Web design and development trends in 2022
The web-based world is undergoing a creative explosion. Advances in web design technology, along with the consistent need for the next big attention-grabbing design, mean new trends are emerging at an unprecedented rate. It’s important that web developers stay up to date with the latest trends, or risk sinking into the black hole of internet hasbeens.Let’s take a look at some of the web design and development trends we can expect to see in 2022.
The web-based world is undergoing a creative explosion. Advances in web design technology, along with the consistent need for the next big attention-grabbing design, mean new trends are emerging at an unprecedented rate. It’s important that web developers stay up to date with the latest trends, or risk sinking into the black hole of internet hasbeens.
Let’s take a look at some of the web design and development trends we can expect to see in 2022.
Scaled-back hero images
Being the first thing that visitors see, it’s long been critical to have hero images that grab and retain the attention of your audience. The tricky part is keeping your designs consistent with the subtle trends in hero image formatting.
2022 will see the rise of more typographically orientated hero images, with a restrained use of images and illustrations. Distractions will be kept to a minimum, while your carefully crafted copy will command the attention of your audience.
This does not, however, mean that design creativity is lost in favour of copy. Focusing on typography alone may seem to limit design options, but with careful colour and style selections it’s possible to create tasteful, creative and stunningly simple designs that allow the words to make an impact.
Minimalism with a twist
The concept of minimalism is nothing new to web design. Back-to-basics designs with lots of white space are both attractive and help to avoid overwhelming your visitors, so they can quickly process the information on your site and find what they need. In addition, classic minimalistic styles allow for a sleek, tidy and professional feel that many brands desire.
Much of this hasn’t changed, although the overuse of monochrome minimalism means this style has somewhat fallen out of favour. Fear not, for 2022 will bring subtle twists to keep the concept fresh. Injections of colour, creative typography and vivid imagery are great ways to keep the minimalist concept alive, but with enough of a kick to entice your audience.
Careful consideration should be given to the colour palette of your designs based on the atmosphere you’re trying to convey. For sophistication and professionalism, perhaps consider a restrained, calming colour palette such as those used on the current Shopify website. For something requiring a little more ‘oumph’, bold, bright colours can be used to maintain a clean canvas while showcasing a vibrant brand personality.
It’s important to remember that minimalism should apply to the copy as well as the design. Text must be kept to an absolute minimum, while ensuring that it conveys all the information it needs to. As with the visual elements of this design style, minimalist copy is much harder to create than you might expect, and it can actually take a long time to write just a few words.
After all, less is more.
Page interactivity
Everybody loves a game; it’s just human nature. One of the most powerful web design tools going into 2022 will be interactive page elements that directly respond to cursor movements or clicks, grabbing the user’s attention and encouraging engagement.
By adding interactivity or even gamification elements to the landing page of your website design, you’re setting yourself up for a significantly reduced bounce rate. The innate human desire to play and examine something that piques our interest overrides the habitual back-click formed by a lifetime of media saturation.
This is a fantastic way to build anticipation, as the user will become increasingly curious to see what will happen next. It also gives extra time for the remainder of your page to drive home your brand’s message and convince the visitor that they should check out the other exciting things you have to offer. A completely outrageous but utterly brilliant example of this comes in the form of a personal resume by Robby Leonardi. I have no innate interest in this guy or his skills, yet I now know all about him. Well done!
I can’t end this section without a mention of possibly the most popular interactive element of any webpage, and something I can almost guarantee you’ve interacted with over the years. The legend. The icon. I am of course referring to the Google Chrome dinosaur game. How much time has been spent on this dropped-connection screen over the years in favour of doing something far more productive?
In 2022, embrace your inner dinosaur game and start encouraging interactivity.
How will you handle web design and development in 2022?
This is but a snapshot of the upcoming trends that will define web design in 2022. With a mix of attention-grabbing interactivity and subtle less-is-more elegance, this year has lots to inspire (and confuse) web developers in all industries.
If you need help navigating the constantly shifting landscape of web design and development, contact DWH today and we’ll happily be your guides.
Digital marketing trends we can expect in 2022
Digital marketing can be a fickle beast. Although it’s important to plan for both the short- and long-term futures, it’s impossible to be certain which way the trends are going to go. However, industry giants do us a great service by performing huge amounts of research on these topics, giving us some insights into expected upcoming trends. 2020 threw the world a curveball that it never saw coming and like many, digital marketers were caught completely unawares. After two years of the ‘new normal’, we’re dusting ourselves down and getting back on track. So, without further ado, here are some of the expected digital marketing trends for 2022.
Digital marketing can be a fickle beast. Although it’s important to plan for both the short- and long-term futures, it’s impossible to be certain which way the trends are going to go. However, industry giants do us a great service by performing huge amounts of research on these topics, giving us some insights into expected upcoming trends. 2020 threw the world a curveball that it never saw coming and like many, digital marketers were caught completely unawares. After two years of the ‘new normal’, we’re dusting ourselves down and getting back on track. So, without further ado, here are some of the expected digital marketing trends for 2022.
Privacy is king
Privacy was perhaps the buzzword of internet-related affairs in 2021 and that shows absolutely no sign of abating. Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), tracking-free search engines and encrypted communications are rapidly becoming the norm, as consumers become increasingly concerned that companies know more about them than they’d like.
While this long-overdue societal shift restores a little faith that we won’t completely descend into a 1984-style Orwellian dystopia, it does pose a challenge for digital marketers. 2022 is the year where brands have to get it right. One wrong privacy-related gaffe has the ability to smash a reputation, and it will take a long time to rebuild that trust.
Data protection strategies need to be reviewed with a customer-first approach, and brands have to accept that they’ll have less data available for digital marketing purposes. Be proactive in assessing the impact this may have on your marketing strategy and consider alternative means of targeting your audience.
Video marketing
Video marketing is rapidly on the rise, with social media platforms consistently reporting increasing engagement over the last few years. In fact, video is the most engaged-with form of social content, with 85% of marketers considering short-form video the most effective form of social media content in 2021.
Thanks to the more human element, videos allow digital marketers to connect with their audiences in a way that no other content form can. Whether it features a friendly-faced presenter or a simple voice over, our brains are hardwired to lock in on it. This makes it far easier to form a bond with your audience, rapidly building credibility and loyalty if managed correctly.
There’s an abundance of data available on the effectiveness of video on various platforms, along with comparisons of different forms of video themselves. Product demonstrations, webinars and live video events form a portion of this list, and each has its place. However, it’s interesting to see that live events tend to be watched three times longer than pre-recorded video and are a very popular way for audiences to learn about new products. This approach taps into the FOMO effect (fear of missing out), as audiences want to be the first to get snippets of game-changing information in a live event.
Any way you look at it, video marketing is going to be a key tool for digital marketers in 2022.
Embracing technology
The march of technology never ceases – it’s part of what makes our jobs so interesting! However, figuring out the direction of the next shift is almost as challenging as the development of a marketing strategy to utilise it.
Of course, advancements in technology take almost limitless forms. Chatbots and AI began to take to the digital marketing stage a few years back, and many brands have been keen to adopt them as part of their websites and social media. However, for smaller companies, figuring out this new tech was a little out of their scope.
As these tools have become the norm, simple, ready-to-use options have surfaced, allowing brands of all sizes to reap the benefits. By establishing an immediate line of communication with customers and giving instant answers, you can provide a great experience that encourages them to make a purchase and return to your brand in the future.
In a similar vein, voice search has also enjoyed continued popularity with consumers, with rapid improvements to reliability in this area of technology offering a convenient alternative to typing. To stand a chance in the SERPs once voice takes over, you need to make sure your website is optimised for voice search by prioritising the who, what, why, when, where and how questions that make up semantic searches relating to your industry. This is particularly important for local SEO campaigns and ranking for “near me” searches.
How will you approach digital marketing in 2022?
2022 heralds interesting times for digital marketers, encouraging us to further evolve with the times and consider the concerns of our audience, and how best to address them.
One thing is clear, the role of marketing is developing far beyond selling products, making an already complex job even more daunting. If you need help with your digital marketing strategy in 2022, contact DWH today and we’ll be happy to discuss the right way to move your brand forward.
Graphic design trends we can expect in 2022
Graphic design exists to serve its audience, and they can be a demanding lot. Trends rise and fall at a dizzying pace and it’s up to us to pre-empt the mood of the people. 2021 was yet another chaotic year, leaving for many of us a gaping hole where the fun once was. One of the many trying to step up and fill that void are the graphic designers, who are looking to inject a little more joy with a definitive shift towards quirky, bright and bold. So, let’s look at the graphic design trends we can expect in 2022.
Graphic design exists to serve its audience, and they can be a demanding lot. Trends rise and fall at a dizzying pace and it’s up to us to pre-empt the mood of the people. 2021 was yet another chaotic year, leaving for many of us a gaping hole where the fun once was. One of the many trying to step up and fill that void are the graphic designers, who are looking to inject a little more joy with a definitive shift towards quirky, bright and bold. So, let’s look at the graphic design trends we can expect in 2022.
The ’90s nostalgia revolution
Tried and tested concepts from a few decades earlier can be a great way to create audience engagement.
This is nothing new, but in 2022 we’re finally saying goodbye to the wave of ’80s nostalgia and welcoming in the ’90s, with its outrageous colours and more than a hint of grunge. From fashion to entertainment, we’re set to be bombarded with an eclectic mix of resurrected franchises, loud colour choices, quirky characters and chunky typography.
It’s fair to say that our lives have been “flipped-turned upside down” over the last couple of years. Reminiscing about less apocalyptic times is a surefire way of invoking happy memories, and is a brilliant way of creating an instant connection between your brand and your customers.
Muted colour combinations
Of course, bold, bright and obnoxious won’t do for every design. Many designers are opting for a much more restrained palette of muted colours. This allows them to create striking pieces that draw the eye while retaining a sense of elegance and grace, which might be the exact opposite of a brazen ’90s-inspired palette.
Designers are utilising these muted themes in a multitude of different ways, from combining them with simple geometric shapes to creating delicately intricate layered designs. Saga, provider of financial services for the over 50s, portrays this perfectly in their 2022 rebrand. They’ve opted for calming blue and turquoise hues, but have layered simple shapes to create beautifully stylish patterns.
Alternatively, muted colours can be incredibly powerful when utilised in the form of minimalism. We’ve moved beyond the effectiveness of the black-and-white designs that define the minimalist trend, with artists looking for new ways to keep their canvas clean but engaging. Muted colours seem to be the answer. Support provider Zendesk perfectly demonstrates the effectiveness of this simple approach, as seen on their current homepage banner.
An evolution in eco graphic design
It’s taken a long time for the world to take real notice of environmental issues. However, 2021 saw such a rush of it that there’s a risk of consumer fatigue with the same old ideas being used to push eco-focused agendas.
The subtle greens and browns, along with the overuse of tranquil landscape imagery and the hands-holding-the-planet cliché have been done to death. As such, they’re quickly losing their impact. This year, designers are going to have to come up with far more creative ways to promote environmentally friendly values.
One answer could be putting your money where your mouth is. There’s an increased focus on the materials and methods used for your graphics, rather than just the graphics themselves. Sustainable materials, planet-friendly inks and recyclable packaging will be key. This will undoubtedly detract from the pristine aesthetics we’re accustomed to, but if done correctly it can instantly show the positive environmental intentions of a brand.
Lose the sheen, keep ’em keen in 2022.
How will your graphic design reinvigorate your audience?
2022 is set to be a bit of a confusing year for the graphic design industry. On the one hand, ’90s nostalgia demands bold, quirky choices, while the muted colour trend calls for elegance and restraint. And how do you flaunt your eco-friendliness while evoking a decade known for tonnes of plastic and waste?
It all comes down to finding the right balance for your brand, and not just following trends because they’re trendy. Need a little help figuring out the right path to take? Talk to DWH.
Branding trends we can expect in 2022
We’ve closed the lid on 2021 and, let’s be honest, it wasn’t the huge improvement on 2020 that we were all hoping for. Luckily, industries weren’t caught napping this time, and the evolution of branding and identity is back to its usual frantic pace. With all of us wanting a little more fun in our lives at this point, we’re seeing a definitive shift in brand identity towards something bolder and more playful that we haven’t really had the pleasure of experiencing in recent years. Let’s look at the branding trends we can expect to see in 2022.
We’ve closed the lid on 2021 and, let’s be honest, it wasn’t the huge improvement on 2020 that we were all hoping for. Luckily, industries weren’t caught napping this time, and the evolution of branding and identity is back to its usual frantic pace. With all of us wanting a little more fun in our lives at this point, we’re seeing a definitive shift in brand identity towards something bolder and more playful that we haven’t really had the pleasure of experiencing in recent years. Let’s look at the branding trends we can expect to see in 2022.
Go big. Go bold. Go bright.
Are you of the generation where you remember starting up the computer, opening Microsoft Paint and just chucking shapes and bright colours around with gleeful abandon? I know I am, but maybe that’s just showing my age.
We’re seeing a shift towards a return of play and a revival of the colour-loving child within. If you want to get noticed in 2022 then you might want to think big, bold and bright. Fun fonts, playful copy and colourful characters are set to be major players in the coming year; the sort of branding that grabs hold of audiences and demands to be displayed on the fridge for all to see.
It will be of little surprise to find out that light-hearted, seriousness-not-required brands are embracing this with ease. UK coffee giant Costa has adopted quirky caricatures for its recently rolled out loyalty scheme, while milk alternative behemoth Oatly has opted for what can only be described as thrilling chaos, as seen on their current homepage. Let’s not even get started on IKEA’s buff bears, one of the most memorable ads of recent months.
What might be a little more thought provoking is that traditionally serious industries have also started to adopt this technique. It’s as if there’s been a mass realisation by those aiming to solve grown-up problems like insurance and finances that they’re not exactly the coolest kids on the block.
GoCompare have adopted bright blocks of colour with a smiling newspaper-clipping style mugshot of their divisive mascot, while mortgage lender Habito, always ahead of the branding trend curve, enlisted swirling gradients and eye-catching illustrations early in 2021.
With these in mind, 2022 is set to be won by the brands that shout the loudest.
Retro vibes
The nostalgia phenomenon seen in all areas of pop culture has continued to grow, no doubt in part due to the all-too-dystopian nature of modern reality. Films, TV, games and music are all flooded with it, and it seems that major brands also want to get in on the action. In 2022, we’ll be seeing a return to logos, campaigns and styles that stir up fond memories of simpler times.
The bold, bright colour blocks, clever use of gradients and in-your-face style discussed in the previous section already go some way to evoking these emotions. However, for some it’s a little more obvious than that. Long-serving brands such as Burger King and Peugeot have already taken a step in this direction, with logo redesigns (or retrodesigns) paying homage to their long history and evoking design elements from the past.
Elegant simplicity
Along with a return to simpler times, design simplicity is also set to be a major player in 2022. Whether it be adopting a minimalist approach in your designs or clever use of negative space, many brands are sticking with the “less is more” mantra.
This style is effective as it creates an uncluttered canvas that affords the brand room to breathe, but it poses a challenge for designers. Logos, typography, marketing collateral and brand personality all need to create the maximum possible impact using back-to-basics elements like constrained colour palettes, an abundance of empty space and simple, limited text. When done right, however, this approach is a fantastic way to create an instantly recognisable brand with a distinct feel of sophistication.
What should your brand be doing in 2022?
Branding in 2022 is going to be incredibly interesting, with a mix of in-your-face visuals and less-is-more elegance. So, which way should your brand lean? Try something new this year, moving away from comfortable norms and taking a risk on something truly outstanding.
Whichever path you choose, branding trends for 2022 suggest it’s going to be a very interesting year indeed.
DWH's copywriter reacts to 2021 Christmas ads (Part 2)
Welcome to the second part of the festive fun, as Claire Baldwin watches the best 2021 Christmas ads according to Creativepool and shares her first impressions. Remember to check out Part 1 if you haven’t already!
After 15 festive ads, I’m still not feeling particularly Christmassy, though my birthday is in December so Christmas legally isn’t allowed to start until after that.
Let’s see if there’s anything in the second half of the list that will get me craving mince pies, mulled wine and cosy firesides…
Tesco: ‘This Christmas, Nothing’s Stopping Us’
While I hadn’t seen the advert already, I did know that there were 5,000 complaints about Santa showing his COVID passport, which I think is an absolutely ridiculous thing to phone the Advertising Standards Authority about.
I could maybe see it being an issue if it was the entire focus of the ad, but it’s just an amusing moment in a 90-second spot about the very British attitude of just getting on with things, even when it’s all gone to shit. I think a lot of kids would be relieved to hear that they won’t miss out on presents because Saint Nick is quarantining in the North Pole with Rudolph. It’s not like Tesco is giving away 500 Clubcard points when you show your vaccination card…
Tesco’s 2021 offering is pretty festive, but I always find it extremely jarring when a song as well known as Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ is chopped up like it is here. Few songs get a crowd pumped like this one, and it seems a bit of a waste to pay for the rights but never quite let it get going.
O2: ‘We’re better, connected’
With 1.5 million homes in the UK not being connected to the internet, O2 is pledging to donate free data to someone who needs it for every plan purchased. This is the true spirit of Christmas!
While the ad itself doesn’t feel particularly festive, and could be from any time of year were it not for the snowy streets and twinkling fairy lights, at least O2 is on the mark with the overall concept of their Christmas campaign.
Along with continuing the use of the network’s bubble motif as a metaphor for the data connection, we also see a return to O2’s slogan “We’re better, connected.” You couldn’t ask for a more perfect line for both the campaign and the first proper Christmas since COVID.
Debenhams: ‘A Christmas Like Never Before’
Here’s my big issue with Debenhams’ advert: the poem is absolutely awful. Nobody is forcing you to write a rhyming poem. If all the budget you have at your disposal for your big Christmas advert can’t deliver a poem that actually rhymes and scans well, then you’ve done something massively wrong. Maybe a kid wrote it and I’m just being a jerk, but that doesn’t stop it from being an objectively bad poem.
Also, “A Christmas like never before, delivered to your door” is a nice sentiment (and it actually rhymes), but I don’t think that’s what people want. We just want a normal Christmas! After trading sprouts for social distancing in 2020, I think we’d all just like to enjoy a completely uneventful day of spending time with family and friends.
House of Fraser: ‘House of Holiday’
This is a bit style over substance for my liking. House of Fraser is definitely aiming for a bit of style and glamour in their 2021 Christmas ad, but it doesn’t really do anything for me. Don’t get me wrong, it’s beautiful to look at, but it’s definitely more on the “please buy my stuff” end of the spectrum rather than the “let’s all enjoy a nice Christmas” end.
The message about finally being back together is nice, but it does feel a bit tacked on, like House of Fraser realised at the last minute that they should probably mention the nice family parts of Christmas instead of just trying to make people buy perfume and sequined gowns.
I also can’t quite understand all of the “House of …” statements. Some of these actors need to enunciate more. “The house of flahhh” isn’t inspiring me at all. And I swear that one lady says “florious”. I assume she’s actually saying “flawless” but it really doesn’t sound like it. She’s literally been paid to say one word and it’s a total miss.
Argos: ‘Baubles to Last Year!’
I quite liked this one! Argos hit the nail on the head with the “we’re all going to say screw 2020 and have a bumper Christmas” message that lots of brands have been tackling this year. Instead of just encouraging people to buy physical gifts, there’s more of a focus on fun, family and festive celebration.
I love the one guy in the office who’s absolutely Christmas mad with his beard baubles and totally tinselled desk. I can imagine a lot of desks looking like that this year! Granny opening the door to a single relative only to be surprised by dozens of guests queuing out the door was also a lovely moment.
As a ‘90s child, circling items in the Argos catalog really brought back a bit of nostalgia, and while the framing device designed to make everything look like it was part of the catalog wasn’t my favourite in terms of visuals, it showed great attention to detail for the Argos brand. The slogan “Baubles to last year!” could be stronger, though.
Very: ‘It’s the very best excuse’
YouTube tells me that Very published their Christmas advert in October, so they’re fully on board with the message of starting Christmas early! I just wish they’d done more with it. I love the image of Trick or Treaters receiving mince pies from a family dressed in matching Christmas jumpers, but the rest of the ad falls a little flat in comparison.
In a statement that will shock nobody who has read this far, I also hate the song. The stress of the syllables in the word “excuse” is totally wrong for half the lines they use it in, which is a real disappointment when it’s the entire concept of the Christmas campaign.
TK Maxx: ‘Christmas to the maxx’
Yes, TK Maxx! This ad focuses on a young lad absolutely stealing the show at the school’s Festive Comeback Concert thanks to the newfound confidence in his amazing holographic boots and I am here for it!
Best parts of this ad:
- Obviously the boots. Magnificent.
- An organ version of Aerosmith’s ‘Walk this way’? Yes please!
- “This is not the Nutcracker! I LOVE it!”
- The “Maxx” setting on the organ is perfection
This ad is just cheesy enough. It brings a smile to your face. Instead of just pushing the concept that you need to buy things to be happy, this ad highlights how the right items of clothing can make us feel more confident and bring out our best.
Asda: ‘Make Christmas Spectacular’
This masterpiece from Asda fully lives up to the message of making Christmas spectacular. Accompanied by Ravel’s ‘Bolero’, we see a family literally skating through all the magical moments that make Christmas what it is.
From the school play to the office party, and from a festive get-together to Christmas lunch on the big day, each scene is filled with beautiful set dressing, tasteful nods to the things you can buy from Asda, and some beautiful figure skating. All in all, it’s a lovely festive ad.
Vodafone: ‘Give the Gift of Connection’
Like O2, Vodafone’s Christmas campaign focuses on the 1.5 million homes in the UK that are without data connectivity. For every device that’s donated, Vodafone will provide a SIM card preloaded with data, calls and texts to someone who needs it.
For me, Vodafone’s ad beats out O2’s in the way it’s presented. Firstly, it feels much more festive, with ‘Here Comes Santa Claus’ instantly putting me in a Christmassy mood. Secondly, it plays on the image of people preparing for Christmas with parcels and gadgets that we expect are presents for family. When they turn out to be generous donations to those who are less fortunate, it’s all the more heartwarming.
JD Sports: ‘JD Street’
Okay. So I’m clearly not in the JD Sports demographic. Other than the fact that there were lots of nice-looking trainers, and all the shops on the street had names that started with JD and taglines “King of [something]” I had no idea what was going on.
However, a quick look at the YouTube comments seems to suggest that those who are in JD’s demographic are big fans of this festive offering. Take this comment from user Jan Spirit: “bro this is how ads should be done not annoying af but include our favourite ballers, content creators and music artists.”
If, like me, you have no idea who KSI, Maya Jama, Aitch, Little Simz, Tobi Brown and Jadon Sancho are, you probably won’t get much from this ad. If, like Jan Spirit, you would include these names in your list of favourite ballers, content creators and music artists, you’re probably already on your way to JD Sports to grab some new kicks.
Waitrose: ‘Best Bit of Christmas’
This delightfully honest and cheeky offering from Waitrose made me laugh. We all know it’s true, so let’s stop pretending: The best part about Christmas is the food.
From becoming entranced by turkey to her intense passion for sprouts that are “mostly pancetta” and a completely unapologetic apology for eating all the stuffing, Ashley Jensen’s performance throughout was absolutely perfect.
This ad is festive, funny and completely brazen in pushing the brand’s products, and it all works. I genuinely loved this one, and the callback to the “favourite aunt” plate is a great touch.
Domino’s: ‘Christmas DOMIN-OH-HOO-HOO’
Oh god, this one’s going to be annoying, isn’t it?
Yodelling is very impressive in terms of technical execution. But it. Sounds. Awful. Why are we yodelling about pizza? Even in the canon of the advert, everybody is confused that yodelling is happening.
It’s not festive, it’s got nothing to do with pizza, and they’re not even yodelling words about pizza. It’s just subtitled yelling. Apparently there’s a festive pizza. Just tell me that.
This was a bad advert.
Deliveroo: ‘The Ultimate Gift’
I like the idea of this advert but I’m not 100% sold on the execution. Why was there a randy cartoon gherkin? It’s all just a bit much to look at. I’d rather there was more of a focus on actual food than the accompanying imagery, although I guess some of it adds more of a festive feel.
There’s some great stuff in here, though. “No-one ever said ‘Did you keep the receipt?’ for a bucket of chicken” is a great line. As someone who recently cleared out their loft to get it professionally boarded, I can vouch for the fact that, generally speaking, we don’t need more stuff.
Buying someone a voucher for tasty food is a great way to treat them to something they actually want without being wasteful. Something about the ad’s intense delivery was just a bit off putting, though.
Selfridges: ‘Christmas of Dreams’
Um… What did I just watch? Are we sure this campaign isn’t called ‘Christmas of Fever Dreams’? Have I been going too hard on the mulled wine?
I can’t tell if this advert is from the past, present or future. All I know is that I hate it.
Thank god it’s only 15 seconds long.
Matalan: ‘Real Moments, Real Magic’
At least we’re ending on a high note! Matalan’s ad shares the lovely message that Christmas is what you make it, and it doesn’t need to be perfect. I particularly love the part about “the magic in those middle moments; the least planned moments.”
With a delightfully real feel to it that in itself feels imperfect in a very genuine way, everything about this advert is enjoyable. It feels festive, the message is great, and Matalan doesn’t shove its products in your face. It barely feels like an advert at all. It’s very understated but it actually made me look forward to Christmas this year
The best of the best
Here are my top picks from the list:
#1 Waitrose: ‘Best Bit of Christmas’
I loved this one! It was funny, festive, honest, beautifully shot and impeccably acted.
#2 Matalan: ‘Real Moments, Real Magic’
A lovely advert that was festive yet understated and genuinely felt like it understood Christmas as a time for real people and not just mindlessly supporting capitalism.
#3 Aldi: ‘A Christmas Carrot’
From the inspired pun ‘Ebanana Scrooge’ to Cuthbert the Caterpillar being arrested, there’s a lot to love here!
#4 Coca-Cola: ‘Real Magic at Christmas’
Heartwarming, fun and with a lovely message at its heart. One of the few longer ads that I genuinely enjoyed.
#5 Asda: ‘Make Christmas Spectacular’
This ad was spectacular to look at and got me in the Christmas spirit!
The worst of the best
And for fairness, here are the ones I hated the most!
#1 Selfridges: ‘Christmas of Dreams’
I feel like this is the sort of stuff Hunter S. Thompson was seeing on mescaline.
#2 Domino’s: ‘Christmas DOMIN-OH-HOO-HOO’
Why. Are. We. Yodelling?!
#3 Smyths Toys: ‘If I Were a Toy’
Grating singing, a bad reworked version of a popular song, and almost no Christmassy imagery.
#4 LEGO: ‘Rebuild the world’
See above.
#5 Boots: ‘Bags of Joy’
I’ll say it again: Wasteful capitalist nonsense.
Let’s wrap this up!
So, there you have it. My rambling opinions on 30 Christmas adverts.
I actually found it harder than I expected to narrow it down to a top 5, and I’m still not sure I chose the right ones. Honorable mentions go to McDonalds, Barbour, Etsy, Argos and TK Maxx, who all put together some great adverts.
With 2021 being the first year ‘back to normal’ since the pandemic, I think we were all expecting a lot from this year’s ads, so it’s to be expected that some would absolutely nail it and some would go off the deep end a little. There was so much creativity this year, and loads of new things that we’ve not seen before, which made sitting and watching 30 Christmas ads back to back much more entertaining than it could have been!
I hope you’re all feeling as festive as I am! Time to go hang up my stocking and hope that Santa doesn’t bring me coal for being grumpy about some of these adverts…
DWH's copywriter reacts to 2021 Christmas ads (Part 1)
It’s that time of year again! The weather is getting colder, the kids are finalising their letters to Santa, and office conversations are dominated by “Have you seen the new [blank] ad?!” In the first of a two-part blog, we've set Claire Baldwin the challenge to watch the top 30 Christmas ads of 2021 and give us her thoughts.
As a millennial, I don’t have TV anymore. I have Netflix, YouTube Plus, and the occasional questionably obtained 4k Bluray rip. So I haven’t actually seen any of this year’s Christmas ads… yet. Join me as I watch them for the first time and share my thoughts.
Creativepool has very kindly gathered the best 2021 Christmas ads into one place, so this will be my festive viewing guide.
As there are 30 adverts on this list, I’ll be splitting this into two parts.
John Lewis: ‘Unexpected Guest’
Knowing that the ad is titled ‘Unexpected Guest’, I thought we’d see an older relative who wasn’t able to visit last year because of COVID. I was not expecting an alien.
The blossoming friendship of the alien and the ad’s young protagonist (with unexpected romantic tension) put me in mind of Stranger Things. The alien learns to eat mince pies, experiences snow and messes with some Christmas lights, which is all pretty festive.
When it’s time to leave, the alien receives an ugly Christmas jumper as a parting gift and we see the line “For a Christmas almost as magical as your first.”
I’ll be honest. I don’t think the alien even knew it was Christmas.
I like the messages of inclusion and sharing but this didn’t leave me with the festive fuzzies I expected from John Lewis.
McDonald’s: ‘Imaginary Iggy’
Awww, I liked this one! I’m not a big McDonald’s fan but becoming emotionally attached to cute characters definitely speaks to me.
This ad follows the classic ‘kid growing up and putting away childish things’ narrative, with Iggy, the fuzzy blue imaginary friend.
Watching Matilda and Iggy put out a plate of ‘reindeer treats’ (a bag of Maccy D’s carrot sticks) brings back memories of leaving a carrot out for Rudolph when I was a kid. I always wondered which of my parents took the bite out of it on Christmas Eve (My money’s on Dad).
When Matilda grows older and puts Iggy away in the closet, my eyes did get a little watery. Flash forward a few years and she sees a child at McDonald’s enjoying some of the very same reindeer treats she once fed to Iggy.
Cue the feels as Matilda rushes home and rekindles her imaginary friendship, and we come full circle as the newly reunited pals put out a plate of carrot sticks for Santa’s reindeer, despite objectively being too old for such things.
This ad was warm and friendly and Christmassy without being over the top. It didn’t make any kind of big statement, it was just a nice parcel of festive feels. Good effort!
Coca-Cola: ‘Real Magic at Christmas’
This one left me with a genuine smile on my face!
Starting out with a single-parent family moving into a sparsely furnished flat, things are looking a little bleak – especially when the son realises that there’s no chimney for Santa to deliver presents! Fortunately, he’s a creative little dude, and puts the moving boxes to good use, crafting a long cardboard chimney.
It’s not long before all the neighbours are getting involved, with the chimney wrapped in fairy lights and winding through corridors, up fire escapes and onto the roof. Even the security guard comes in clutch, brandishing a red Coca-Cola box for the top of the chimney, which is a lovely gesture but that thing is an enormous fire hazard…
When a present finally drops from the chimney, it’s not for the little boy after all; it’s an invitation for their cranky older neighbour (and presumably the rest of the tenants) to join them for a sumptuous Christmas dinner of turkey and Coca-Cola.
The line “Christmas is magic when we share it” is a nice touch. It’s not the neighbours rallying to provide an underprivileged family with a Christmas to remember, but an overall message of the magic of community, sharing and giving back, no matter what you have. Lovely stuff.
Boots: ‘Bags of Joy’
I straight-up hated this one. Wasteful capitalist nonsense.
The ad features Jenna Coleman with a Mary Poppins-esque bottomless bag of Boots products that she proceeds to pour all over the bed and writhe around in like Scrooge McDuck.
The bag is apparently a gift from her nan, accompanied by the note “This is what Christmas feels like.” Yeah. Endless piles of things you don’t need that you’re just going to throw away a few weeks later.
She doesn’t even use the bag for good. No handing out gifts to orphans, no making the community a better place. Do you think you can pull meal deals out of the magic bag? We could end world hunger!
After she’s done gallivanting with her friends and showing up the rest of the family around the tree (and she hasn’t even bothered to wrap any of these gifts she hasn’t paid for), she presents Nan with a bottle of perfume accompanied by the creepy note “This is what love smells like.”
Hated it.
Amazon: ‘Kindness, the greatest gift’
Overall, this ad presents a sweet message about supporting those around you, and sheds light on the rise in anxiety following the pandemic.
It’s another in the ‘neighbours who don’t really know each other come together to look out for each other’ category. It’s not particularly Christmassy, but the message is nice, and it’s pretty heartwarming.
I just find it hard not to scoff at this message of kindness when it comes from Amazon.
Sainsbury’s: ‘A Christmas to savour’
If you suffer from motion sickness, don’t watch this one.
We take a journey through a super-slow-mo Christmas scene, zooming through Grandad’s exploding walnut, a weird fried square, some champagne bubbles and a big gloopy gravy drip, before taking a nasty upside-down spinny journey under the table, where there’s one weird kid who isn’t in slow motion for some reason.
We zoom out to a ‘Last Supper’-style tableau and this strange, time-bending advert is closed out by the words “It’s been a long time coming, so let’s make it a Christmas to savour.”
This was obviously a huge feat to film, and it nods to the fact that many families were unable to get together last year due to the pandemic. The message that we should make time to really enjoy spending the festive season with our loved ones is a good one, but this ad just made me feel quite unwell.
LEGO: ‘Rebuild the world’
Honestly, I would have had no idea that this was supposed to be a festive advert if it wasn’t for the fact it was on Creativepool’s list and there’s a LEGO Santa at the end.
It’s dominated by a cheesy parody of ‘Build me up Buttercup’ that sings about building up, tearing down, mixing up and changing around, which is all fine but it’s just a little grating.
The visuals are pretty amazing, with lots of weird and wonderful real-world creations flying around. From sports cars and fire engines to dragons and Storm Troopers, it’s an exciting mish-mash of the endless imaginative possibilities of LEGO.
While the message “Rebuild the world” is a little on the nose, it’s at least appropriate for the product. It’s a decent advert but it’s not festive at all. I don’t know why I just watched it… and the song was too much.
Disney: ‘The Stepdad’
This one didn’t really grab me, possibly because I’m not a huge Disney fan, and I don’t relate to having or being a stepparent. It’s beautifully animated, though. I wasn’t sure whether I was watching a trailer for a new Disney movie or just an ad.
It’s a lovely representation of a modern family, but I thought the kids were a bit OTT when the gingerbread house got broken. You were the one that dropped it in the first place. Calm down.
According to the description on Wikipedia, this is a continuation of the story of last year’s ad, with granddaughter Nicole all grown up with her own family. And there’s a magic book, which is apparently “a precious item belonging to Max from his birth father.”
I think you’re trying to jam too much lore in your advert, guys.
Sports Direct: ‘Go all out this Christmas’
One of the shorter ads (thank you!) Sports Direct had a pretty fun concept with this one.
Nothing brings people together and brings out their fun, childlike side like going out and playing in the snow! There’s something magical and wondrous about snow, and even the crankiest family member just can’t resist a snowball fight wrapped up warm in some Sports Direct kit.
I’m assuming that the majority of people in this advert are professional athletes and sports personalities. Unless it’s pro wrestling, I’ve got no idea. But I reckon if you’re into sports, these cameos are pretty fun and heartwarming.
Barbour: ‘Paddington, Please Look After This Bear’
Cute! Paddington was a great choice for this advert, as he has both nostalgia potential for older viewers, and has also had a resurgence in popularity thanks to his more recent movies.
Of course, the fact that he’s a lovable, bumbling bear is another good reason. He’s also very practical and resourceful, and re-waxing Mr. Brown’s Barbour jacket is a top-tier Christmas gift if you ask me. No waste, no unnecessary expense, just a lovely thoughtful gesture. Yes, Paddington. You win Christmas!
The famous ‘Please look after this bear’ note makes an appearance, accompanied by the heartwarming addition in Paddington’s messy handwriting (which is still very impressive, considering he doesn’t have hands) “Thank you for looking after me.” No, you got emotional.
All round, this is a great advert. A cultural icon delivering a practical, thoughtful gift accompanied by a heartfelt message. Big fan.
Aldi: ‘A Christmas Carrot’
This is the only advert on this list that someone had mentioned to me before I sat down to watch them all, and it’s a great one!
Here’s my list of why I liked this advert:
- Ebanana Scrooge. BAHAHAHA!
- There’s no cheesy or annoying song.
- It’s not 3+ minutes long.
- It’s a vegetable-based twist on a Christmas classic.
- I literally laughed out loud at Ebanana Scrooge’s origin story for being cranky about Christmas.
- The Easter egg of Cuthbert the Caterpillar being arrested is perfect.
Super little advert! Great work, Aldi!
Lidl: ‘Big on a Christmas you can ALWAYS believe in’
Not the catchiest of campaign titles, guys!
At first, I was very much thinking “What? This is just a completely normal Christmas!” But that’s the point! As we see the same Christmas dinner repeated further and further into the future, some things are different, like the fashions and the tech, but the traditional food and the mundane conversation stay the same.
Lidl pokes a little fun at Christmas being a bit samey every year, wrapped up in the message that “Even when we’re carving turkeys with lasers, we’ll always be Lidl on price.”
Not my favourite, but a clever ad that gets its message across.
Etsy: ‘Give More Than A Gift’
Browsing Etsy is one of my favourite activities when I need a break from work, so hopefully their festive marketing is as good as I’m expecting.
Creativepool shared two of the ads from the series but I’ve hopped onto Etsy’s YouTube channel to watch all of the 30-second spots featured in the campaign, which I’ve ranked below.
- The Recipe: A super sweet ad about family and cultural heritage.
- Bus Stop: A heartwarming tale of support, understanding and friendship.
- Our Santa: A lovely ad highlighting the importance of racial representation.
- The Tradition: A nice little ad about community and embracing new traditions.
Each one is a beautiful work of succinct storytelling, framed by the message that a gift can be more than just an object. Super stuff.
M&S Food: ‘Percy’s First Christmas’
I’ve been a huge Percy Pig fan since I was a kid, so I’m super jazzed about seeing him in his first Christmas ad!
Well, I have to say I’m a touch disappointed. Percy’s reverenced trotting around the store to explore its goodies was very sweet, and the line “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful in all my 23 seconds of life” made me laugh, but I just felt like they could have done more with him.
What impressed me the most was the fairy’s Dawn French likeness. I knew it was her straight away! I’d like to see M&S do more with the animated Percy character, though. I just felt like this ad focused too much on selling the food and not enough on selling Percy.
Smyths Toys: ‘If I Were a Toy’
This is going to be another cheesy reworked version of a pop song, isn’t it…
Yup. Ughhh.
I just don’t get this type of advert. Similar to the LEGO one, it doesn’t feel Christmassy. There’s a Christmas tree at the end but that’s it.
The whole ad is just lots of overwhelming colours and visuals with a sickly-sweet, uninspiring rewrite of a popular song that has nothing to do with what they’re selling other than the fact that “boy” rhymes with “toy” so it’s easy to change. And kid singing grates on me.
Time for a break!
Well, I’m halfway through Creativepool’s list, so it’s time to draw Part 1 to a close.
It’s snowing outside as I type this, so I’m starting to feel a little bit festive, but I’m not quite there yet.
Maybe another 15 Christmas ads will do it?
Rebranding a brand agency: Creating DWH’s new identity
If you’re thinking “Something looks a little different here…” you’re right! DWH has a brand-new brand, and a website to match! Well, it’s not completely new, but rather an updated version of our existing identity, designed to better align with the DWH of 2021. Clients often come to us for rebranding projects, so we wanted to dive into some of the most important considerations when updating your brand identity, using ourselves as an example of how we approach a brand refresh.
If you’re thinking “Something looks a little different here…” you’re right! DWH has a brand-new brand, and a website to match! Well, it’s not completely new, but rather an updated version of our existing identity, designed to better align with the DWH of 2021. Clients often come to us for rebranding projects, so we wanted to dive into some of the most important considerations when updating your brand identity, using ourselves as an example of how we approach a brand refresh.
#1 Colour palette
Different colours have long been associated with certain meanings, and can instantly evoke a particular mood. Red is the colour of passion or power, while green brings to mind nature and renewal. Orange can symbolise everything from health to hazard, and purple creates an air of mystery and luxury.
Colour theory dates back hundreds of years, and modern designers still implement it to create an instant impression in their audience. If there are certain traits that you’re looking to embody with your brand, delving into colour theory is a great place to start.
For fun, creative industries, bright, clashing colours can make you stand out and show your unique personality. For something fairly corporate, muted tones might be more suitable — but don’t be afraid to throw in an exciting splash of colour!
Not only does colour help to create an instant impression, it’s also an extremely powerful branding tool. Think about the red and yellow of McDonalds, or the blue and yellow of IKEA. When you see these colours in combination, you instantly recognise the brand behind them, even without a name or logo. The same can be said for individual colours, like Coca-Cola red, Facebook blue or Amazon orange.
The new DWH colour palette
For DWH, we wanted to move away from our toned down black-and-white branding, and inject a little colour.
Although we loved the confident, professional feel of our monochrome identity, adding a little playful colour felt like a no-brainer for a creative design agency. We opted for a palette of blues and teals, evoking intelligence and responsibility, while also creating a sense of calm.
Blue is the most popular colour in the world, and is the top choice for businesses. It’s particularly favoured by IT, tech and finance brands, thanks to its association with trust and intelligence. This felt like a great fit, but we wanted our brand to feel a little more fun and creative, which we’ve achieved through our eye-catching teal accent colour.
#2 The offering
A business is a living, breathing entity, constantly evolving and adapting to new challenges.
Coronavirus was an unexpected catalyst, forcing many brands to pivot from one core offering to another. With restaurants offering take-away services and vegetable boxes, and gyms making exercise classes available online, everyone had to make changes to survive.
Now that things are (sort of?) getting back to normal, brands have realised the value in these new offerings, and a lot of these emergency changes are here to stay.
Of course, it’s not just unexpected global pandemics that can cause a change in your brand offering. Your offering is shaped by lots of things, such as:
- The size of your company
- The skills of your employees
- The needs of your target market
- The area in which you operate
- The products and services of your competitors
However your business changes, and whatever the reason, it’s important to make sure that your branding aligns with what you offer your customers now.
The new DWH offering
Since we started out five years ago, our services have naturally evolved over time. From bringing in new staff with exciting new skill sets to simply reacting to the shift in what our clients are looking for, we wanted to make sure we were shouting about everything we do.
More recently, the acquisition of Art Director Gemma has allowed us to add video editing, motion graphics and 3D design to our offering, and we wanted to showcase these exciting new additions on our website and social media.
You’ll notice lots more 3D visuals, videos and motion graphics in our branding, most notably on our shiny new homepage. As well as looking pretty damn cool, they help us to show our clients what we’re capable of, giving them the confidence that we can tackle similar projects for their brand.
#3 Name
Changing your business name can seem scary, and it could be a big undertaking. Depending on the age and legacy of your business, a new name could be a minor tweak or a huge shake-up, and it’s important to determine whether the benefits will outweigh the negatives.
However, sometimes a new name is the next necessary step on your journey. Don’t let the thought of filling out lots of paperwork or changing all your social media handles dissuade you from something that could yield huge profits in the long term.
Let’s look at some of the reasons you might consider renaming your brand.
- A change in your offering
- A change of target market
- Creating a more modern appeal
- Distancing yourself from something
Think WWE being forced to stop calling themselves WWF due to a trademark violation against the World Wildlife Fund or, more recently, Weight Watchers rebranding as WW to signify a more holistic approach to health and wellbeing, instead of focusing on the scales.
If what you’re calling yourself no longer represents who you are and what you do, or it doesn’t resonate with your target audience, it might be time for a change.
The new DWH name
We’re still DWH, but we’ve made a minor tweak to better represent what we do for our clients. You may have noticed this in our new URL — complete with approximately a thousand redirects lovingly programmed by founder and DWH namesake David.
Instead of DWH Design, we’re now DWH Creative. Design is obviously a huge part of what we do, but as a full-service digital agency, creativity is really at the heart of our offering. We felt it was only right to reflect this in the way we refer to ourselves, helping to build trust and show the relevance of our creative design agency.
Your new brand identity
Hopefully we’ve shown you that we know a thing or two about refreshing a brand identity.
If you’re looking to make a change, whether that’s a minor tweak or a complete overhaul of your branding, we’d love to hear from you.
Midlands Enterprise Awards 2021
We’re delighted to announce that DWH has been awarded Best Web Design and Development Agency in the West Midlands in the SME News Midlands Enterprise Awards 2021!
We’re delighted to announce that DWH has been awarded Best Web Design and Development Agency in the West Midlands in the SME News Midlands Enterprise Awards 2021!
About the SME News Awards
SME News is a quarterly digital publication aimed at those who own, run or assist in the running of small and medium-sized businesses within the UK.
From supporting businesses in their day-to-day operations and offering practical advice to celebrating outstanding achievements, SME News is a great resource for the business community.
2021 marks the fourth installment of the SME News Awards. Unsurprisingly, last year’s awards were postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic – which means we’ve been waiting to hear some good news about the awards for ages!
The Midlands Enterprise Awards
The Midlands Enterprise Awards aims to celebrate hardworking firms and individuals hailing from the Midlands.
Every shortlisted nominee is carefully scrutinised by the SME News team, gathering information from nominations and applications, as well as publicly available information. The final decision is based on various criteria including client dedication, innovation, business growth, longevity, online reputation, customer feedback and business performance.
And the winner is...
As a proud Midlands-based agency, we were absolutely delighted to be named the Best Web Design and Development Agency for the SME News Midlands Enterprise Awards. There’s plenty of tough competition in the region, and it’s nothing short of an honour to have our hard work celebrated after such a rigorous selection process.
By evolving the services we provide and the way we work with our clients, we’ve been able to consistently provide successful business outcomes, while staying relevant in our market. This adaptable approach, coupled with our dedication to each and every project, is how we’ve managed to stand out in a bustling and fast-moving industry.
The soppy part
This is the part where we get a bit emotional but, as gracious winners, it’s important that we take the time to show a little appreciation to those who helped us to win this award.
First of all, we’d like to thank our wonderful clients. Without you, we wouldn’t be where we are today – both literally and figuratively. 2020 was a tough year for us all, and your support has helped us to not only weather the storm, but to come out even stronger on the other side.
Of course, we need to extend a huge thank you to the amazing team at DWH, who support our clients and continue to go above and beyond. These are the steady hands that have helped to steer us through the aforementioned storm, and with such a talented and passionate crew on board, the Good Ship DWH is sure to find itself in some amazing places in 2022 and beyond.
Finally, we’d like to say thank you to the SME News Awards for honouring us with this special accolade. We’re so proud of everything we’ve accomplished, and this recognition feels even more special after such a challenging year.
Fancy some award-winning support?
We didn’t get where we are without knowing a thing or two about self-promotion!
The DWH team is already looking ahead to our next exciting projects, and we’d love to see what you’ve got in store for us.
Get in touch with us and let us know how we can support you on your brand journey.
Celebrating five years of DWH
In September, we celebrated DWH’s 5th birthday! Join us in looking back over the last half decade and everything that’s helped DWH to become what it is today. We can’t promise there will be cake, but hopefully you’ll come along anyway.
In September, we celebrated DWH’s 5th birthday! Join us in looking back over the last half decade and everything that’s helped DWH to become what it is today. We can’t promise there will be cake, but hopefully you’ll come along anyway.
The evolution of an agency
In 2016, DWH was Dave. In 2017, we were calling ourselves a boutique agency. Now, DWH is a fully fledged creative design agency with an impressive portfolio of projects covering branding, graphic design, digital marketing strategy, social media, web design and print. Our evolution from a one-man band to a compact yet flexible digital marketing agency hasn’t been completely linear, which is pretty par for the course. Dave never meant to start an agency, but he did.
Five years on, it’s doing pretty well.
The amazing DWH team
Having a great team of talented and dedicated people is one of the most valuable things a creative agency can have. Here at DWH, we’re fortunate to have just that.
DAVID HUSKISON
DWH started in Dave’s spare room in evenings and at weekends. Juggling a full-time job and building an empire from the ground up (all with a toddler demanding attention) was tough, but his passion and dedication allowed him to develop a successful agency in just a few years. Although the DWH team is now somewhat larger than in 2016, Dave is still personally involved in every project that comes through the door.
GEMMA HUSKISON
After coronavirus dealt the final blow to the family business in the events and exhibitions industry, Gemma joined the other family business here at DWH. With a wealth of experience in video editing, motion graphics and 3D design, Gemma has opened up an exciting new avenue for DWH and our clients to explore.
JONATHON BRIGHT
JB has been with DWH since pretty much day one. He’s exceptionally well travelled, with a brain full of 25 years’ worth of digital marketing experience. He’s a great example of why flexible working works; why limit recruitment to a particular location when it could mean missing out on the JBs of your industry?
CLAIRE BALDWIN
Copywriter Claire has been with us since 2018, though she’s known Dave for over 15 years. After initially supporting DWH with ad-hoc proofreading and social media posts, our growing business meant more copywriting requirements. As a freelancer and long-time supporter of all things Dave, she was more than happy to take on some additional responsibilities and now tackles everything from complete website copy to writing articles for our blog.
AYDAN KELLY
Aydan started with DWH in 2019 as a junior creative artworker, and blew us away with his dedication and attention to detail in his first few projects. Since then, he’s continued to grow, learn and develop new skills—as evidenced by his recent promotion to digital designer!
CAMERON GILL
Also in 2019, we welcomed Cameron, our very first intern. This was an exciting time for DWH, helping us to use our position in the industry to give back to the creative community. We were sad to see Cameron go in 2020, but proud to have given him a great start in his career.
JAMES WALLSGROVE
Head developer James Wallsgrove has been with DWH since 2018, helping us to offer complete web design and development services all under one roof. With over a decade of experience, he knows the web inside and out and has helped to get our clients online with fast, mobile-friendly and future-proofed websites.
The unexpected arrival
In 2020, we welcomed a new addition to the team: Coronavirus!
Like just about every other business on the planet, when Rona reared its ugly head, we all thought: “shiiit.” There were plenty of tough times, with the lads out on furlough, PE with Joe Wicks, approximately a million Zoom calls, and dog parenting in lockdown, but we made it out the other side. We learned a lot during lockdown, not least of which was the importance of our client relationships, and how amazing the DWH team really is.
Climate positivity
One of the things we’re most proud of is partnering with Ecologi to become a Climate Positive Workforce.
Known as Offset Earth back when we signed up, the scheme has helped us to do something great for the planet by planting trees to offset our carbon footprint and support projects around the world.
After just under 2 years, we’re currently proud sponsors of 1,576 trees, which has allowed us to offset 60.02 tonnes of CO2e. That’s the equivalent of 46 long haul flights!
At DWH, we’re all about telling brand stories. This is ours—but the story doesn’t stop here. There are so many exciting things on the horizon (some of which we’ve been dying to tell you about for months) and lots of challenges, changes and opportunities to look forward to. So, here’s to 5 years of DWH. Thank you to everyone who has supported us on this journey. We couldn’t have done it without you.
At DWH, we’re all about telling brand stories. This is ours—but the story doesn’t stop here. There are so many exciting things on the horizon (some of which we’ve been dying to tell you about for months) and lots of challenges, changes and opportunities to look forward to. So, here’s to 5 years of DWH. Thank you to everyone who has supported us on this journey. We couldn’t have done it without you.
Advice for graduates starting out in the creative industry
This time last year, many graduates were thrust into the world of work during a period where every other sentence included the phrase “unprecedented times” and it was, to say the least, pretty daunting. In particular, those looking for work in the creative industry struggled to find their feet, although there were several local schemes put in place to support graduates.
A year on, things are feeling a little less unprecedented, but still far from being back to normal. If you’re a recent graduate looking to take your first steps in the industry, read on for a little advice from one creative to another.
Set goals and deadlines
If you’re anything like me, your creative brain won’t let you get anything done without a solid, non-negotiable deadline in place. Setting and sticking to these deadlines is really important to make sure you’re actually progressing instead of distracting yourself with interesting but unproductive tasks.
Whether it’s putting together a portfolio or taking a temporary position to make ends meet while building experience for your dream job, set goals, assign deadlines and uphold them religiously.
As well as keeping yourself on track, it’s great practice for working to deadlines, which you’ll be doing no matter which creative industry is your specialty. When inspiration and motivation are hard to find, a well-trained discipline is an absolute life saver.
Understand your value
It might be a bit of a stereotype, but creatives can often be a little timid and lacking in confidence, which makes us easy targets for those looking for a bargain.
Avoid working ‘for exposure’ or accepting low-paying jobs that require a high level of qualifications or experience. Know your value, shout about your talents and enthusiasm, and speak up for yourself if it feels like a client or employer is taking advantage of you.
It’s also a good idea to work on increasing your value as much as possible to open up more opportunities. This is a really productive use of any free time you may have now you’ve graduated. Take courses online, visit art galleries, immerse yourself in a different culture, and just do anything you can to add unique value to what you’re offering.
Don’t be afraid to move on
It’s no longer the norm that a person takes a role straight out of education and stays there until retirement.
Whatever your parents or senior colleagues may tell you, moving jobs is not a bad thing. Taking a new position at another company is a great way to get more experience, learn new skills, and even secure a pay increase.
Remember as well that there’s nothing wrong with leaving a role you’re not enjoying. As a creative, it’s important to be invested in and excited by the work you’re doing, and if you’re unfulfilled, it’s worth seeing what else is out there.
Define what success looks like to you
The only way to succeed in your hunt for a creative role is to define what that success looks like to you.
Success for one person might be a high-paying job in a capital city; another person might be happier with a lower salary but more creative freedom. Whatever you’re looking for, keep it in focus throughout your journey and take things one step at a time.
Learn as you go, and use your new experiences to guide the next steps on your journey. Not all steps will be in the right direction, but as long as you understand where each one fits on the route to your final goal, you can avoid being discouraged if you end up taking a little detour.