New and rolling design trends of 2015

What type of music is better for concentrating on your different daily tasks?

I realise that this is my first blog post for designdough in the 5 years I have now worked here and it’s not about contrasting colours or the importance of well-kerned titles…

There has been a lot of news and discussion over the last week or so about about Google’s mobile-friendly algorithm change on April 21st 2015.

My first days at work at a new company are usually ridiculously daunting…

Just because you can fill a page with text, doesn’t necessarily mean that you should.

In the land of SEO, there are many myths and do’s and don’ts; a minefield that’s easy to get caught in.

There is little more essential to a branding agency than a strong brand. Imagine trying to sell windows from a boarded up shop and you’ll see what I mean.

So here’s our story, it’s been ten years in the making…

A huge thank you to everyone that attended and helped to make our 10th birthday such a special one!

Ezra, Ez, Easy-E, Crazy Frog, Newest Recruit of the designdough posse – welcome!

Above the fold, below the fold, what is the fold? We shed some light on 600 pixels

You may or may not remember this hideously tacky Christmas film we made last year…

In the summer of 2015, we were honoured to be approached by BadWolf and developed a bold and daring brand strategy and visual in order to further establish them within South Wales and beyond…

We get it, it’s scary, and we don’t envy you, but everyone at designdough had to do it at some point, so let us give you some top tips on how to get on your go-to agency’s radar and stay there!

We launched our current website on 8th April 2016 – that’s 580 days ago.

So you’ve worked your bum off collaborating with your chosen design agency to ensure that your brand is all singing, all dancing and truly represents your mission and vision.

In usual designdough fashion, we got carried away with Christmas festivities, projects, marketing and…er hum…parties, that our December blog fell by the wayside.

After wheezing our way through 2017, we decided that 2018 should be our year to get out of our comfort zones (and comfortable waist-bands) and try something brand new.

We are delighted to see that print, in its many forms is having somewhat of a renaissance; a hipster revival much in the same way as vinyl has become popular again.

Our new site gives users an immersive experience of what it’s like to work with the Cardiff, Wales-based creative design firm.

Screen-printing has seen many rises and falls in popularity, turning from a revolutionary manufacturing process to an undoubtable art form.

Last year, we were honoured to win a tender laid out by the WCVA (Welsh Council for Voluntary Action) for the brand and design of their new pilot project, gofod3.

Warning! this is a hideously geeky blog post in which we talk about not only our love of print, but our excitement at seeing print processes in action…

If you’re not particularly savvy on contemporary acronyms or a big fan of the TV Show Jersey Shore, then you probably have no idea what ‘DTF’ means and we suggest that you refer to Urban Dictionary…

On our daily appreciation of all things brand, we’ve started to collect snippets from some very special companies…

Okay, so this is going to be bit of a technical post (brace yourselves!)

Reminisce with us for a second, if you will, and join us in feeling hideously old…

No, we’re not talking about Tinder or Bumble here, although keeping your brand consistent and concise on all digital channels could be likened to maintaining a dating profile.

Instagram Stories. Snapchat. Periscope. Youtube. Vimeo. Vine (RIP…although, V2 anyone!?). Even Facebook has integrated video banners into its pages.

Think you can launch a website and then its job done? Errrrrr, nope! Those babies take constant upkeep, maintenance, love and care, much like a small furry pet…or a beloved pot plant.

From the beginning, IKEA’s vision has been to “create a better everyday life for the many people” and this is reflected in every part of their business model

Mount Stuart House in Cardiff Bay has been our home for the last four years, but the building was recently sold. This meant one thing: We’re moving!

You know when you move house and you’re surrounded by boxes and you naively think “This’ll only take me a few days to sort out”…

Spotify was no longer all about music, it was about people.

It was time to start the design process and put forward a recognisable, progressive and contemporary visual identity that still honoured the organisations rich background and heritage.

Win a beautifully designed and considered brand and website for your start-up

Long. Time. No. See.

If our brand doesn’t speak to us anymore, there’s no way we can sell ourselves to clients in the way we’d like.

Get used to never feeling comfortable ever again. Saying that, it’s the most fulfilling, enjoyable and exciting journey I’ve ever been on.

It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day, it’s a new lifeeeee, for our website. And we’re feeling goooood!

There’s something within your business that lies beyond the money it makes, the services it offers or the products it sells. Purpose.

It’s been a rather unconventional start for Michael and us – he’s been with us for a month but we’ve only met him twice…

Discover your Reason for Being according to an ancient Japanese concept.

Hello, I’m Abi and I live with a chronic illness…

We are excited today to launch Brand Labs 2020. A competition that offers one Welsh business (three years or younger) the opportunity to win a brand and web-package worth well over £10,000.

“Can I tell you? I was going to win Brand Labs if it killed me.”

“They will make you feel like you can achieve anything you dream of!”

We answer the internet’s most asked questions on a topic we love to talk about… Graphic Design.

Our Instagram followers asked us website questions, and our Web Developer answered!

Let’s face it, a well designed website can make or break your online presence.

Did you know – Wales has the 10th largest server farm in the world! But what the hec is a server farm?

Once upon a time, a ‘good-enough’ logo and a business card would have been enough to get you through the door. Not anymore…

Our studio isn’t just a workspace, it’s an extension of our brand ethos, us as a team and the immersive quality of our process.

The Brand Labs finalists who blew our socks off!

Creative block. The dreadful, infuriating, inescapable monotony of a brain that won’t switch on…

“I give myself daily reminders to remain realistic, practical, strategic and to not buy-in to ‘grind culture’. Your worth is not measured by your productivity.”

Typography is one of the key areas of branding and is often the bedrock of any successful identity.

A miscellaneous collection of images that have inspired us this year.

Why do we connect with certain brands better than others? Why are there certain brands that, no matter what they sell, produce or drop, we’re right there waiting with bated breath to see what they do next?

It’s finally time for us to introduce you to our new team members; four amazing people with a very particular set of skills…

Brand Labs means so much more to us than a prize — here’s why. Meet the Brand Labs panel.

“Branding alone has accelerated my company months if not years ahead of schedule.”

Revealing the three shortlisted entries for Brand Labs 2021.

Congratulations Discover Cymru!

To mark International Week of Happiness at Work, we want to tell you about Officevibe and the reasons we vibe with it.

Brand Labs is our chance to give back to local start-ups, and we’re mega proud of it. Take a look at the ongoing journey of this year’s winner, Discover Cymru.

“My nan’s nickname for me is ‘admin’ because I even organise my family… I love lists and plans – ticking…

Don’t be fooled by packaging; it may seem like a bit of a boring subject at first, but there’s something about a packaging project that gets our hearts ticking. Take a browse at our top packaging picks…

There’s a myriad of reasons one should update their website, which moves us nicely along to you. Is it time for you to update your website? Here are just some of the reasons why the answer to that might be yes. 

Click here for our 2021 Christmas closing times. We hope you have a very merry Christmas, and a tidy New Year!

With 2021 drawn to a close, we’re starting off with an exciting and inspiring 2022 here at designdough. What better way than to kick off the New Year with good ol’ traditions? Have a nose at our goals, plans and hobbies for 2022 here…

You may be wondering – what on Earth is Asana? That’s where we can come in. From managing everyday tasks to planning ahead for big projects, Asana is our favourite project management tool, and here’s why…

The brand that re-invented what it means to be outdoors. Read our analysis of Patagonia’s brand values and how they sparked an environmental clothing revolution.

(Image Credit: Nationwide UK) Brand tone of voice is specially designed to showcase the brand’s goals, values and personality through a particular word choice. Find yours here.

This is designdough’s investigation into the iconic NASA logo. The Meatball and The Worm took the world by storm in their own ways, but which one is your favourite?

It’s time for another team choice blog from us at designdough. What would our last meals be if we had the choice? Read on if you’re morbidly curious…we won’t judge!

Sustainable packaging is nothing new, but businesses are only just starting to realise the benefit. Take a read of our sustainable packaging top tips…

Designing for accessibility isn’t just something that’s ‘nice to have’ – it’s a legal requirement! Here are our tips on how to make design accessible…

We’ve tried lots of communication platforms in our time, but Slack well and truly won our hearts a few years ago. And here’s why…

Our rebranding journey with The Care Collective, as they join other national charities to raise much-needed awareness for Carers Week 2022.

Stakeholder engagement starts from the very beginning of any project. So, how does designdough work with Stakeholders?

Have you seen that we’re advertising for our new Graphic Design Summer Intern? We’ve put together our 6 Top Tips for applying.

Brand Labs is back! We want to help a Welsh start up build the brand they dreamed of, no strings attached.

Who has made our Brand Labs 2022 shortlist? Read it here.

Read all about our incredible Brand Labs 2022 winner here.

If we can define what a brand is, we can begin to understand why some are so successful over others.

This list isn’t a one way ticket to getting hired. However, if you follow these simple steps, you are certainly off to a strong start.

Branded House vs House of Brands – Maximising Brand Impact   In a Branded House strategy, the company has a…

Who has made our Brand Labs 2022 shortlist? Read it here.

We’re shaking things up a little this Christmas…   As the festive season rolls around, the air in the designdough…

We have some exciting news to share! Starting this month, we’re shaking things up a bit with the introduction of…

The Creative Industry: A New Frontier On Christmas Day, like so many others, we settled down to watch the brilliant…

Flying the Flag for Welsh Food and Drink Welsh food and drink is flying the flag for our small but…