Working for or with clients?

There’s always the potential that designer–client relationships can be a little transactional: a brief goes in, a polished brand comes out. But as we all know that’s not how the best work happens.

A strong creative partnership makes it easier to think and work together to hone a brand and its strategy. It helps make sure creative work supports communication goals and fits with the bigger picture.

Creative agencies bring their critical thinking, energetic ideas and crafting skills along with experience and knowledge. Clients bring their strategic goals, their offer and the inside knowledge that sometimes the brand colours really do need to match the local football team’s away strip to resonate - looking at you Sunderland fans!

Through open dialogue, clear feedback and iterative design stages, creative work is not only well-crafted - but right.

Our recent work with Sunderland Heritage Partnership is a great example - by working with the partnership we turned audience insights and shared values into a bold, modular visual identity that reflects the city’s rich past - and in turn supports all those involved in sharing their story.

Just as we collaborate with our clients, Sunderland Heritage Partnership itself brings together a diverse mix of heritage organisations across the area - working together to tell their heritage story in a more powerful and united way. When we work together - whether in creativity or in heritage - the result is always more than the sum of its parts.

Find out more about the project here