What opportunities for your own practice have revealed themselves to you as a result of this analysis and evaluation?
Do not use subjective language or make unfounded comments about other people's businesses. It is essential that you make references to SWOT and evaluate it's usefulness as an analysis or evaluation tool.
In responding to this task, you will need to consider the following questions: Who am I competing against? What do they offer? What makes me better? What makes me different?
250 word statment/evaluation
Three practitioners
What opportunities for your own practice have revealed themselves to you as a result of this analysis and evaluation?
Do not use subjective language or make unfounded comments about other people's businesses. It is essential that you make references to SWOT and evaluate it's usefulness as an analysis or evaluation tool.
In responding to this task, you will need to consider the following questions: Who am I competing against? What do they offer? What makes me better? What makes me different?
250 word statment/evaluation
Owen Gildersleeve:
http://www.owengildersleeve.com
Strengths:
No copyright issues
Beautiful precise work
Unique - Many clients will want his work
Work is diverse Paper is free to construct
Work one of a kind
Weaknesses:
Time consuming - hand crafted
Some what hard to communicate
Freelance work is time concuming, hard to get 'going', financially unstable,
Very personal style - not everyone will like it
http://www.madebysix.com
SIX STUDIO
Strengths:
Has a variety of services as a company
Has access to a range of printing methods
They work hard in creating lasting relationships with clients, thus gaining further work
Works globally
Weaknesses
Restricts itself by listing services
Possibly to large a company to produce work for smaller companies, thus loosing out on a niche market Its work seems commercial, its not very personal to a client, its work may not be to everyones taste
http://www.andfold.co.uk/
ANDFOLD
Strengths
Specialises in branding and identity so will be an 'expert' on the matter
Because branding and identity is widely seen, it is advertised through other companies, creating work without the effort
They collaborate with a range of artists illustrators and photographers so work is always diverse
Theres not a huge amount of designers in Leicester
Weaknesses
Based in Leicester, not in CBD, central business district, work opportunities could be higher if business was in a CBD. It would be more financially rewarding. Although studio space / rent would be higher, the work load would pay off.
250 EVALUATION
After evaluating the three designers, I have come to realise each, although very different, each similarise in that each have a strong client list, reputation, regular work load and each have their own unique approach to design and style. It's made me realise that in order to break into the over crowded design market, you have to bring something new to the table. To be unique in your style and approach to design, to be strong willed and to have a strong body of work to achieve status. For potential clients to be able to pick you out of the crowd. Creating a good reputation takes some time, but people talk, designers talk, do a favour or give that bit more to a client every once and again and it can pay off.
Having a USP (unique selling point) is also key, to gain clients and for your work to be distinctive in the market. It puts a stamp on your work, people can tell who designed the piece, without having to find a name.
When it comes down to business, its most important to know about finances, after all, get this wrong, and you could go under. You need to make the balance between income and outcome logical. Another element of business is location; being close to travel links, business and passing trade is a must. After all you need to be where your potential clients and market are, you need to be local to people, businesses and collaborators, to keep personal as a business.
Yourself as a design, your personality, the way you come across and the reputation you carry is significant in the industry. The range of skills you have is just one asset, knowing how to use them appropriately, for which products, briefs and clients. Also the style you have come to love, may not be to the interest of everyone. You must work for your client, a little less for yourself. To gain work, you must work to everyones taste, or at least have a wide range and variety of work you can produce.
I have learnt, after looking at the practises, that to gain work, you must not restrict yourself. You must try new things all the time, find new things, new collaborations, new clients, styles, methods and approaches to design. Don't just work with local businesses, work globally, find clients within a range of countries, don't restrict yourself.
Word count: 402 ( a little overboard)
