Who am I competing against?
What do they offer?
What makes me better?
What makes me different?
Ilovedust
Strengths
The strengths are endless for this design company. From the website which is full of work, information and has a beautiful layout to some of the best graphic design work I have ever seen.
A large portfolio with an entire range of disciplines. Nothing is too big for them. Strong work in illustration, graphic design, products, type and animation to name a few.
Based in England - 2 studios, one in the buzzing hub of Shoreditch and one in Hampshire. Easily accessible and the mix of the contrasting atmospheres (urban and rural) gives them a diverse and new form of inspiration.
Collaborate with creatives worldwide. Their work is shown worldwide.
Large and impressive client list.
Weaknesses
Very busy company. Always working on something. Will this inhibit them from accepting all the jobs they are given?
A large group of designers worldwide. Inpersonal?
Very up-to-date work. Modern... will this make it look dated a lot quicker?
Opportunities
Large client base making advertising by word of mouth very easy.
Work everywhere, again, advertising techniques. Getting their name out there.
Diverse range of specialities and skills with their employers. Can accept many more jobs in a broad range of media.
Globally represented.
Returning of existing clients.
Threats
Smaller, newer companies who offer a more one-on-one service. A lot more personal.
Companies who specialise in certain areas of design i.e print, screen. More specialist rather than offering a broad range of services.
They are a threat to me as they are already very well-known as a company, whereas I will be starting from scratch. They have offer a much broader range of specialities than I can offer, I would need to collaborate with people who are good in different areas to really stand a hope to compete with this company, however, I can offer a much more personal service, with a lot more time for client communication input.
Pierrick Jegou - A french Freelancer
Strengths
Very much print based. Very strong print work.
Good website, with information and a fully annotated portfolio.
Range of specialisms and media used. Both hand crafted and computer driven.
Photographic skills.
Can offer a very personal service.
Weaknesses
Just print based. Would need to bring in a screen based specialist for that kind of work.
Freelancer, therefore could not accept every job on offer as he would not have the time/resources.
A lot of his work just looks good, offers little meaning.
Opportunities
He does a lot of work for exhibitions, getting his name out there for other similar events (people seeing his work and commissioning him for their own exhibitions)
Work seen all over France, posters for big events.
Impressive client base.
Threats
Other freelancers who offer more services to do with screen-based work.
Small companies who do similar work but can offer more.
He would be a threat to me as he focuses a lot on image and hand-rendered type, which is exactly my specialisms. He works in a very similar way to me, and is one of my biggest inspirations. However he is based solely in France, I could take over his market for England and further afield.
Tom Lacey - Freelancer specialising in the music industry - UK
Strengths
Very strong illustrative work for albums/posters/merchandise for alternative music groups.
Large range of clients in this genre of music, has built up a very good name for himself.
A singer in a band - gave him insight into the world of design around his specialism and got him networking with many possible clients who would want to commission him.
Strong theme within his work - very identifiable.
Very personal work. One to one with clients.
Weaknesses
Lack of a proper website.
His band is over - he is now 30 - old for the scene of the kind of bands he was working with who are all a lot younger than him now. Less networking opportunities.
One man show, can only do so much at once.
His work is very limited in its progression, very similar work... there is only so much you can do in that style.
Opportunities
Strong fan base - being the singer in a band helped him get followers who will spread his name to others who may commission him.
His work is on T-shirts which sell out all over the country. Small fan base for that music, makes his work well known within that circle.
Threats
Other graphic designers and illustrators - younger ones, in younger bands with a fresh new outlook on the scene.
People with a broader range of specialisms and skills.
He is an inspiration of mine and very much competition if I were to work in this area of design, designing for this part of the music industry. I bring a fresh eye, with less bias to other designers. I am younger.
well laid out and logical approach to this Ellie-took some finding but I got there...as did you.
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