STUDY TASK 6// What Do They Do?

Based on the principles that have been introduced inthe PPP2 sessions so far and your responses to the previous tasks, evaluate the Strengths and Weaknesses of three practitioners or design agencies as objectively as you can. You should aim to identify a large, medium and small company from a sector or service that reflects your interests within the creative industries.

What opportunities for your own practice have revealed themselves to you as a result of this research, analysis and evaluation?

Do not use subjective language or make unfounded comments about other people’s businesses. It is essential that you make references to SWOT and PEST analysis and evaluate their usefulness as an analysis or evaluation tool.

In responding to this task you will need to consider the following questions:

Who am I competing against?

What do they offer?

What makes me better?

What makes me different?

 

Large:

Fantasy Interactive. 

 Strengths:
-Large company means they have a large number of resources and money.
-Large workforce can get behind project.
-Can take on huge clients without too much fuss.
-Have the money and technology to do what they like.

Weaknesses:
-Large companies are harder to run and finance.
-More staff to worry about and individual staff can feel cut off.
-Miss opportunities of finding jobs in niche markets.
-Have to stick to established design principles, cant design to risky which could but back on innovation.
-Job could be insignificant part to overall project, managed from the top down.

Opportunities:
-Large size means a large number of employees which means that jobs are more specific, designers design and accountants look after accounts.
-Attract large jobs and world leading clients in a range of disciplines and industries. 

Threats:
-Large size means that true innovation is harder to push through, often great ideas come from the small studios and larger ones then bring it into mass culture. Have to work hard to keep up with trendsetters.

 

 Medium:

Numiko.

Strengths:
-Mixed range of work.
-Flexible to work on large or small projects.
-Have the right size to lead with cutting edge ideas and the money and infrastructure to back them up.
-Can draw in big clients.
-Enough people to have a range of disciplines and skills.
-Have a more personal approach towards clients.

Weaknesses:
-Size allows them to focus on one discipline. (web design).
-May not be able to handle huge projects and long term contracts.
-Competition is more heavy at this level.

Opportunities:
-Team is just the right size to balance a friendly work environment with a good range of skills and knowledge.
-Draw in large and small clients with a wide range of jobs.

Threats:
-Need to remain ahead of the game to challenge competition.
-Could find it hard to sustain long client relationships with larger companies that requires more infrastructure.

 

Small:

Catalogue.

 Strengths:
-Strong focus on a well established style.
-Can afford to do experimental design without major repercussions.
-Small studio means that the work environment is friendly.
-Very low costs to run studio.

Weaknesses:
-Low costs does not mean low overheads.
-If niether designer knows how to do something they will have to train.
-Can to heavily effected by economy.
-May have to rely on close contacts and could loose out on larger clients.

Opportunities:
-Very close relationship with client. Talking is easy and contact is directly with designer.
-Local clients will be easy to find.
-Part of a community and culture that is hard to find in larger studios. 

Threats:
-Lots of competition from many other studios and graduates.
-May have to re-imagine the style they have built if it goes out of fashion.