Ireland.
What will be the biggest challenges for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
Economic recession will affect financial and property markets.
Fuel will mean large companies will consider travel as a factor in appointing agencies.
Keeping Scotland at the forefront and ensuring more local clients use local agencies.
What opportunities do you see for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
There may be a backlash to the rush towards all things digital – everything is now so product driven. Other design services might benefit.
Do you believe clients are spending more or less on design?
Some will spend more, others less. the value of design is the key.
Major events (Commonwealth Games) will provide hot spots.
999
What have been your major achievements in 2007?
UK Design Effectiveness Award for Mackintosh festival; Red Dot Creative Award for Dovetail ; Launching The Green Insurance Company; Reshaping the business for the future.
What new business have you won in the last year?
The Green Insurance Company, Tula Handbags, Angostura Bitters, Onitsuka Tiger Footwear, Halls Foods, Russell Europe Athletic Clothing, Black Horse Finance, Hebridean Music Festival, NHS - National Patient Safety Agency 'Wash Your Hands' campaign, Warburtons Bakery Review, BT Wholesale.
Have there been any changes in structure?
New business structure introduced with MD's responsible for each operating office in London, Manchester and Glasgow.
What will be the biggest challenges for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
Over capacity in the industry will mean agencies having to look further afield for business and only those structured to meet the challenge will survive. Consultancies will have to deliver effective, quality design that improves the bottom line, changes perceptions or educates and influences client audiences and markets.
What opportunities do you see for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
People like the Scots. We have worldwide 'positive perception' on our side.
Breaking into new markets, UK, Europe, Asia can bring benefits but design business owners will need understanding bank managers to support business development.
Banks like solid plans and projections so consultancies will need good business leadership as well as innovative design to drive them forward.
Do you believe clients are spending more or less on design?
Clients are not spending less on design but paying less for it because it's a buyers market and they are playing X against Y to bring prices down. Some need to be educated as to the value a strong idea can bring to their businesses. Sensible clients are building relationships with their design resources.
Tip to consultancies - protect your IP.
Avian
What have been your major achievements in 2007?
Organic growth of the company through targeted business development and deepening of services taken up by clients as they come to see the value of our integrated service offering.
What new business have you won in the last year?
Absoft, Ashworth, Davidson Chemists, St Andrews University, Lothian Buses, Water Industry Commission for Scotland.
Have there been any changes in structure?
The company continues to thrive and grow. There has been no changes to the structure or the management but we continue to add more talented people to the team as we refine the service we offer our clients.
What will be the biggest challenges for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
Economic outlook is promising tough trading conditions for 2008. Agencies need to be able to prove the value of their work with planned results and ROI to ensure they do not get commodified or marginalised. They also need to continue to innovate and add value to their offering in order to stay competitive and maintain margins.
What opportunities do you see for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
Clients always need to differentiate their products and services then target them at thier key customers with marketing campaigns that clearly articulate the brand's values and benefits to those customers. In a challenging economic climate agencies need to demonstrate their ability to deliver stand out results driven marketing that will bloster their clients' bottom line and therefore their own.
Do you believe clients are spending more or less on design?
At present it is about the same but that could well change in early 2008 once Christmas is out of the way. Essentially budgets have been planned and clients are sticking to the game plan for the time being and not panicing.
Cityhall
What have been your major achievements in 2007?
Successfully reaching our business target in our first year.
What new business have you won in the last year?
Star Academy, Toronto, Western Isles Credit Union, Save and Invest, Peoplematters, Clandestine rebranding.
Have there been any changes in structure?
New designer and a consultant bringing work to us.
What will be the biggest challenges for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
Convincing more clients that good communication is essential to build their brands and lead to greater sales.
What opportunities do you see for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
Greater access to a global market.
Do you believe clients are spending more or less on design?
A definite upward trend but it depends on the market sector.
Contagious
What have been your major achievements in 2007?
Design and build of Laphroaig Brand Home; Design of visitor centre for Johnstons Cashmere, in partnership with Cubit 3d; Designed and published Beefeater Gin Book; Created new corporate identity for Peter Knight; New website for ECA research department for Darwin 200 celebrations 2009; New brand campaign for Wolfson Microelectronics plc; Design and build of Korean web site for Wolfson Microelectronics plc.
What new business have you won in the last year?
New whisky visitor environment Speyside; New whisky visitor environment West Coast; New visitor environment London, in partnership with Four-by-Two.
Have there been any changes in structure?
Having established an office in Glasgow for 3d design – we are beginning to win more projects on the West Coast of Scotland.
What will be the biggest challenges for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
Survival – 2008 will be a difficult year for design agencies throughout the UK. Agencies that are dependent on clients with UK business will struggle. However, agencies with clients with international business, especially in the Far East and emerging markets will see growth.
What opportunities do you see for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
Mergers and acquisitions across the design industry. 999 have already stated they want to grow the business significantly.
Do you believe clients are spending more or less on design?
Clients with UK business will spend less on design in 2008. Clients with international business will spend more. We have definitely noticed global brands are looking to spend more next year, while some UK clients have cut their budgets.
Elmwood
What have been your major achievements in 2007?
Retained number one for DBA Effectiveness Awards in history of awards (another two in 07, including number one in Scotland; Best company in Yorkshire post awards in
What new business have you won in the last year?
Wood MacKenzie, National Trust for Scotland, Maximillion, National Library of Scotland, Met Office, Pets at Home, Applecross, Multrees Walk, Scottish Widows Investment Partnership, AG Barr, Ebay, Bonmarche, Minoshare, McLelland, Kenmore.
Have there been any changes in structure?
New MD in Scotland means now strongest ever four-man MD team working across locations. Just appointed a digital director to take our digital growth to next level (based in Edinburgh). New design director in London to respond to increase in FMCG business.
What will be the biggest challenges for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
Brining best young talent forward; Maintaining position and brand experience v other integrated agencies; Proving value via metrics; Credit crisis meaning businesses tighten belts?
What opportunities do you see for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
Help educate a wider number of clients as to the power and value of brand and design work; Digital communications; Prove value of neutral/brand guardian role; Leverage SNP regime and initiatives such as more Scottish media content; Commonwealth games.
Do you believe clients are spending more or less on design?
Some more, some less. This may change in 08 if some clients tighten belts in credit crisis (especially financial services industry in Scotland). Smart clients understand value, but others see it lower down pecking order. However there are always new products to launch/refresh and new organisations to brand. Digital will be a big driver of spend.
Fifth Ring
What have been your major achievements in 2007?
Rebranding international oil and gas service company (Expro) and winning a CIPR silver medal; Re-branding an international marine engineering company; Creating a new brand for a Scottish Canadian oil operator.
What new business have you won in the last year?
Noble Denton, Tracerco (part of Johnson Mathey), Scottish Enterprise Grampian – Signage for three technology parks, Curtis Fine Papers, Hugh Fraser International, Oryx Real Estate – various property development projects in Dubai, Grampian Motor Training Trust.
Have there been any changes in structure?
Appointed a non-exec chairman to be board of directors (Pat Machray); Developed a new digital media team; Hired a new senior designer; Development and planning for the opening of an office in Houston.
What will be the biggest challenges for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
For those of us in the North East the biggest challenge will be recruitment. For the industry as a whole the challenge will be to develop their product range with a more holistic approach to corporate communications.
What opportunities do you see for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
The opportunity to export our talent to an international arena and think globally instead of regionally.
Do you believe clients are spending more or less on design?
They are still spending on design but the channels for commissioning work are changing and clients are looking increasingly for strategic input and a more integrated approach.
Freight
What have been your major achievements in 2007?
Taylor Wimpey - Cuprum Glasgow Grade A Office Development identity, literature, website etc Restaurant Andrew Fairlie, Gleneagles - website BMI Healthcare - Scottish Knee and Shoulder Institute website, Glasgow Vein Clinic website Simply Organic - rebrand and revisionof all packaging
What new business have you won in the last year?
Doubling turnover and new clients in new sectors.
Have there been any changes in structure?
No
What will be the biggest challenges for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
Maintaining performance and growth. Hopefully we won't feel any economic squeeze.
What opportunities do you see for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
More national and international work
Do you believe clients are spending more or less on design?
About the same - reasonably bouyant economy
Good
What have been your major achievements in 2007?
Managing the ongoing transition from just another start up design agency to a specialist consultancy, delivering world class branding and digital communications.
What new business have you won in the last year?
Bacardi - Global Brands; Doves Organic Farms; Mimosa Healthcare; Arriva; Colt.
Have there been any changes in structure?
Our first London-based employee started work in shared space in Clerkenwell July 2007.
What will be the biggest challenges for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
Same as every other year, compete on a national and international scale.
What opportunities do you see for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
Location is no longer an issue. Show the world the quality of our thinking and play to our strengths of straight-talking honesty and value for money in a country that knows how to have a good time.
Do you believe clients are spending more or less on design?
More money is being spent on creative design, not on frivolous styling, but on solid thinking. Good ideas that can position as well as flex across multiple media formats prove their worth. Designers who think this way can expect to be sought out on the effectiveness of their work.
LocoFoco
What have been your major achievements in 2007?
Sustainable Scotland; Museums Galleries Scotland; Everyone Active – UK national sports brand rollout across 60 outlets; Ancestral Scotland – second largest Visitscotland internet brand property development.
What new business have you won in the last year?
Sustainable Scotland, Museums Galleries Scotland, Royal College of General Practitioners.
Have there been any changes in structure?
Settling in to our lovely new offices at Spiers Wharf.
What will be the biggest challenges for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
To ignore gloomy predictions from the outset.
What opportunities do you see for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
Opportunity to contribute to the formation of the upcoming Creative Scotland Bill and benefit from being an evaluative group.
Do you believe clients are spending more or less on design?
More in areas that can be evaluated, less in others.
Navyblue
What have been your major achievements in 2007?
Formalisation of Navyblue International; Delivering first international brand programme for Magyar Radio (Hungarian).
What new business have you won in the last year?
Accolade, Advoice, Aspetar, Aston Villa, Beauly Visitor Centre, Bell Group, Boots,
British Paralympics Association, BPI, Brogden / Terra Nullius, Clarke Willmott, Commonwealth Games, CTP St James Fruit Market, Finn Communications, GamCare, Greaves Sports, Hallmark, HMRC, Hungarian Radio, IIS, Independent, Keeble Hawson,Lavendon, Life Homes,Life Fitness, Lord Mayor's Appeal, Moorland Productions, Olympic Delivery Authority, Oman Botanic Garden, PPF, RBS Bank of China, Retox, Rolls Royce Paris air show, Royal Warrant Holders Association, RSAMD, Sharp, Thistle, Triangle, Truestone, VisitBritain, We Do Recruitment, Westwater Advocates, Windrush, Wrexham Museum.
Have there been any changes in structure?
Further restructure of board to focus on international growth in Europe, Middle East and Africa.
What will be the biggest challenges for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
Make the work we create relevant to what the market needs. To get some parity on fee structure and skill set.
What opportunities do you see for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
To establish Scottish talent is ‘world worthy.’
Do you believe clients are spending more or less on design?
Depends on the client, we are not just dealing in the Scottish sector and as such the variation is considerable – some are, some aren’t.
Nevis
What have been your major achievements in 2007?
Turning the business around from a considerable loss-making one to a modest profit-making one! The coming on-stream of a dedicated digital communications resource. The appointment of David Huckell as design director. The development of rewarding and profitable new clients.
What new business have you won in the last year?
The highlights: Morrison Bowmore Distillers, Morisons LLP Solicitors, Nanny Cay development in Tortola, British Virgin Islands, A traveling exhibition (sponsored by O2) to support the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games bid, The essentiaGroup, National Museums of Scotland, Exec Air Charter, Citylets, Chai Tea House, Allium Garden Company, Alliance Wine, Africa Select, Plum Developments, One Royal Circus and Cubit 3D. An exclusive new product and support materials for Letts of London. Corporate literature for the Royal Bank of Scotland.
Have there been any changes in structure?
The coming on-stream of a dedicated digital communications resource (James Foley joined from Bigmouthmedia). The appointment of David Huckell as design director.
What will be the biggest challenges for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
Increasing drive to use London-based agencies. Increasing fragmentation of the creative services market. Increasing move to take creative services in-house.
What opportunities do you see for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games Bid should see a raft of opportunities for the sector over 2008. From a Nevis point of view, the establishment of our digital offer in 2007 should leverage more 'integrated' opportunities in 2008.
Do you believe clients are spending more or less on design?
Less. Design consultancy is still valued much less than other professional services, such as architecture.
O-Street
What have been your major achievements in 2007?
Winning the pitch for the Edinburgh International Film Festival and our work for the Scottish Show 07.
What new business have you won in the last year?
Edinburgh International Film Festival, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Canongate Books, Hive Productions, Celtic Football Club, Six Cities Design Festival, NHS Health Scotland.
Have there been any changes in structure?
No
What will be the biggest challenges for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
Coming up with a smarter outlook than 'After The News'.
What opportunities do you see for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
It has to be the Commonwealth Games in 2014, that's going to start coming on strong. We are also surrounded with more prosaic challenges to our environment and way of life and these will continue to be a subject of focus if our industry is genuinely to make things better rather than just selling stuff.
Do you believe clients are spending more or less on design?
Hard one, possibly a little bit more. Inflation anyone?
Pointsize-Wolffe And Co
What have been your major achievements in 2007?
The acquisition and successful integration of Pointsize Associates by Wolffe and Co.
What new business have you won in the last year?
BRE [Building Resaerch Establishment], Jerwood Charitable Foundation.
Have there been any changes in structure?
The acquisition and successful integration of Pointsize Associates in Glasgow by Wolffe and Co in Castle Douglas.
What will be the biggest challenges for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
Credit crunch. Too many companies and not enough substantial clients.
What opportunities do you see for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
Keep producing great work. We need to look beyond our own borders.
Do you believe clients are spending more or less on design?
More. Clients are beginning to understand that they have to pay for quality.
Redpath
What have been your major achievements in 2007?
Winning client satisfaction survey; Improving pitch:win ration to over 70 percent; improving gross income by 15 percent using same resources.
What new business have you won in the last year?
Transport Scotland, Education UK, Royal Lyceum, Chartered Brands, Relate Scotland, NHS Health, Martha Schwartz Partners, RBS Group, Ministry of Justice.
Have there been any changes in structure?
No
What will be the biggest challenges for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
Increase in UK competition as economy slows down; negotiating (and improving general best practice in) public sector procurement; Encroachment of more generalist agencies.
What opportunities do you see for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
Economic slowdown should favour our lower cost base for work outside Scotland. 2014.
Do you believe clients are spending more or less on design?
Less. Pressure on budgets and margins arising from downturn.
Stand
What have been your major achievements in 2007?
Barr's packaging, Football sponsorship work for Tennents, attracting amazing new talent to Stand. And adding Glasgow School of Art back to our client list.
What new business have you won in the last year?
Lactalis McLelland, NHS Healthy Working Lives, MMS, Glasgow School of Art.
Have there been any changes in structure?
Business development, Craig Stewart; strategic planner, Anna Maclean (ex Tennents); account director, Craig Harkness (ex Tennents); creative services, Kenny Risk (ex Barkers).
What will be the biggest challenges for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
Competition from across the mix.
What opportunities do you see for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
Scotland's new confidence in itself.
Do you believe clients are spending more or less on design?
Less. Lack of appreciation in the value of design and the benefits good design has on their business.
Studio LR
What have been your major achievements in 2007?
Blarney Castle (Ireland), rebranding; Forth Ports PLC, designed and produced the Planning and Design Statement (publication) for the regeneration of Leith Docks, the largest planning application ever submitted in Scotland; Revamp of the Dunnet Ranger Centre at Dunnet, Caithness; Created the visual identity, wayfinding signage system and environmental graphics at the recently built Community School of Auchterarder in Perthshire.
What new business have you won in the last year?
The Balmoral, Highland Council, RMJM architects, Forth Ports, National Museum of Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage.
Have there been any changes in structure?
No
What will be the biggest challenges for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
Moving into the UK and Global markets
What opportunities do you see for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
Moving into the UK and Global markets
Do you believe clients are spending more or less on design?
More
Tayburn
What have been your major achievements in 2007?
Steady business growth in all core categories Shortlisted in 3 categories of Marketing Excellence and SWOT awards for effective design
What new business have you won in the last year?
Anglian Water branding University of the Highlands and Islands branding Royal Bank of Scotland (GBM) identity implementation Scottish Legal Aid Board, Vitrex, Scottish Funding Council annual reports
Have there been any changes in structure?
Management buy-out of the company Development of the Manchester office
What will be the biggest challenges for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
n/a
What opportunities do you see for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
n/a
Do you believe clients are spending more or less on design?
n/a
Teviot
What have been your major achievements in 2007?
Obtaining two major branding projects from two new clients in the USA.
What new business have you won in the last year?
Staff loyalty branding work in the USA. Property branding and development brochures. Restaurant and bar branding and brand guidelines. Various branding and identity projects. Avaigen Sykes. Dunstane House.
Have there been any changes in structure?
Matt Buchanan appointed new creative director after departure of Kate Laing
What will be the biggest challenges for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
Sustaining client attitude towards value of design.
What opportunities do you see for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
Commonwealth games 2014; Further European/ International work
Do you believe clients are spending more or less on design?
Less. Perception of value and ability of agency design remains a constant battle.
The Hub
What have been your major achievements in 2007?
Opening a London office. Recruiting Scotland's best creative director. Being recognized as a 'model company' and a 'benchmark' in a recent IIP assessment.
What new business have you won in the last year?
Being appointed as brand consultants to Network Rail, Creating the new Corporate Identity for Lothian and Borders Police force, arguably Scotland's highest profile identity for 2007. Rebranding of Clyde, Scotland's largest independent estate agency. Being appointed as brand consultants to Harper Macleod LLP. Creating the identity and branding for Glasgow's Concert Halls.
Have there been any changes in structure?
Opening of a London office. Recruiting Kenny Allan. Appointment of a production director, finance director, account director. Recruitment of two of the UK's best Designers.
What will be the biggest challenges for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
Digital design needs to be embraced more. We've got to move with the times.
Forget about our geographical location. We should look outwith.
What opportunities do you see for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
1. The 2014 Commonwealth Games 2. The playing field has leveled out. We can work in cross-disciplines.
Do you believe clients are spending more or less on design?
We're driving up fees and offering an all-encompassing service and in completely different arenas.
Third Eye
What have been your major achievements in 2007?
Winning Scottish Design Consultancy of the Year for the second year in a row. Winner Managing Director of the Year, three Years in a row. Winner Best Corporate Literature at Scottish Design Awards. Most significantly we have integrated what we feel is one of the most talented design teams in the world now, while making profits in the first year of our New York operation and winning two significant global accounts (The Chicago Spire and Dow Jones rebrand) generating new fee income of over £1.5m. Truly doing work and projects on a scale that no Scottish creative agency has ever done before.
What new business have you won in the last year?
This year has been significant for Third Eye Design. Major account wins include Dow Jones, Timberland Boot Company, The Chicago Spire– the largest residential property development in the world, and The Macallan. Total fee value of wins £1.5m
Have there been any changes in structure?
Structure change has been significant with 18 new staff over the past 18 months. We moved some people out and others moved on who were not up to the global challenge and we have brought in some of the world's best design talent including significant appointments: Hector Pottie, from Cartlide Levene, Nick Tweedie from Value and Service, Joe Burrin from Spin and Lisa Smith from the V&A on the graphic design front. On the digital front we hired Hoss Gifford as digital director. Both Hector and Joe are judges for D&AD. On the financial and management side we recruited our first ever financial director.
What will be the biggest challenges for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
As always I want to see the Scottish industry raise its game and lift its head above the parapet a bit more. Design buyers are way more savvy than they used to be and other agencies from south of the border or elsewhere are knocking on the door. The industry needs to collectively improve the quality of output and make themselves seen.
What opportunities do you see for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
There are many opportunities inside Scotland and beyond, exporting good work, but finding those opportunities and converting them takes a lot of hard work. The Commonwealth Games is a great thing, but I am already sick of people saying this will be a cash cow for our sector. I doubt that very much and would like to see agencies working more with Scottish brands who need to export their wares globally to an international design aware audience. It is these clients who put most emphasis on design and who in turn have better budgets.
Do you believe clients are spending more or less on design?
Overall more. Because they need to. Clients are understanding the importance of design in industry.
ThreeBrand
What have been your major achievements in 2007?
Hitting a million pounds at the end of our third year in business
What new business have you won in the last year?
Global brand and packaging work for Johnnie Walker, Bushmills and Baileys for Diageo; A very strategic piece of work for S&N International in America; The launch of Silverburn, Scotland's newest and largest retail destination.
Have there been any changes in structure?
Settling onto out boat on the water of Leith.
What will be the biggest challenges for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
The alleged global recession and the subsequent and likely tightening of budgets.
What opportunities do you see for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
A bit more joined-up thinking resulting in supplying better solutions for clients.
Do you believe clients are spending more or less on design?
In large companies more design is going through procurement which is seeing design as 'a product' and therefore is very competitively priced. Prices will therefore be driven down
Traffic
What have been your major achievements in 2007?
Publication of our third design book - released globally; We remain Scotland's only published design company (who were paid, and did not self-publish); Launch of our first commercial website and the winning of several new web projects.
What new business have you won in the last year?
Burns Interior Design, New Concept Scotland, Safety at Sea, Royal Bank of Scotland (print & design), Glasgow Climbing Centre (web), H4U Easterhouse, Space and People.
Have there been any changes in structure?
No
What will be the biggest challenges for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
Staying creative and coming in on budget as prices for print, staff etc go up but client spend goes down.
What opportunities do you see for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
To carry on undercutting London!
Do you believe clients are spending more or less on design?
Possibly less as the process of design speeds up and more small agencies charging less and less to simply to keep busy
Various
What have been your major achievements in 2007?
Best annual report at design awards; RAR status; Shortlisted designer of the year; Continued collaboration with talented organisations.
What new business have you won in the last year?
Jewel & Esk College Prospectus, User interface consultation for international orgnaisation.
Have there been any changes in structure?
No
What will be the biggest challenges for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
Trying to persuade more clients of the importance of design in business.
What opportunities do you see for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
n/a
Do you believe clients are spending more or less on design?
Less - too much competition not enough clients aware of the importance of good and relevant design.
Whitespace
What have been your major achievements in 2007?
Winning three DADI Awards; Winning work for Halifax, Zoom Airlines and NHS Scotland; Winning two FRESH design awards; Acheiving Investors in People.
What new business have you won in the last year?
Aberdein Considine, DCA, ESI (Endat Standard Indexes), EVH (Employment in Voluntary Housing), Forestry Commission, Halifax, Harley Haddow, HSF (Health Plans), Glasgow School of Art, Jenners Property, Moleta Munro, Leaps & Bounds, Lumison, Mightysmall, Scottish Life International, Scottish Water Business Stream, St Andrews University, Zoom Airlines.
Have there been any changes in structure?
Iain Valentine (creative director) and Emma Jardine (planning and strategy director) both becoming board directors and share holders. Matt Weaver, ex Pure Design director, joining as senior designer. Andy Hamilton joining as account manager from 999.
What will be the biggest challenges for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
Continuing fragmentation of the design/advertising industries – providing both opportunities and competition.
What opportunities do you see for the Scottish design industry in 2008?
Very few unless the industry continues to change and improve both standards of work and the way it does business.
Do you believe clients are spending more or less on design?
For Whitespace they seem to be spending more but for measured and tangible results.