Notes on Getting in Touch
Written at the studio table, for anyone who wants to start a conversation about a design problem that needs careful thought.
Field note one: the drawing table, where most briefs are first sketched, argued over and reduced to a single question.
How to reach the centre
The Centre for Competitive Creative Design works with organisations that want their design work to hold up under comparison. That may mean a competition entry, a product that has to stand out on a crowded shelf, or a public project that must be judged fairly against others.
If you have a problem of that kind, the first step is a short message. You do not need a finished specification. A clear description of what you are trying to achieve and why it matters is enough to begin.
Before you write, it helps to gather a few details so the first conversation is productive.
- A written brief, even if it is rough
- The names of the people who will use the outcome
- The decision you need to make in the next few weeks
- Any limits on time, budget or materials
Send a message
Use the form below. Replies are sent from a member of the team who reads the brief before answering, so please describe the work in your own words.
Questions before you write
No. A rough sense of scale is useful, but many first conversations are about whether the problem is worth solving and what kind of help would fit it.
Yes. Competition work is one of the central concerns of the centre. Describe the brief, the deadline and the criteria the judges will use.
The overview of core activities describes how the centre approaches design problems, and the news section records recent work.
Field note two: proofs pinned up for review. Every draft is read aloud before it is judged.
Field note three: colour swatches sorted by hand, because the screen is not the only place a palette is tested.
If your message concerns an existing project with a partner, say so in the first line. It helps us reply to the right people.
Field note four: the notebook kept open on the sill. Most of the centre's work begins with writing down what was not yet clear.