TOP DESIGNS 2010 Inside Professional Practice Will Mahon Will Mahon is Creative Director of Atticus Design. Atticus Design are a small graphic design studio based in Footscray, offering creative communication solutions in branding, logo design, print design, packaging, and web design. Atticus Design strive to deliver engaging, creative solutions tailored to each of their clients’ needs, in the arts, not for profit, retail and corporate sector. www.atticusdesign.com.au How do you get new business? Since becoming a graphic designer way back when... I’ve come to realise that everyone in this world needs to know a graphic designer. If I had received a dollar for every time after telling people that I’m a graphic designer they say, ‘oooh I know someone who needs a graphic designer’.... well I’d have a full jar of gold coins.
Perfect Black Swan CD Cover © Atticus Design 2010
The majority of projects we’ve been involved in have come about through word of mouth and referrals. Referrals from existing clients, industry contacts, and friends are a good way for people to know a bit more about the business they will potentially hire, as the recommendation is more than likely based on a positive experience from that referee.
It also helps to have a good portfolio of your work on hand to show prospective clients - one which is kept regularly up to date with current work, and is easily adaptable depending on the sort of client you are meeting with. A website showing examples of work is also very effective at capturing the attention of new clients.
Tell us about some of your clients. Well it’s a mixed bag of lollies, and they’re all different flavours. Our clients range from large corporate world-wide organisations to small businesses, community arts organisations, food packaging companies, musicians, law firms, arts festivals, aid organisations and education bodies. We purposely try to keep our client base as varied as possible, with an eye on trying to have both corporate as well as community based arts and cultural organisations and businesses. In working for such a diverse client base it’s important to be flexible in not just the creative ideas you’re communicating, but also being able to work within certain budgets, timeframes and business models.
1
Bayside Youth Charter Logo © Atticus Design 2010