Journey 006 - Counter Studio - The Power to Shape the World

<p>David and co-founder, Elizabeth Ellis' admiration of words and quality craftsmanship inspired them to learn the age-old process of traditional letterpress after being made redundant in 2009 after the credit crunch. It was never meant to be anything more than a creative escape into the past, but the beauty of the work they produced soon led to the opening of Counter Studio. The design agency and letterpress, derive the defining qualities of their portfolio from the methodology imposed by each field they specialise in: brand identity and typography. </p><p><strong>Part 1: The Power to Shape the World (3:00)</strong></p><p>We discuss why Counter Studio's projects have such a powerful impact on anyone who sees them. It comes down to two simple concepts: good work and good people.</p><p><i><strong>Questions</strong></i></p><p><i>Q2: Counter Studio is a design agency that prides itself on ‘doing good work with good people’. What do you understand by ‘good work’ and ‘good people’?</i></p><p><i>Q4:  You deliberately choose to remain small. What is meant by a ‘small’ design company as compared to a medium or large company? Why is being small perhaps better in the design world?</i></p><p><strong>Part 2: Making Design that Works (16:09)</strong></p><p>David explains the design process in more detail, including why care, craftsmanship and pragmatic creativity are important characteristics of a design agency. We also discuss do's and don't's of interacting with clients.</p><p><i><strong>Questions</strong></i></p><p><i>Q8: How do you ensure a deep understanding of what the client wants to express through their brand?</i></p><p><i>Q9: What is a successful process of working with a client in design? What are perhaps some things aspiring designers should avoid?   </i>     </p><p><strong>Part 3: Developing Sensitivity towards Others (24:46)</strong></p><p>We briefly touch on some changes that might occur in the industry following the coronavirus pandemic and why developing a sensitivity towards others and trying to understand t