Launching a start-up company and the benefits of branding

HI folks, this is a revised blog that I originally wrote back in the salad days of 2019 PP (Pre Pandemic). Its relevance now though is stronger than ever as we pause for reflection, reassess our priorities and willingly embrace change. During this unforeseen break in the continuity of our lives you may have woken up and realised that you’re actually sick of your nine-to-five, fed up working under incompetent middle managers and want to give it up and strike out on your own. You may have been nursing a long held ambition or spotted a gap in the market, but whatever has prompted you to start up a company be in no doubt that the path to business success is not an easy one and requires a lot of hard work and soul searching to bring your vision into sustainable life.

Artistic challenges in the digital era

The world is fast changing, new technology, new thinking, (don’t mention New Labour). In the relatively short space of 50 years, the digital world has engulfed us all and many would argue has become crucial to the functioning of society. As an artist myself, the relevant question is, what does that mean for the contemporary artist in the internet era? Are there any downsides to the many positives that the internet era offers?

Launching a start-up company and the benefits of branding

Ok folks, here we are again it’s almost the New Year and people are thinking about giving things up for a short while; booze, pies, cigarettes, bad habits - whatever. However what if you’ve woken up and realised that you’re actually sick of your nine-to-five, fed up working under incompetent middle managers and want to give it up and strike out on your own. You may have been nursing a long held ambition or spotted a gap in the market, but whatever has prompted you to start up a company be in no doubt that the path to business success is not an easy one and requires a lot of hard work and soul searching to bring your vision into sustainable life.

“Working’ 9 to 5
Oh, what a way to make a livin'
Barely gettin' by
It's all takin' and no givin'

A tasteful look at the ingredients of good design

Casting my mind back a few decades, as a rookie designer my portfolio was full of overly complex design solutions. I hoped to impress by showing off the various tricks and techniques I had learned thus far; fancy fonts, drop shadows here, grungy textures there and an array of colours that would make an impressive coat for any would-be Joseph. Unfortunately as any follower of Masterchef will agree - a large assortment of ingredients, flavours and cheffy techniques all on the one plate doesn’t necessarily make a good dish.

Utilising design for the common good

I am privileged with having the freedom to decide and dictate the path my graphic design business takes and as a person unapologetically of the left leaning persuasion, Lennon Design has always reflected my values.

Over the years my personal mission has been to work closely with the third sector, arming the many charities and voluntary organisations with professional communication tools to help raise their profile, get their messages out to their communities and assist them to compete for the scarce but essential funding they require for survival in this austerity age.

Well I’m looking at the calendar and I can’t believe it’s April already. Why the radio silence, what became of the more regular chatty blogs? Well folks, quite simply I’ve been doing a bit of life restructuring and dream following, both at the same time - who says we can’t multi-task.

I’m writing this and wondering how to avoid sounding like a well-meaning but hectoring life coach. The answer is I’m not sure I can but what I’ll do is simply offer you my approach rather than a few glib one size fits all mantras and promise to keep adjusting the tone if I start to stray. Deal?