Strafe Creative
Creating a sound base for business success
Drawing on The Hive's services has provided a solid foundation for two enterprising young designers whose vibrant new agency has built a diverse international client base in less than a year. As founders of Strafe Creative, product design graduates Ross Davies and Patrick Dolan knew exactly where to go to transform their creativity and originality into a viable business venture. A few months after graduating from Nottingham Trent University, they enrolled for Enterprise Inc and then took their entrepreneurial skills to the next level with the HeadStart programme. They have operated from an office in The Hive for the last few months.
"It was a natural decision to turn to The Hive. We'd heard a lot about it already, right from the first year of our studies, through talks, open days and Enterprise Week," said Ross. "HeadStart is structured in such a way as to give you the confidence to get your ideas off the ground. You're learning as you go along and the support you receive from The Hive is superb because it's so flexible and responsive. You can ask for advice when you need it but you're never treated in a patronising way." As well as gaining start-up funding through Enterprise Inc, they were introduced to a business mentor with a background in the creative branding and design industry. The flexibility of having a dedicated office at the University - with 24-hour access - is another advantage, along with the chance to network with both established and fledgling businesses in The Hive's community. "The business relationships we've established are very important to us – you're learning not just from The Hive team but from everyone else based here. The regular networking events and talks from industry specialists are always well supported and very useful," added Patrick.
Promising a total design approach, Strafe Creative's services encompass branding, graphic design, print design, web design, content management systems, eCommerce development and search engine optimisation. Its clients range from start-up businesses to large global companies, from the automotive industry to the education sector. Conscious of the huge amount of competition in the design agency field, the duo have built their reputation not just on their powerful and imaginative design ideas, which have earned them several award nominations in a relatively short space of time. Close client relationships throughout a job, no matter its size, are an equally essential part of the picture, with Strafe promising a bespoke, individually tailored service for each customer.
"We've found that the word of mouth aspect of promotion has been really important to us. We've had excellent referrals from existing clients and, thanks to The Hive, have learned the value of networking and following up on our contacts. It helps us keep up the momentum," continued Patrick. Both Ross and Patrick feel that the continuing link with the University overall is also important because of its dynamic creative environment, offering access to a wealth of information and inspirational resources.
For further information visit the Strafe Creative website.
