Just finished reading the rather great How to Run a Successful Design Business by Shan Preddy. It’s quite a chunky and comprehensive read but would highly recommend it to any design business owners or freelancers. While there are a million and one books available aiming, with varying degrees of success, to define the creative process or provide design inspiration, very few deal with the day to day business side of things with creatives in mind.
This book takes nuggets of business know how from a large number of contributors and focuses essentially on the nuts and bolts of running a design business, whether big or small. At around £30 and over 440 pages it’s not the cheapest or quickest read but the tips on financial planning and pitching/ potential client management are well worth the cover price. Unlike many broader business ‘How to’ guides it cuts the cheesy ‘Go Get ‘Em’ crap and focuses on real insights from successful design businesses.
Next on the reading list is Just My Type by Simon Garfield, having heard excerpts from the book serialised on Radio 4 a while back I’m quite looking forward to it.
Posted on 10/04/12 By Russell
Into the White have been working with new client Hayley Group for their conference stand materials for an upcoming trade exhibition in Amsterdam. The main exhibition space, visual shown above, comprises of 3×4 curved pop up stand, integrated screen display unit and curved counter. Other printed support materials for the event include a company introduction brochure and DL flyers. We wish them all the best for a successful event.
Posted on 03/04/12 By Russell
We’ve been busy as usual in recent months with some more design projects for long standing client Lily Lolo. After a successful redesign of the company website last year the company blog needed an visual update with a bespoke WordPress theme to fit in with the new clean website styling. An updated product catalogue for 2012 has been developed along with a new versatile gift box packaging (pictured) capable of holding a variety of products and brushes.
Posted on 30/03/12 By Russell
We are pleased to unveil a sneak peak of the branding we have developed for an exciting new client addition, Birmingham based horticulture and garden design company Lupin. Into the White was approached by business partners Susan and Julia after seeing our recent branding work for Parkinson Gill. The established company has experienced significant growth in the last 12 months and needed a more unified visual approach to reflect their range professional services, which include garden design, building, planting and maintenace.
We are currently finalising the company’s core business stationery and internal template documents along with a new company introduction mailer. Work shall also shortly begin on a new website for the company planned for early summer launch. We’ll keep you posted with developments.
Posted on 27/03/12 By Russell
Great looking Campaign launch materials for Mulberry’s SS2012 collection. The campaign’s beside the seaside theme, featuring oversized brightly coloured seaside confectionery, has been cleverly carried through into a beautifully designed behind the scenes newspaper disguised as a stick of rock by Construct.
Posted on 23/03/12 By Russell
Just another quick update with some recent project work for Birmingham’s brmb. Following on from a very successful event in 2011 the brmb walkathon makes a return this May, once again in aid of another great charity Help Harry Help Others, in memory of 11 year old Harry Moseley. We’ve worked on the new event identity and some initial promotional materials for the 26 mile walk round Birmingham’s suburbs. With over 4000 people already signed up, we’re sure the event will be a huge success and help raise much needed funds. You can sign up to the walk here.
Posted on 21/03/12 By Russell
We’re pleased to announce Into the White are working with Birmingham based Anthony Collins Solicitors on implementing new core branding materials following a recent strategy review and new brand guidelines. We will be working on updating a number of template documents and presentation materials along with core business stationery and company e-newletters.
Posted on 19/03/12 By Russell
Quick note for those looking for Valentine’s inspiration, our lovely client Lily Lolo are offering 10% off for today only. Click here to see our HTML mailer with details of the offer.
Posted on 07/02/12 By Russell
With the annual Christmas rush over and December retail figures okay but far from great, it seems likely the news will again be back to declining high street sales and increased concern over lack of spending confidence. Whilst the decline in the high street is a real concern and Mary Portas’ recent recommendations do make for an interesting read (full review here), I have to say I didn’t do the usual high street shop during the festive period.
Town centres at Christmas are something I dread and having managed to do 95% of my shopping online this year was a big relief. However this decision wasn’t mainly down to avoiding the crowds but more to do with the lack of interesting gift stocks on the shelves of most retailers.
Some great online stores have been gaining popularity over the last couple of years especially those specialising in products not readily available on the high street and made by independent artists and craft makers. Whilst I have neither the time or inclination to go all Kirsty Allsop and crochet soft furnishings, some great hand made crafts can be bought online and for a lot less than some of the bland high street options.
While independent stores continue to get pushed out of the high street unable to compete, and the UK’s town centres continue to be homogenised, I for one won’t be rushing back. The spirit of independence does live on however online, below are a few links to my favourite stores that offer something different.
Folksy has 1000s of UK sellers offering unique clothing, home wares, arts and crafts
Not On The High street, is prob the largest and most well known online store for independent sellers
Red Bubble specialises in great art, design and photography posters & prints at an affordable price (there really is no excuse for buying wall art from Ikea).
Made is fantastic for modern ‘designer’ furniture with lower prices having cut out the middle men
Threadless is still hard to beat for unique t-shirt designs, though the US importing has been known to cause problems with extra duties to be paid
Posted on 18/01/12 By Russell
Another recent project completed last year we forgot to tell you about is this packaging for Lily Lolo’s new lip gloss range. Gloss-ary is a 3 piece gift set available in 3 different shade collections ranging from vibrant pinks to clear gloss, all available from the newly re-designed Lily Lolo web store.
Posted on 16/01/12 By Russell
