cheese bites - the rubber cheese blog
Design to overcome the downturn
The Design Council have compiled research showing that more than half of UK's businesses are looking to design their way out of the recession
It may be easy for companies to cut their budgets when times are tough, but design can be a powerful tool for any company.
The Design Council have compiled some facts, figures and case studies showing that when the going gets tough, the tough get going (thank you Billy Ocean)
Facts
The Design Council research shows that more than half of the UK’s businesses:
Are looking to design their way out of downturn
Over half (54%) of the firms in our survey thought design would contribute to a large or great extent in helping maintain their competitive edge in the current economic climate.
Think design is more important now
Similarly, 53% thought that design had become more important in helping the firm to achieve its business objectives over the last three years.
Think design is integral to the economic performance of the UK
The same number agreed or strongly agreed that design is integral to the country’s future economic performance.
Case Studies
Our favourite case study from the research gathered shows how the Nottingham based brewery, Castle Rock, used design to improve its image and strengthen its main corporate identity and portfolio of brands. Since the rebrand, Castle Rock’s growth rates have doubled and its brewery is running at full capacity, with demand currently outstripping supply.
Take a look at some more case studies that have used design to overcome the downturn
Design Funding
Independent research shows that companies that don’t invest in growth, research and development during a recession are 2.5 times more likely to fail than those that do. But what happens if you just don’t have the money to invest into research and development? If your company spending is more than £10,000 during the tax year, then research and development tax credits could be available to you. (This includes design projects).
To find out how R&D tax credits can help your company, click here.
Or click here to see if you can claim R&D tax relief
2008 in Photographs
See some amazing pictures taken from around the world in the past 12 months
With the help of some very talented, and extremely courageous photographers, Boston.com have put together a collection of amazing photographs that show a little snippet of what happened around the world in 2008.
Some of the photos include; a policeman carrying a child away during a gun battle in Tijuana, Mexico. A swiss pilot (Yves Rossy), the world’s first man to fly with a jet-powered fixed-wing. Maasai warriors in battle as they clash with bows and arrows in the Transmara District in Western Kenya and an amazing picture of lightning bolts above and around the Chaiten volcano as seen from Chana - 30kms north of the volcano.
Visit Boston.com for more pictures
Christmas Wishes
We'd like to thank all of our lovely clients for their support over the last year.
Here’s to an amazing 2009 together!
http://www.rubbercheese.com/xmas09/
We’ll be here until Tuesday 23rd December and back in on Monday January 5th.
Have a wonderful Christmas!!
Best Global Brands for 2008
See this top 100 list of the best ranked global brands for 2008.
Interbrand have yet again put together a top 100 list of the best global brands. Using information gathered for over 30 years, Interbrand have developed a method for valuing global brands. The method is proven and-so-they-say, straightforward. The formula is based on financial strength, consumer selection, and branded revenue. The list excludes privately held companies and companies that are not seen as being global.
To see the Best Global Brands List for 2008 - Click Here.
To read Interbrands methodology for valuing brands. Click Here
Bruce Lee - Table Tennis Legend!
Check out this amazing video of Bruce Lee playing table tennis with a nun-chuck
We came across this video in the office this week and we had to share it with you. We arn’t sure if it’s a body double or if it is superimposed footage of Bruce, but we like it all the same! Lovely nun-chuck action!
client projects
