Welcome to Direct Design
identities
It’s who we are, it’s what we want to be, it’s what we want others to see and say about us...
publishing
We are not publishers as such, rather the design and presentation creators for other people’s ideas in magazines, books, newsletters and now of course websites...
identities — it’s who we are, it’s what we want to be, it’s what we want others to see and say about us. A new identity for an organisation highlights change, a change in structure, in culture, in aspiration and in attitude. It’s a wonderful opportunity to really think everything through and communicate effectively how you wish to be perceived by your staff, your customers and your suppliers.
Projects and products need a recognisable identity too. They get referred to more often as brands but the need to deliver clear and consistent communication is the same. It really can make a difference and continue to make a difference if managed effectively.
New identities are also a wonderful opportunity for us to incorporate many of our different skills and experiences and to apply lessons learnt from other organisations or projects. They are also a great opportunity to rationalise communications media, to cut down on unnecessary outdated processes and use budgets effectively.
Four miles an hour is about slowing down and looking around. No-one can operate all the time at full speed. Take a short walk at www.4mph.com
websites — Websites can be wonderful and they can be horrible. Some can be beautiful to look at and difficult to use, whilst others are visually offensive but efficient. But we go back to them if they deliver the information and the products we want … and perhaps more importantly, at the price we want to pay.
They do influence enormously the initial impression a company makes and are vital to any brand and its identity. If we can interact well with their website, the feeling is that we can interact well with them.
The new Cloth and Culture book was published at the beginning of December and features 35 contemporary textile artists from 6 countries.
publishing — we are not publishers as such, rather the design and presentation creators for other people’s ideas in magazines, books, newsletters and now of course websites. Publishing is nearly always a statement, at a certain moment in time, by a particular individual, author or organisation about their field of expertise, expressing their opinion.
And that is the difference. It has their name on the published piece, so it represents them in a much more personal way. It can become their identity, it may even carry a picture of the author. Whether it is a newsletter with the Chief Exec’s signature or a book of many hundred pages with an editor, we need to work thoughtfully with that particular individual. But that’s the best bit because you really have their commitment.
“Direct Design have again produced a beautiful publication in support of the exhibition Cloth & Culture Now. As always, the dialogue, the exchange of ideas that has taken place between Direct Design and myself as author of the book and curator of the exhibition, has been crucial to the overall identity of the project. The initial reaction to the book has been overwhelmingly positive - thank you very much for such a sensitive and professional response to the project.” - Lesley Millar
words — Words are really starting to drive brands and ideas through the web. To reach an audience effectively, you have to speak their language, use their vocabulary and make a connection before they have even seen your logo or your product. We have to listen and learn. What are people saying? What do they want to say? Establishing an accurate proposition is now more important than ever.
In the complex world of enterprise level IT virtualisation, Virtual Clarity are developing a reputation as a 'no bullshit' business. That means they are clear thinking and straight talking. A tough mantra to live up to but essential for their success as they challenge themselves to deliver value. www.virtualclarity.com
ideas — Now what are we going to say about ideas? Eureka! Do they suddenly come in a flash of inspiration? Sometimes. Do they evolve? Sometimes they do over time but that isn’t always available. Are they always good? No not always … but sometimes they’re brilliant and they really work well.
Coming up with an effective idea is usually as a result of a fair amount of organised thought and applying your mind and sufficient time to the problem. It’s certainly not the exclusive province of ‘creatives’ … in fact it’s quite often the client thinking openly … but the creative bit is spotting the potential!
From ‘Leisure Report’ magazine: the “Sportspace” concept, from Direct Design, was chosen for its robustness, creativity and strategic value – it was clearly a long-term brand not a short-term logo. Direct Design presented a long term vision and showed how key design elements could be incorporated over time, recognising that it was impractical to try and do everything at once. The most striking aspect was the new name – Sportspace – which was seen as integral to the project.
