Barney Parsons

Why AI won’t make design services any cheaper. One of the key perceptions about AI and its impact on the creative industries, is that it will make the design process quicker, cheaper and (eventually) may omit the need for creative job functions altogether. As a creative agency, it’s prompted us to consider these potential risks, to join the debate, and to question our own processes, ways of thinking and working. After all, we should never become complacent, right? Find out what we really think! https://hubs.li/Q02xxpfq0 #ai #design #creativecaptivation

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Is this the era of the "single person, full-service agency"? Are large design studios’ days numbered? Are we seeing the democratisation of design? Will brands move away from the large agency model as a flood of specialists and agile studios enter the fray? Opportunities and huge unprecedented shifts… 👀 Interesting thoughts from Simon Case of Chromatic https://lnkd.in/ezVFUcPd

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🛠️ Ideas Stuck in the Mud? Let TalkingBrands.ai Pull Them Out! 🛠️ Got great ideas that just can't seem to get traction? It's a common problem. 🔑 Tip: Use TalkingBrands.ai to analyse your ideas. Our AI and expert team turn your stuck concepts into dynamic, engaging content. Ready to get unstuck? Visit www.talkingbrands.ai today! 🚀 #ContentCreation #AIWriting #TalkingBrandsAI #Creativity #Marketing

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Good Design = Good Business It’s not just about making things look pretty. Strong graphic design In marketing materials Can significantly boost 1️⃣ Consumer trust 2️⃣ Engagement rates 3️⃣ Brand Recognition 4️⃣ Ultimately sales Adobe’s research shows that companies with a "design-driven" approach is 69% more likely to exceed their business goals. Social media posts with custom graphic designs see 650% higher engagement rates compared to text-based posts. Over 90% of top-performing YouTube videos feature custom-designed thumbnails. The evidence is clear: good design equals good business. P.S. Marketers what are your objections? #marketing #design #cmo

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Designers don’t just deliver — they drive results When you think of graphic design, you might picture stunning logos, sleek websites, or eye-catching packaging. But here’s the truth: great design isn’t about what you get; it’s about what it gets you. A thoughtfully crafted brand identity: ✅ Builds trust at first glance ✅ Communicates your value without words ✅ Turns curious browsers into loyal customers The best designers don’t just create pretty visuals. They dig deep into your business goals, your audience’s mindset, and your unique edge. They ensure every design decision connects to the why behind your brand. So, the next time you hire a designer, don’t ask, “What can you deliver?” Ask instead: 💡 “How will this design solve my problem?” 💡 “What impact will it have on my audience?” 💡 “How will this set my business apart?” Because great design doesn’t just sit on a screen or a business card. It transforms your brand and drives results that matter. What results has great design gotten for your business? Let’s share some stories below! ⬇️ –––––––––– Hey 👋 I’m Beth, and I specialise in brand identity and graphic design.  Book a no obligations brand identity consultation here 👉 https://lnkd.in/e89NNJZ7 Or download my FREE Brand Blueprint here 👉 https://lnkd.in/en4SeiC4

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When you’re a designer starting on a new project, two terms often come up: empathy and understanding your users. While they might seem interchangeable at first glance, there’s a crucial distinction that can make or break a design project. In this piece, we explore the difference between empathising with users and truly understanding them: https://lnkd.in/d6XS_Jhp

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It's important for the designer/design team to get a 'go-ahead' on the visual look and feel of the website before jumping into the website design. This helps set real expectations. Otherwise, the client and the designer have two very different visualisations in their head, leading to more back and forths during the course of the project. #b2bvisualdesign #b2bwebsite

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Growing an #agency can be a challenge, even more so in current times As an #AgencyOwner, you often have multiple plates spinning to ensure you have the resources needed to deliver client projects but also protect the profitability of your business in the long run In September Joanne Reid and Alfie Wenegieme are hosting a round table lunch where they'll explore some of the biggest challenges faced by agency owners when scaling their businesses: 💰 Delivering project work on time and on budget ♻ When to sell-in retainers and how to maximise this to benefit your agency 💷 The benefits of a 'value-based' pricing model 📈 How to upsell and cross-sell your services 🕵‍♂️ When to hire and in what order Want to be involved? 📅 Thursday 5th September - 12:00 📍 Hush Holborn Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and practical advice to take your agency to the next level. Get your ticket here 👉 https://lnkd.in/esTEnzM7 #AgencyGrowth #BusinessScaling #AgencySuccess 

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Motion design is perfect for communicating complex subjects in a way that is not only accessible and easy to understand, but also enjoyable to watch. Allowing brands to share their stories and educate their audience, whilst building a positive association with the brand. Taking detailed information that would otherwise be in presentation decks and breaking it down into manageable chunks. Visualising the issue in clever ways with a mix of iconographic and abstract designs, that represent the issue without spoon feeding it to the viewer. Animation adds a sense of personality and playfulness, even with fairly dry subjects. This recent film for 'connected workspace' specialists DMS is a great example of a brand / product explainer that does all of those things. FLOW Creative

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I'm coming to it slightly late, but I enjoyed this refreshingly honest take on AI from Simon Case. "The big agency networks are not telling the truth about what's going to happen. They don't want to admit there will be big fallouts and many very unhappy people." I think that's entirely correct, but I also think there will be some unhappy agency networks, too. That's because I think the whole charging model of the agency world is probably the worst possible model to try to navigate the emergence of AI with. As the article says: "The one thing that AI can't do is come up with strategy and good ideas, so creative people will still be needed." …and yet most agencies are giving away precisely that thinking in order to charge for creative output, a charging model which delivers the benefits of productivity increases to clients rather than to agencies. AI massively reduces the cost – both actual and perceived – of generating creative output, and so massively reduces its value. So you're stuck either transitioning to charging for something you've historically not charged for, or trying to maintain high fees for something that's increasingly commoditised. Neither is at all easy; I can't see how the large networks navigate it, personally.

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Looking to understand the value design systems bring to organisations seeking to differentiate their brand experience and win in-market? Head of Design at Merkle and dentsu, Dave Calleja collates some of the best insights and trends for you to dive into. #designsystems #brandexperience #fastcurrents #MerkleProud #dentsu https://lnkd.in/dKcfVYdR

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Size matters? Think again. It's not about how big the agency is; it's about finding someone who truly gets you. At MadeByShape, we’re a small team making a big impact. We don't just skim the surface. We dig deep. – Personal touch? ✔️ - Clear communication? ✔️ - Can have a laugh? ✔️ - Unreal results? ✔️ Remember, bigger isn't always better. Choose an agency that listens, understands, and delivers. 📩[email protected]

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Get the foundations set first If there is one thing I repeatedly say to most of our new clients is that they are concentrating on the wrong elements first when it comes to their brand. Design is important - it's the primary thing I deliver after all BUT it has to work as part of a communication system. The styling, the typeface chosen, the colours used and every other element build together to form a whole. However, the base from which they build, your brand foundations are the first things that need to be set in place. Your values, your mission, what makes you different - and why that matters to your audience. They help set your brand personality, tone and attitude. We all know a firm foundation is key to building a solid structure so why do so many businesses start by erecting and painting the front door?

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Give this a read!! This is absolutely true. The measure of great work should not be based on how quickly it is delivered. Often, people pressure creative agencies to meet tight deadlines, disregarding the effort and creative thinking required to establish a complete brand identity, system, or design approach. We need to do better in appreciating the work done by designers, copywriters, and creative agencies. Praise them for their thought, effort, and uniqueness. Remember, there's a significant difference between crafting something with care and mass-producing something quickly.

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To the average business owner, terms like 'heading hierarchy' mean squat. Unless you're in a design industry, it's generally irrelevant to your day-to-day work. But once you step into the world of web—which most businesses aim to do—hierarchy is uber important. Here's why: 🔹 Effective headings capture attention. It's said that you've got mere seconds to grab someone's focus once they land on your website. Headings do this by WHAT they say, and HOW they look. 🔹 Optimised headings are looked upon favourably by search engines. This means that they need to be structured correctly and contain the right keywords if you're hoping to improve your search rankings. 🔹 Headings guide users. Most people scan websites. Effective headings guide users through your site, helping them quickly understand who you are, what you do, and how it benefits them. Once their interest is piqued, they'll delve into the finer details. 🔍 How's your website performing in this area? Not sure where to start? Let's simplify it for you! We’ll handle the techy stuff, so you can focus on what you do best. Drop us a message today, and let’s make your website work harder for you!

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I recently learned that my application for the InnovateUK Creative Catalyst 2024 grant was unsuccessful. It's disappointing that the value of my platform, designed to help creative freelancers price their work effectively, wasn't recognised this time. As a solo female founder, the journey to launching a successful venture can be particularly daunting. Without initial funding, it's challenging to build a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and validate the idea, essential steps that help attract further investment and prove the project's feasibility. This lack of resources early on can (and will) significantly slow progress and make it difficult to reach critical development milestones. However, the past six months with Bruntwood SciTech Female Founders Incubator have been transformative and the insights and support have refined my vision and strengthened my resolve. I'm more committed than ever to developing this platform to empower freelancers to price confidently to survive and thrive. PS. Thanks to everyone who filled out my questionnaire - your response was extremely valuable 🙌 #FreelanceLife #CreativeIndustry #InnovationJourney #solofounder

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What I have learnt hiring 4 creatives in the last 2-months! Over the last two months I have hired 4 creatives & 15 freelancers to join us here at Ben Wild Studios, & I have learnt a LOT. Here are some thoughts that can hopefully add value to your job hunt... - Make your work easily accessible! Yesterday we commenced the search for a freelance illustrator, we had 400+ responses. When reaching out have a clear link straight to work (or better specific work for the brief), this will massively better your chances. If you can remove all passwords and locks around viewing your work. - Read the description of what is being asked. Yesterday we specified 'No CV's' & 'Long term work' the amount of people reaching out with only a CV or for short term work was bananas. - Be friendly. As I said me and the team had 400+ responses, we will respond personally to every single one. However chasing or worse asking why the response is taking more than an hour isn't cool. I hope this adds some value to your creative job hunt!

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