When you’ve been in business as long as we have, you develop a keen awareness of market trends: current design aesthetics, popular colors, technology adoption, preferred workflows…and much, much more. Everything is in flux, and many societal preferences are cyclical in nature. Not long ago, numerous organizations sought out “one-stop shops” that promised to handle all of their creative needs—from promotional writing and graphic design to data management and media buys. But the pendulum seems to be swinging the other way, with associations showing greater acceptance of—and even embracing—a collaborative team approach to achieve their goals.
What’s A Collaborative Team?
Individual experts in different fields working together in service of a common objective make up a collaborative team. An organization holding its annual convention might employ one trusted vendor to assemble and oversee a team consisting of a project manager, copywriter, graphic designer, printer, exhibit fabricator, web developer, etc.; each of these team members would be cherry-picked for their superior knowledge and skill to provide the best overall outcome.
Why Teams Work
Bringing together the right people from various disciplines generates multiple points of view on a given project. Assessing challenges from different perspectives creates a dynamic synergy among peers that leads to more effective solutions.
At Dever Designs, we recognize that we can’t be all things to all people…but we’re very good at what we do. Beyond providing thoughtful graphic design, we assemble and manage teams to execute large, complex projects ranging from websites to custom exhibit spaces. By partnering when appropriate with experts in other fields who share our passion for creative solutions that work and outstanding customer service, each party is empowered to focus on their strengths and be inspired by fresh ideas. Not only does this provide our clients with a first-string performance for every job, it also maximizes efficiencies of process that yield more bang for your buck.
Utilizing teams may offer benefits beyond working with the best and brightest. The large-scale retirement of baby boomers has led to many leadership positions being filled by much younger staff. These tech-savvy professionals can invigorate organizations but may lack experience or institutional knowledge of the design and production process. The resulting learning curves may make hiring a one-stop shop appealing…until you get their estimates. While larger agencies can command higher fees, smaller firms or niche specialists typically have lower overhead expenses than their “do-everything” counterparts. If your organization doesn’t have the resources to engage a mega-agency, teams can be a cost-effective alternative.
When offered to clients in complete transparency, forming a team of external partners can provide an effective, value-added experience for you and your audience.
Is a team-based approach right for you? Give us a call at 301-776-2812 to explore the possibilities and start the conversation.