Sheffield Based Design Studios

Given my liking for my home city of Sheffield, I thought it a good idea to look into design studios in Sheffield that could potentially be a route into the design industry for me. I'd much rather start my working professional life somewhere I know and like rather than have ambitions of moving straight away to London, Amsterdam or Barcelona.

Vivid

Vivid specialise in Web Design, Brand Development, and Marketing Campaigns. In order to attract work they offer a free 'Brand Review' before work is started to find out whats important to the client and pinpoint what needs to be improved on.

They encapsulate the pride and friendliness that I like about Sheffield in their website, making it clear on their website that they're from Sheffield as well as using the local colloquialism of 'Na Then'.

The work they do is varied judging by their portfolio, but it's all really nice work and seems to be complete projects rather than doing some work as part of other work, which demonstrates a strong trust between the studio and the client.

Zemleduch Design

Zemleduch was founded by Błażej Zemleduch from Poland in 2000 after he'd completed an Architectural Engineering degree in Wroclaw. He collaborated with Sheffield based companies in the past which brought him to Sheffield. Zemleduch does interior design as well as branding, logo design, web design, print design and illustration, as well as murals and interior design, which makes it slightly different from most studios.

The international history of Zemleduch is reflected in some of their work, with the studio having done work for companies and organisations in places such as Poland (which is to be somewhat expected) and Strasbourg in France. 

Square One Design

Like Vivid, Square One is a design agency that mention their location on their website, which is something that other studios I've looked at such as Ochre Media, N&S, Knox and even Zemleduch don't do.

They've worked with a variety of local businesses ranging such as City Taxis, as well as some of the things the First Things First Manifesto endorses (not that I'm particularly bothered about this) such as schools and South Yorkshire Police.

I actually know Jonathan, the account director, through my family. Before I sent off my university applications I had arranged to do two weeks work experience with Square One, and I think it was probably one of the main reasons I was accepted into LCA. I enjoyed my time their and hope to speak to Jonathan over Easter at some point with a view to organising a slightly longer placement period over Summer. I last spoke to him at Christmas at his youngest sons first birthday, so didn't deem it a suitable time to discuss it then.