OUGD602: PPP - HAWRAF

Hawraf

Hawraf was a design studio run by 4 successful designers. It was recently shut down with the partners deciding to part and go on there own ventures. Unusually they decided to post their whole business plan and all the ins and outs of the successful studio on a google drive. Here are some key bits which I picked out that could help me.

Pricing structure

-       Here hawraf shows me the importance of valuing the skills we have as designers. In this part of the google drive they breakdown how much they charge for the different jobs they provide as a service. Although these figures are very high, I don't feel like they are outrageous, especially when this gets compared to the client list and the sheer amount of money these companies are worth, so for me it only seems fair what they are charging. Not only this but having looked through quite a few of their projects, and the creative standard they create throughout their work I feel what they ask for isn’t too much, they just value their skills and what they bring to a company or whatever. Aswell as this, they are a team of four who founded the studio, and each earn about $90,000 in the last year. Now for the standard and the client list they have, although it is a very good wage for designers, I feel they all knew they could all do just as well if not better on their own, maybe not…

New York studios

-       I have always wanted to work in New York so when I came across this list of creative studios based their, it felt like I had hit the jackpot. This list was a really easy and quick way of of finding a huge variety of creative studios across the creative industry, from product to graphic design. Not only this but they have also informed us n the how big the studio is and their specialism within their field of design. This is hugely helpful, allowing me to pinpoint the correct studios to apply to for my style of design. They also link their websites making it easy to get a feel for the studios work without having to find the studios website yourself.

Rules and idealisms

I stumbled across this section of the google drive underneath the heading culture. I found this very inspiring that this small but important document is embedded in how they set up there business. This studio ethic sets outs their goals and morals. If I worked there I would find this a very good point of reference when not feeling to creative, positive or passionate. I think it reminds designers the point of they are doing and the importance of it. Not only is this a sheet of rules though, it also I feel is a reminder of how to create ideas; ‘Don't ever do something because that’s the way it’s been done before.’ ‘Remember there’s a world out there.’ ‘Seek uncomfortability’. For me as a designer I agree with nearly all of their morals and I will be keeping a copy of this was when I am feeling uninspired.

Some other inspirational sections on the drive include:

Discovery questionnaire

Every project we ever charged for

Client break up letter

Dream client list

Target client

Negiotables / non

Guide for press release

Links to talks

Pitch deck- short snapy text- images & text – nice and big

Design press outreach