Design week top 100 features B&B studio as one of ‘the ones to watch’

Article reprinted from Design Week:

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It’s ‘all systems go’ for B&B Studio founders Shaun Bowen and Kerry Bolt. Specialising in brand identity and packaging design, the consultancy opened for business on 1st January, but neither partner is daunted by the economic downturn. ‘We both recognize we need a new challenge’, says Bowen.

Bowen and Bolt previously worked at Pearlfisher as creative director and client service director respectively. Prior to that, Bowen worked at Lewis Moberly, while Bolt joined Pearlfisher after four years at Enterprise IG (now the Brand Union).

They maintain that the range of their experience has given them the level of expertise to offer large consultancy experience, with the care and attention a small group can deliver. According to Bowen, ‘The economic climate suits us at the moment, as we offer clients resolutions for smarter ways of working, while still demanding great creative thinking, but giving more attention and better value’.

B&B is not aspiring to be a large business, and, as with most consultancies, the partners want to grow steadily through the recession. The aim is to keep the overheads low, using a flexible business model with a trusted network of talented people who offer a variety of expertise and skills. ‘This allows us to size up or down as the project and our clients require’, says Bowen.

Bowen and Bolt are great advocates of creativity and say the quality of the work will not be sacrificed just because it’s on a low budget. ‘Our philosophy centres around three key areas: doing great work; working with people we like; and adding value to everything we do’, says Bowen.

B&B believes that people are a consultancy’s greatest asset. ‘The most important aspect for us is to work with great people. If we do this, our client relationships should be nurtured and valued’, says Bowen.