Studio Dumbar and 11 other design studios to identify and explore.
Studio Dumbar:
Who?
Studio Dumbar is an international Dutch design agency founded by Gert Dumbar in The Hauge, 1977. The studio specialises in branding and online branding, and were the first company from the Netherlands to go international. They are the third most awarded design outfit after Apple and Pentagram.
Where?
The studio has it’s home / base studio is the Netherlands, Rotterdam, located within an unused electrical facility. They also have liaison offices in both South Korea and China.
What?
Studio Dumbar “create every visible expression of a brand or organisation online and offline.” The studio’s expertise lies in strategy, communication, branding and process management.
How?
The studio focuses it’s design efforts on drawing public attention to not profit-making organisations. Approximately one third of their work goes unpaid through government subsidies. It is this ethos of Gert Dumbar that enables the studio to produce designs primarily based on passion for the cause, rather than for profit.
What makes them unique?
Abstract, geometric, complex typography and distorted digitally - based aesthetics underpin the designs created by the studio. The studio describe themselves as flexible and informal in their approach to design. This was evidenced in Dumbar’s design of the NS (Dutch Railway) when the client didn’t like the approach, through which he painted the trains yellow. They still to this day however are the same colour. The work created by the studio show durability, as designs produced even in 1980 have shown longevity and have remained current within the industry.
Studio AH HA
Who?
Studio AH—HA is a communication & graphic design studio established in 2011 by Carolina Cantante and Catarina Carreiras.
Where?
The studio is based in Lisbon, however they "look forward to work with the rest of the world."
What?
Studio AH HA "pursues varied creative interests across a variety of mediums." Noted works include brand strategy to interior design, naming and identity work, advertising, new media, traditional and fine print, retail and product design, photography and illustration.
How?
Working with an "ever-changing cast of collaborators," Studio AH HA works together with clients from start to finish of the design process, "filtering" their ideas, inspirations and motivations into their communicating visual language.
What makes them unique?
AH HA's "holistic approach" towards design and branding means they are able to produce "fresh, engaging and compelling" brand messages through collaboration with their clients.
Hey Studio
Who?
Hey is a graphic design studio specialising in brand identity, editorial design and illustration.
Where?
The studio, with a team of just 5, is based in Barcelona, Spain.
What?
Hey was founded in 2007 with "the idea of transforming ideas into communicative graphics." In 2014, the studio opened an online shop, in order to share their passion for typography, illustration and bold graphics. They undertake side projects, alongside their own specific practices, which aim to "play with new ideas, push creative boundaries and develop a passion that is then injected into client’s work."
How?
Hey Studio take care of every single step of the design process and always work closely with clients, both big and small, forming one-to-one relationships with them to achieve and produce the greatest resolutions.
What makes them unique?
The studio's work is identifiable through prominent features of geometry, color and direct typography. It is this specific visual language that has enabled Hey to work with clients including Apple, Vodafone and Three to name very few.
Sagmeister & Walsh
Who?
Sagmeister & Walsh is the joint design firm of Stefan Sagmeister and Jessica Walsh. Sagmeister is a graphic designer and typographer acclaimed for his work for the Rolling Stones, The Talking Heads, Lou Reed, and The Guggenheim Museum. Walsh is a designer & art director working in NYC whose work has received various distinctions and has won a multitude of awards. The firm creates identities, commercials, websites, apps, films, books and objects for clients, audiences and themselves.
Where?
The team of four, including Sagmeister, Walsh and two other employees, are located in a small studio New York City, though they produce work for clients internationally.
What?
The firm produce works in Advertising, Art Direction | Branding & Identity | Consultancy | Concept
Development | Content Development | Commercials | Curation | Design System | Environmental
Design | Event Design | Exhibition Design | Film/Video | Furniture Design | Identity | Interactive |
Naming | Print | Packaging | Signage | Writing | Website Design for clients in the corporate, arts,
publishing and editorial, educational, music and non-profit sectors.
How?
The firms small cohort of specialised sector designers means as a team they can provide their
services for any client in a vast range of innovative deliverables.
What makes them unique?
The firm produces all works with signature edge of sophistication, forward-thinking and enterprising aesthetics that have made them one of the most famous and acclaimed design firms in the world.
Hey Days
Who?
Heydays is a Norwegian design agency with the focus of their work being the development of visual identities, digital solutions and other associated material for clients small and big.
Where?
The agency is based in Oslo, Norway.
What?
Heydays produce a range of works within three main sectors: consultancy, design and development. They types of design they produce are as follows: Logo | Visual Identity | Web design | Interface design | Applications | Illustration | Editorial | Packaging | Signage.
How?
The agency "use insight, instinct and commitment" in their designs and "dare to challenge the established truth." It is their belief that the most precise solutions are found together with clients through an "open and passionate dialogue." Each of their designers work directly with their respective client contacts for easy and tight communication throughout the project.
What makes them unique?
Together with their clients, the agency identify and clarify core values to make relevant and tailored solutions to design tasks, something which has helped them in becoming one of the most awarded graphic design agencies in Norway.
Lust
Who?
Lust is a multidisciplinary graphic design practice established by Jeroen Bareness Thomas Castro, and Dimitri Nieuwenhuizen, in 1996.
Where?
Lust are based in The Hague, Netherlands
What?
The practice work in a "broad spectrum of media" including traditional printwork and book design, abstract cartography and data-visualisations, as well as new media, interactive installations, and architectural graphics. LUST is also "deeply interested in exploring new pathways for design at the cutting edge where new media and information technologies, architecture and urban systems and graphic design overlap."
How?
Lust used it LUSTlab, established in 2010, as an aid in producing their work. This is a "new form of research and development" which allows them to go further than observing, inventing and producing through the ability share knowledge, ideologies and issues.
What makes them unique?
The research carried out by LUSTlab "generates hypotheses and makes unstable media stable again." This specific addition to the Lust practice allows them to produce varying outcomes, from visions to new communication tools, man-machine installations and physical products using digital content.
Build
Who?
Build is an "award-winning" creative agency founded in 2001 by creative director Michael C. Place and business director Nicky Place. The agency are a team of four.
Where?
The agency was based in London originally until their recent relocation to Yorkshire in 2015.
What?
Build work with creative, design-led clients, to produce work they are "justifiably proud of." The agency use stories and ethos to communicate through strong visual narratives, utilising brand identity, art direction and graphic design. They exhibit works, judge awards, and also present talks. These works have been published in over 100 books and magazines worldwide. They also have an online shop.
How?
The agency utilise their "extensive experience of production" to turn concepts into ideas that can be communicated across multiple channels.
What makes them unique?
The agency take advantage of the extensive experience and knowledge had by each of the four designers who work their, working closely with clients to create works all parties involved can be proud of.
Elmwood
Who?
Elmwood are "the world's most effective" brand consultancy agency, having won more DBA Design Effectiveness Awards than any other agency since the scheme began.
Where?
Elmwood was established as a small local design studio in Leeds in 1977. It has since expanded its presence to London, New York, Singapore, Hong Kong and Melbourne too.
What?
The agency see it that "typically, every project’s untypical." Their work ranges from "provocation, research and insight, to design realisation and brand guardianship." Elmwood predominantly produce brand identities, however also have their own brands of tea and beer.
How?
Elmwood see it that it's the people they work with who influence the way they work and the way they do things. They "sought out fellow ‘optimistas’ – people who are passionate about what they do." They are advocates of change and are always ready to "shake things up."
What makes them unique?
The agency believe they have "managed to de-code effectiveness" by figuring out how to surpass learned behaviour and "trigger positive responses" from clients and consumers alike. It is Elmwood's unique outlook on their practice that has enabled them to achieve international success.
Bleed
Who?
Bleed is a multidisciplinary design consultancy, with a primary focus on identity.
Where?
The consultancy has bases in both Oslo, Norway and Vienna, Austria.
What?
Bleed create "identity and experience" via concept development, art direction, graphic and service design.
How?
The consultancy try to represent a range of cultures and disciples to challenge the perceptions around art, visual language, interaction, media and also identity. The works they create are all inspired by existing parts of their clients companies.
What makes them unique?
It is bleed's manifesto that makes them unique. This being to "be different, take chances, share ideas, have fun, believe the hype, move in different directions, be nice, keep learning, and collaborate."
Face
Who?
Face are a "supermodernist" design studio, specialising in the development of honest branding projects across the world.
Where?
The face studio was established in Monterrey, Mexico in 2006.
What?
The studio's aim is to produce work "intended to brave the test of time." These works are primarily web-designs and brand developments.
How?
Face believe "the assignment contains the solution." It is for this reason that they aim to have a deep understanding of both their projects and client's needs via their own "fool-proof creative method."
What makes them unique?
The design studio's constant effort is the defining factor of their practice, as well as talent and commitment to producing quality works of the highest international standard.
Dessein
Who?
Dessein was founded in 1987 by Directors Geoff Bickford and Tracy Kenworthy after they "plunged head first into the world of design" immediately after graduating from College. The challenge of finding work became a reality, however they managed to quickly establish Dessein into "a reputable design studio."
Where?
The studio was founded in the heart of Northbridge, Perth, Western Australia.
What?
Rather than promote themselves as a studio having the ability to respond to anything they are confronted with, they instead choose to do is promote what they can do, and do it well. Dessein specialise in branding, identity, packaging, signage and web design - using illustrative aesthetics with elements of photography commonly.
How?
Dessein say the key to their studio is a "multi-cultural mix of creatives, who collaborate across all aspects of design" - making for an interesting combination of talents. It is the culmination of the strength of each designer at the studio that ensures the works they produce work across multiple platforms.
What makes them unique?
Before creating any design solution, the Dessein team take time to listen, learn and understand their client's values and what they represent. No matter what the studio are designing, the solutions they create always "clearly communicate the core objectives without fuss or confusion."
Wolff Olins
Who?
Wolff Olins describe themselves as "creative partners from ambitious leaders." The agency was founded by Michael Wolff and Wally Olins.
Where?
The brand consultancy was established in 1965 in Camden Town London. The Wolff Olins base is still found in London, however they now have presence in New York, Dubai and San Fransisco.
What?
Wolff Olins' specialism lies in creating positive social impact for clients, and has worked in sectors including technology, culture,retail, energy & utilities, media, and also for non-profit organisations.
How?
The consultancy use the development of brand experiences, creatively led business strategies, and visual identity systems to produce their works.
What makes them unique?
Wolff Olins was founded with the intension to help organisations "shake off their corporate camouflage"and establish their identity in the world, which they have and continue to achieve as a result of the nurturing of a "rich mix of styles and skills" including programme managers, designers, strategists, technologists and educators.
Before starting this exercise I only had knowledge on one of the design firm/agency/studios, this being Sagmeister and Walsh. Having now explored a further 12 it has been easy to identify an established connection between them all; Each of the subjects I have looked at have commented on their small teams of sector specific designers and close relationships with clients as their reasoning for success. Something can be taken away from each of these individual agencies to inform, influence and inspire my own practice - be it their approach to work, their ideologies behind design process or visual language as a whole.
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