Getting to Know People

Within our group we were given the design studio Hey Days to research and create a short presentation on which covered four key areas:

1. Who they are 
2. Where are they based
3. What do they do
4. What makes them unique

As I had not heard of this company before it was all new information to me. To begin the research project we all decided to explore the website and take out what we found interesting about the design studio. The main element of their website that stood out to me was the phrase 'We remove noise to add value'. This is shown on all their social media and promotional pages. I then began to make notes that focused on answering the key areas of enquiry:

1/2. Hey Day are based in Oslo, Norway and are a team made up of 6 graphic designers. The company has been running for five years and is one of the most award winning graphic design agencies in Norway. 

3/4. The focus of their work is developing visual identity and design solutions for a  number of clients, ranging from small and big names. They like to work closely with the clients to identify and clarify core values to make a relevant and appropriate solution to the presented brief. As well as their own team they have a well-developed network of other talented artists who are available to contribute to the brief.



As this was a research task it was interesting to take notes of the other companies that the rest of the groups explored.

1. AH HA Studios - A communication and graphic design studio based in Lisbon that was established in 2011. This design studio explores a variety of creative interests, ranging from interior design to traditional and fine print design. 

2. Hey studios - This studio is again another small studio with a team of five. They are based in Barcelona and mainly work with illustration briefs. Colour is a huge part of their work which adds to their own individual style of design. 

3. Sagmeister & Walsh - 

4. Lust - This design studio experiment with expressive traditional methods in their 'Lustlab'. This is brining back the use of traditional methods rather than producing work digitally. This makes the studio very unique in their industry.  

5. Studio Dunbar - 'Our style is that we don't have a style' This quote is from the team at Studio Dunbar and represents their work perfectly. They have a very abstract visual design style that is displayed through visual and online branding.

6. Build - This is a UK based design company that are internationally recognised for their branding and identity work. Their advertising work mainly involves typography with a 2 to 3 colour palette, keeping the designs current and simple.

7. Elmnwood - Elmwood studio is no1 in current and historic effectiveness league tables, making it one of the most recognisable design studios. They have a keen interested in sustainability which is demonstrated through their commercial and contemporary packaging designs. 

8. Bleed - Bleed is a multidisciplinary design studio who create design using parts of the company who they are working for. This can range from the colour scheme they withhold to the architecture of the firms building. This makes the studio unique as they use alternative inspiration to guide their design which ensures that the identity is true to the company. 

9. Face - This super modernist design company have a set method of producing work; approach, checklist, quote, brief, research/analysis, concept, design and delivery. Following this procedure for each of their projects makes the studio unique in the way that they work. 

10. Dessein - An Australian design studio based in Perth who have been running since 1987. They are a packaging and identity based studio who's designs are simplistic and flat. Many of their designs involve illustrations and photography is incorporated in their packaging designs which demonstrates their diverse cultural backgrounds.

11. Wolf Olins - The aim of this design studio is to make a brand that lasts forever. What makes this company unique is that if you contact them through their website, you can set up a meeting where they come to you and teach a class about brands. This is a way of developing a relationship with the studio and learning how and open and creative they are with the work they take on.