Image Management
Background and Experience
The Design Collective team has a very diverse experience platform that spans many different aspects of the design world. Whilst many have direct links with design in the built environment, through development of technique and our collective design process, TDC are able to apply their knowledge of design to any creative discipline. We pride ourselves on applying the same design ethos to a range of creative disciplines. A more detailed description of The Design Collectives background can be viewed on the following file;
The road to The Design Collective
Awards
2019 Housing Design Awards – Completed Winner – Sustainable Housing Scheme
2019 RIBA Sustainability Award
2020 New Designers Sky Award – The Design Collective
Autodesk Young Architect of the year – Charles Saunders
Philosophy
Creativity - We pride ourselves on combining originality with unique expression to offer a creative output that stimulates the imagination. Our work is characterized by the sophisticated bending of original conventions to produce unique and individual solutions to our clients needs.
Multi-disciplined - TDC combine several academic disciplines to create a unique approach to design that offers a degree flexibility to suit a need. We consider variety and diversity of skill to be a key element in delivering a successful design process.
Efficiency - In a company that designs for function, efficiency is always key. We utilize our resources to their full potential, whilst creating successful solutions that are derived from the most methodical processes.
Innovation – We aim to provide a service that is innovative at every stage of its duration. Keeping up with technology, culture, design and society is key to delivering successful design solutions and being at the forefront of this sector is of up most importance to our organisation.
Teamwork - TDC’s design philosophy has a great emphasis on teamwork. Using our experienced team as a collective unit helps us to deliver design solutions that are successful in every aspect of their realisation. We pride ourselves displaying how teamwork is an invaluable skill within the creative sector. We enjoy showing how it’s integrated and collaborative qualities enable successful and efficient design solutions.
Consultancy – The Design Collective has the up most respect for its consultants. We categorise our consultants as ‘the collective’. This framework is more explicitly explained in ‘Consultants’ further on the page. They provide the diversity and skill set that makes The Design Collectives creative solutions so successful. We believe that a healthy relationship between the director design team and the consultant group is the route to success.
Ethos and Style
‘There is beauty in function, we design what works’ - This was derived from our broad background. Our willingness to deliver successful projects in the most efficient, cost effective and customer pleasing ways lends itself to a function first approach. We strongly believe there is a desirable aesthetic brought out through a products function and that this should not be compromised on. Our style of work centres around innovation and providing quality products that provide solutions to a clients problems. Our ethos provides a sustainable way of designing as it ensures the workable nature of any project we undertake.
Please refer to the ‘Collective Approach’ section of this website to see our full design ethos and positioning statement.
Consultants
The Design Collective has a very unique relationship with its consultants. The Company itself is formed from two bodies – ‘the family’ and ‘the collective’. The family consists of the Directors; Anna, Jenny, Charles, Daniel, Scott and Miles.
The collective consists of our trusted and experienced consultants. We have strived to create a base of reliable consultants who we have built very strong relationships with over a length of time. These consultants span may disciplines and help to provide The Design Collective with its distinct diversity in skills. We utilise the same consultants for each job of similar type to help build these relationships and create a reliable work force. These consultants work on an hourly paid basis, often alongside another career. This enables TDC to create ideal combinations of team members for each project, allowing for the selection of very specific skills if necessary.
TDC have consultants spanning almost every aspect of the design world, some of which are listed below;
Architecture
Urban Design
Master planning
Graphic Design
Product Design
Photography
Heritage and Conservation
Interior Design
Engineering
CAD Specialist
Art
Technologist
Surveyor
A diagram explaining this framework is available at the following file;
Relationship with Institutions
The Design Collective believes investing in youth is the key to a successful future. Youth bring creativity and imagination and therefore TDC strive to target local institutions and prospective graduates who display evidence of design potential.
As each of our 6 Directors began their careers from Nottingham Trent University we have all built a rapport with this institution. TDC is often used as an example in what is possible after university as it is easy for graduates to relate to the successes of the organisation. As each director has its roots in Nottingham, Trent University has a strong relationship with TDC. Directors often hold seminars and lectures within the university in exchange for exposure to the latest talent. TDC is often referred graduates with strong potential. Graduates fuel the collective. Organisations such as The Hive in Nottingham Trent University help set up individuals form the university. These individuals are then listed by TDC and added to our bank of consultants so we can utilise their skills as soon as the opportunity arises.
The gallery is a key way of integrating the work of local institutions with work undertaken by The Design Collective. The gallery provides a platform for local exposure of design work. Its space caters for local institutions to display work from any design field. Not only does this encourage design students to display their work publicly but also it gives them an opportunity to view the permanent exhibitions hosted by The Design Collective. It also gives TDC a chance to see the local young design talent. TDC feel it is important to build a healthy relationship with local institutions and strive to keep their work accessible to all ages in the hope that this sparks interest in the organisation and sparks imagination within the youth.
Youth – TDC invest in youth. We believe that youth bring creativity and imagination. However this imagination and creativity works best when it is harnessed by experience. This combination of new and experienced is a philosophy that TDC take very seriously and believe it is the basis of creating a successful design team.
Client Interaction
At TDC we describe ourselves as ‘people people’.
We feel relationship building is very important and an invaluable skill. We consider it very important to create a relationship with a client that enables them to talk with us with no barriers or boundaries. We interact with clients in such a way as to encourage more work from the same sources. By creating this sort of connection our name and ethos will spread by word of mouth, extending our network of trusted clients.
S.W.O.T Analysis
