Welcome to Direct Design
Times change and technology with them
When the business climate is unpredictable, everyone wants to find a more agile, more dynamic way to use technology and save themselves money. It is happening in design, in retail, in almost every business sector. More and more businesses (and even the Government) are now looking at the open source IT model to maintain their essential infrastructure and continue to innovate in anticipation of an upturn. As Ingres put it, "there is now a new economics of IT".
Ingres, the second largest independent open source company, have decided to create a worldwide campaign using this new identity theme, incorporating the idea into their .com site, microsites and digital marketing. In addition they are promoting the idea with their partners at events and conference around Europe, with some powerful challenges to the old proprietary software 'lock in' systems. www.ingres.com
Direct Design create, develop and design communications ideas to improve business performance. We design to communicate both online and in print, and enjoy working with a broad range of clients across different market sectors, and a select band of communications specialists with a variety of additional skills. We have found that this breadth of expertise is beneficial to all.
We're changing with the times too
Twitter Updates
Along with the new economics of IT, there is also a new dynamics of communication. Social media is here. This is it. Well, a very small part of it anyway. But that's the point, it is made up of a number of small parts, personal exchanges, which are extended and responded to....
Do you Twitter or go on Facebook, Flickr or maybe use LinkedIn? If this is where the conversations are happening then we are going to need to be there too.
benefits
Good design can achieve a lot. It can build a brand, engage an audience, inform your thinking, and even change your mind...
online
The Internet is fast becoming the first port of call for information and entertainment at work and at home...
Desconocida : Unknown is a political art project, devised, organised and performed by the Norwegian textile and performance artist Lise Bjørne Linnert.
design — It’s what we do, it's what we really enjoy doing. We design to communicate through print, online, publishing, exhibitions, events, packaging and other media that will work effectively for the target audience.
Our design ideas use images and words, typography and code to clarify and communicate what people want to achieve for themselves and their businesses. What we produce represents our clients to the world so we’re keen that we develop it successfully together. The most important thing to do is listen. To listen to what the client is ultimately trying to achieve and agreeing what a successful outcome would be. Sometimes we can find an answer quite quickly … and sometimes we have to work harder together to develop ideas that achieve more.
Richard Reid and Associates, are an international architectural practice based near us here in Kent.
benefits — Good design can achieve a lot. It can build a brand, engage an audience, inform your thinking, and even change your mind. Just think about all the wonderful, practical things we use everyday and how our understanding is enhanced through better design. And then there are all those beautiful, even curious things that have emotional rather than practical attraction. All are designed to engage us. We base our choices on the success or failure of that engagement.
We know that if our ideas are successful, then our clients will benefit. In this way design becomes an investment, not a cost.
Ingres are an open source application development business who have a terrific reputation in the IT world, built on 30 years of successful database management.
online — The Internet is fast becoming the first port of call for information and entertainment at work and at home. For most people it is now easier to go online to find out what they want to know than any other source. How the sites work, how we use them, whether we go back and whether we ultimately select or buy is becoming more and more critical for every business. And what we say and how we say it is now vital to how people actually find our sites, as search engines look for word clues rather than images.
The best thing is that the web has also revitalised our design and communications world. More people are now aware that they need to communicate to compete but also that they can now compete in a much, much larger market place, and that means developing and delivering a better web presence with a unique identity. Our expectations of the web are also rapidly changing and we now ask “why can’t we do it?” rather than just wishing that it could.
Direct Design in the 70s
history — In November 2007, Direct Design celebrated 50 years in business. We started out in Stratford Place opposite Bond Street tube in London back in 1957. Direct Design and Packaging Limited was started by John Diebel and Dick Chapman and has over the years spawned many successful careers and happy relationships, both personal and professional.
In the 70's and 80's Direct Design did a good deal of work in the building and construction world, including a series of ads for Pulverised Fuel Ash (PFA). This was successful recycling ahead of its time, as PFA was a power station by-product.
Lise Bjørne Linnert putting the finishing touches to the exhibition in Epsom.
news — What we've been working on recently...
Desconocida : Unknown is a political art project, devised, organised and performed by the Norwegian textile and performance artist Lise Bjørne Linnert. Through a traditional female activity of embroidery, people globally are invited to engage, protest and show solidarity with the fight against the abuse of women. As an example of this worldwide issue, the critical situation in Juarez, a city on the border of USA and Mexico is the focus of this project. In this city close to 600 women have been found tortured, abused and murdered. Hundreds have disappeared.
Find out more here.