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An award-winning design agency in South London.

4.6
6 reviews

At The Yard Creative we design remarkable, sector changing brand and retail experiences for those daring to be different.

Our core design services include interior design, graphic design, strategy, branding and research but we are an experienced bunch with varied backgrounds and will take on pretty much any creative quandary.

This leads us to a weirdly wonderful mix of projects and clients. From shops to restaurants, kiosks to car parks, identities to reports, high speed trains to wayfinding - our work explores all that connects brands and customers. We strongly believe this diversity helps us innovate and push boundaries.

We undertake a strategic approach to all of our projects and undertake thorough research before tackling any design.

Strategy
Determining a clear sense of direction and purpose to ensure projects achieve their goals; such as raising sales, increasing brand awareness or changing a sector.

Research
Before undertaking any design work we dedicate time to learn about the business opportunity, understand the customer and gain market insight.

Design
This is where the magic happens. Our multidisciplinary team and expert partners put their heads together to dream big and create the unexpected.

Over the years we have found that the most fulfilling and challenging projects come from clients who have great aspirations for their brand. It might be intimidating for clients to disrupt the norm and push through the boundaries but we are here to support, encourage and light the way to create new benchmarks.

Our clients invest in us to do things differently with a variety of objectives. Whether raising sales or brand awareness, generating recognition from landlords or even creating something in the physical world that will go viral in the digital world. No challenge is too great!

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$25,000+
 
Undisclosed
 
10 - 49
 Founded
2007
Show all +
London, United Kingdom
headquarters
  • Northcote Road
    London, LND SW11 1NJ
    United Kingdom
    02071838326

Portfolio

Key clients: 

Coty

Bourjois

Max Factor

Rimmel

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield

Iconic London

Fortnum & Mason

Hammerson

World Vision

Model's Own

iSmash

JD Sports

Protein Haus

Bread Ahead - Wembley Park Flagship

One of the new generation of experiential food brands, Bread Ahead approach TYC to take their incredible success and create a new flagship that allows  customers and visitors to experience the wonder of baking.

Nike x Office: Sage Launch

TYC have embarked on a journey with NIKE to formulate a reaction to the shift in attitudes to trainers as a fashion item. With a particular spotlight on the female marketplace and ‘the style editor’ shopper.

Working with OFFICE shoes as the test bed for the project due to its strong connection with the high street and fashion footwear. London sites at Carnaby street and Westfield White city were identified as the

…
stores to lead the exciting launch of the Air Force 1 Sage, 
#theforceisfemale. 
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Black Mirror: Style Guide

Black Mirror has amassed quite a cult following over the 4 seasons it has been on our screens. The tech-horror anthology series takes pride in offering up unique thought provoking glimpses into a not too distant future, and after a recent  move to Netflix doesn’t show any signs of letting up.

The producers of the show needed an agency to suit the style of the show; the disruptive approach that TYC is famous

…
for was the perfect fit to tackle a style  
guide for the show.
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Models Own: Bottleshop

An award winning kiosk design that launched the online retailer onto the high street with massive success. The #Bottleshop created a social media frenzy upon opening and has become a franchise must have for landlords around the globe.

The first #Bottleshop kiosk opened in Westfield White City, London in early April 2012 and has since opened in Westfield Stratford, Bluewater, Mexico, Tokyo, Thailand,

…
Taiwan, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar and throughout the UAE.

The Models Own Bottleshop has also won the following recognition throughout the retail sector:

/ Highly commended for Mall Retail (2yrs or more) at the BCSC Opal Awards 2015

/ WINNER of the Best New Store Design at the Meadowhall Retail Awards 2014

/ WINNER of the top accolade of the Aurora Award at the BCSC OPAL Awards 2013

/ WINNER of the Mall Retail category for the BCSC OPAL Awards 2013

 

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Black + Blanc

Looking to change the UK public perception of estate agents, these 3 entrepreneurs bought together their experiences to offer another way.

TYC was tasked with creating a brand that demonstrated an alternative approach and stood out in the market place

Savoir Beds

How do you elevate the world's best bed brand?

By giving it an investment document, design guidelines and store environment that reflects the hand craftsmanship of each and every bed made in their London workshop! Thats how.

The new package has seen new locations in Shanghai, Moscow and Harrods and has become a key tool in the expansion of the brand across the globe.

Coty x Bourjois: Lifestyle Store Dubai

Following recent innovation projects, COTY approached TYC to design the next generation of merchandising for Bourjois. The aim of the design was to elevate 
the Bourjois brand within the mall and to give it the premium experience whilst creating maximum standout by leveraging the Parisian credentials.

The next generation of merchandising for both the gondola and wall bay for Bourjois went live in

…
Dubai Mall beauty hall during Q3 2018. It has been incredibly well received by the consumer and is performing well.
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Fuel Juice Bars

TYC created a brand that is bright, bold, fun and eye catching. Utilising illustrations and retro fonts mixed with a combination of slick and rustic materials to create an eclectic-cool, modern day brand.

Its appeal with both customers and landlords has helped propel Fuel to become the No.1 juice bar in the UK.  In 2014 the brand took the top spot in the Horizons fastest growing ‘Ones to watch’

…
report.
Read more...

Reviews

4.6
6 reviews
Sort by

Market Research for Real Estate Development Company

“If you had to put something at the heart of what they produce, it’s customer experience.”

 

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4.5

Quality: 
4.0
Schedule: 
3.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$10,000 to $49,999
 
Feb. - Apr. 2019
Project summary: 

The Yard Creative provided market research and devised solutions in the interest of increasing revenue. The team performed an executive summary, engaged with internal stakeholders, and presented their findings.

The Reviewer
 
51 - 200 Employees
 
London, United Kingdom
Nick Peel
Head of Estate & Asset Management, Battersea Power Station
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The Yard Creative’s findings were substantial and will be instrumental in future company growth. The team has a good appreciation of retail trends and consumer trends worldwide. Although their scheduling could use some work, the customer service is always top-notch.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the head of estate & asset management at Battersea Power Station Development Company, a real estate development company.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The Yard Creative?

We have phase one of the development complete and we needed help with market research to better understand our residential and consumer base.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We engaged them to conduct market research for us and also produce a hierarchy of solutions to achieve a double-digit year on year increase.

They did an executive summary to help us understand where our current consumers actually live and more importantly, what the key influences are. The second part of the equation was within our core and secondary catchments, who is moving there and why they aren’t eating, playing, enjoying, and shopping with our company.

They engaged with 6-7 internal key stakeholders. They also brought in a specialist from a market research company given that they are modest in size and tend to rely sometimes on specialists. Steve (Co-Founder, The Yard Creative) has a very strong, intuitive feel for consumers. At the end of the process, he was able to present and package the findings, not in a normal consumer research document, but more so suggesting solutions and ideas that would allow us to achieve our objectives.

What is the team composition?

There were 3-4 people. We had a main point of contact with the retail director.

How did you come to work with The Yard Creative?

They were recommended by someone else who was working for us. I checked them out and looked at some of their creatives. They do some pretty cool stuff. It was a bit of an unusual choice for us to go with them for our research piece of work, but I felt they had an understanding of consumers and more importantly, I felt as though Steve would help us drive towards two or three neat ideas that would

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve invested $25,000-$50,000.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in February until April 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We haven’t enabled or actioned some of the obvious decisions that came out of the research. The reason is th we were waiting for a new head of brand to join our business. That young lady joined us just last week. She’s now in place with the research piece and some of the suggestions in front of her. Since she’s new, I know we’ll end up activating on some of the proposals. It wasn’t research for research sake. We now have a deep understanding of what’s on our doorstep, and more importantly, some pretty neat ideas on how to move forward.

How did The Yard Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

There was a week or so where it felt as though the process was a little clunky because Steve was relying on third party expertise. That only lasted a short period of time and they were back on track. The end product has been well worth the fees paid. We communicated via email and a couple of face-to-face meetings.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have a good appreciation of retail trends and consumer trends worldwide. Steve gets customer experience. If you had to put something at the heart of what they produce, it’s customer experience.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There’s been a form of acquisition of his business and he’s now part of a larger international business. He shouldn’t lose the individualism that makes him special in this field. He’s going to need a couple more people like himself to help him on the journey.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

My advice is to have personal, direct contact with Steve and his leadership team. Often creative agencies can be a bit faceless and communication can be lost through email or other mediums. We benefited from having Steve physically on site. He’s the type of individual that responds well when he’s in the room –personal contact is key.

4.5
Overall Score
  • 3.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 4.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Branding for Boutique Hotel & Coworking Space

"They come across as people who are trying to do real work and aren’t trying to become a branding factory."

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5.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
5.0
Cost: 
5.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$200,000 to $999,999
 
Feb. 2017 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

The Yard Creative provides ongoing branding services for a property development company. After an extensive discovery session, they presented nearly 60 logo options and a thorough visual strategy.

The Reviewer
 
51 - 200 Employees
 
London, United Kingdom
Jay Ahluwalia
Director, Dominvs Group
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The branding deliverables are prominently featured in a recent project proposal that has received encouraging early feedback. The Yard Creative is dedicated to conducting meaningful research and implementing findings into their work. Their can-do attitude makes for a refreshing partnership.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the director of Dominvs Group. We are a property development company, and we are the most active hotel developer in the U.K. at the moment with around 3,000 bedrooms in our pipeline.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The Yard Creative?

We needed to bring differentiation to our offering and wanted to separate ourselves from our competition. Most of our work with The Yard Creative has been around branding, design, and helping us formulate offerings.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We worked with The Yard Creative on a recent proposal that we took to local government for a workspace concept that, if delivered appropriately, would allow us to gain much more extensive support on other elements of this development. We hope to introduce a large hotel in a prime location that is traditionally meant for offices. If we deliver this workspace concept well, then the local government will support us in that endeavor.

When we first engaged The Yard Creative, we spent time in the development area together and conducted an in-depth discovery session led by Steve (Founder, The Yard Creative). Several design workshops followed, which brought forth 50–60 hand-drawn logos and different ways of interpreting the name and connecting it with the local area. They eventually graduated to creating more visuals digitally, and we narrowed down our favorites. The Yard Creative was quite thorough and considerate of our ideas throughout that process.

What is the team composition?

In addition to Steve and his wife, we work alongside their head of design, some members of their marketing team, and one of their key illustrators. Two or three other people also work on our project, but I have less direct contact with them.

How did you come to work with The Yard Creative?

I learned of The Yard Creative through a referral from a friend. I researched several other firms, but The Yard Creative was by far the best. They produce a trend newsletter every week to inform clients and reflect that their thinking is a little more advanced than some of the other agencies that pump out logos. They proved to be a better value for the money, as well, and I responded well to their attitude and love for their work.

How much have you invested in them?

We have spent between $500,000–$1,000,000 USD.

What is the status of this engagement?

Our engagement began in February 2017 and remains ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

They produced a concept for a workspace that connects to a broader cultural movement that the city of London as a body is trying to propagate. I tasked The Yard Creative with creating a workspace concept, look, feel, and vibe that would tie into that and would make government officials, stakeholders, and institutional bodies get behind our development. The early returns are promising, as their brand work is front and center within our planning proposal.

How did The Yard Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

We mostly communicate via phone calls and emails, and they’ve been very easy to get ahold of and work with. The Yard Creative has been very engaging and interactive with us. They often go above and beyond to stretch themselves to meet deadlines, which are subject to change.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They don’t overload themselves with clients so that they can bring keen insights to each project. The Yard Creative approached our project with a completely fresh mind after having never worked on creating a hotel brand before. They come across as people who are trying to do real work and aren’t trying to become a branding factory. They dig deep for their projects, and their approach to research sets them apart.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they have been competent in every respect.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give them as much information as you can, and don’t try to rush them. When they’re allowed to take their time, their work can make a huge difference.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 5.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 5.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Design Consultant for New Retail Developments

"They went above and beyond the scope of the brief to help all tenants make the most of their brand."

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4.5

Quality: 
4.5
Schedule: 
4.5
Cost: 
4.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
2018 - June 2019
Project summary: 

The Yard Creative acted as a design consultant for new tenants of a retail development. Their responsibilities included critiquing initial proposals, enhancing client brands, and ensuring concept delivery.

The Reviewer
 
51 - 200 Employees
 
London, United Kingdom
Matt Slade
Retail Director, Quintain Limited
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The Yard Creative proved to be a thoughtful and creative consulting partner, evidenced by their dedication to building strong design concepts. They provided services beyond the scope of the agreement in hopes of amplifying the final vision.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I am the retail director for Quintain Limited, a property investment and development company.  

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The Yard Creative?

We are developing a new neighborhood for London at Wembley Park, and we are bringing a whole mix of shops, restaurants, and leisure venues. Many of them are to be independent operators and entrepreneur SME businesses.

We were initially concerned that we would deal with entrepreneurs with great ideas that would create exciting and unique concepts but wouldn’t necessarily know how to turn them into polished retail spaces. We engaged The Yard Creative because we wanted someone who would act as a design custodian of our vision and principles to support the tenant to be able to articulate their concept.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

The initial scope was to provide a three-level service which, at the basic level, was a review. Tenants would bring forward a design plan, and The Yard Creative would review and critique. The middle stage had a higher level of intervention, and the most complex level was to take on the design brief and create a concept. We relied on The Yard Creative from beginning to end—from the basic approval of the design to turnkey delivery.

We work with brands that have a fairly well-established proposition, which means we and The Yard Creative only have to make sure the designs are tweaked to fit the space. The majority of our engagement with The Yard Creative has been to work with the entrepreneur and develop a concept from their vision. Once the concept design is set, the entrepreneur appoints The Yard Creative on their individual basis to deliver the detailed design. They are currently working on three live projects.

What is the team composition?

Our primary account contact is Laurence (Director of Interiors, The Yard Creative), but we worked with a team of 4–5 in total, depending on the project.

How did you come to work with The Yard Creative?

I worked for another company and came across Steve (Co-Founder, The Yard Creative) when he was designing kiosks in the mall. By coincidence, they had formed a partnership with our chief architect.

How much have you invested in them?

We spent between $100,000–$250,000 USD.

What is the status of this engagement?

We worked with them from 2018–June 2019.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

They were vital in delivering our vision of creating something interesting for independent shops and restaurants. The Yard Creative has a way to help the occupier create spaces that work, that are affordable, and create a particular wow factor. They have been an excellent resource to bring it all to life.

How did The Yard Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

We weren’t necessarily on time with the projects, but that is a factor of working with independents. The Yard Creative has proven they can create a structure that fits both the entrepreneur’s vision and our chosen direction as a developer. They have helped each client develop their brand. And in the event a tenant has come to us with a brand already, The Yard Creative has helped them enhance it. They went above and beyond the scope of the brief to help all tenants make the most of their brand.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They have the skills to listen to the story behind the brand and then visualize those with mood boards through a workshop.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, they performed very well.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

As project managers, we tend to want things done linearly, but I learned to trust their process. The Yard Creative puts a lot more effort into the initial workshops and scoping, and as a client, we must have faith in what they’re doing.

4.5
Overall Score
  • 4.5 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 4.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 4.5 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Showroom Designs for Luxury Mattress Brand

"The Yard Creative has a combination of industry experience and sheer enthusiasm."

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4.5

Quality: 
4.0
Schedule: 
4.5
Cost: 
3.5
Willing to refer: 
4.5
The Project
 
$50,000 to $199,999
 
2017 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

The Yard Creative designed showrooms for a luxury mattress brand. The team created architectural drawings and a showroom manual that acts as a template. The services are ongoing.

The Reviewer
 
11-50 Employees
 
London, United Kingdom
Alistair Hughes
Managing Director, Savoir Beds
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

The Yard Creative continues to execute excellent designs for showrooms all over the world. Their responsive and enthusiastic team delivers high-quality work on time. Their exceptional work ethic complemented their professional management style. Expect a dedicated and approachable creative team.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’ve been the managing director of Savoir Beds, a luxury mattress brand since I brought the business in 1997. We have showrooms internationally and manufacture and export everything from the UK.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The Yard Creative?

We hired the Yard Creative to design showrooms. We needed a flexible team that would produce showrooms at a high quality and when we needed them.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

First, their team visited some of our showrooms. We needed the design to evolve. Our team provided them with floor plans and photographs to give them an overall feel for the showrooms. They settled on a few iterations, and after we approved them, they went to produced fully worked architectural and shop drawings. The Yard Creative created a showroom manual to incorporate branding within our rooms across the globe. It is a template for our showrooms going forward. We also use the manual as a sales tool to attract new retailers.

What is the team composition?

I work with Steve (Co-Founder, The Yard Creative), Claire (Designer, The Yard Creative), and Laurence (Director of Interiors, The Yard Creative).

How did you come to work with The Yard Creative?

We spoke with four potential design companies. What we liked about the Yard Creative was their enthusiasm and the fact we’d be working with senior team members with experience in our sector. The Yard Creative has a combination of industry experience and sheer enthusiasm. With the other businesses we looked at, we thought we’d be lost in a larger organization.

How much have you invested with them?

We’ve spent around €50,000 (approximately $63,916 USD).

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working with the Yard Creative in 2017, and the work is ongoing. Each new showroom is a project.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

We’ve completed several showrooms in Berlin and Moscow. They’re currently working on one in the Harrods department store and another in Singapore. The Yard Creative is responsive, delivering on time and meeting deadlines.

How did The Yard Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

The Yard Creative exhibited an excellent project management style. We communicate mainly through email, and their team responds quickly. Their team sets their own deadlines. If we asked them to complete something, they'd answer with an exact completion date. If we need something right away, their team does their best to finish it on time.

What did you find most impressive about them?

I appreciate their enthusiasm and work ethic. Their team works hard to make everything happen on time.

Are there any areas they could improve?

There are none that I can think of. We’ve been happy with the Yard Creative.

4.5
Overall Score The Yard Creative is a great team to work with. I wish we were spending less.
  • 4.5 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    Their team sticks to deadlines and responds quickly.
  • 3.5 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    They provide quality work, but we are spending large chunks of money.
  • 4.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    The Yard Creative provides consistent outputs and services. Their team is responsive when change is required.
  • 4.5 NPS
    Willing to refer
    I’d definitely recommend them.

Customer Insight & Design for Luxury Food Firm

“The team reinvigorated everyone’s focus around the product line so that we could see it through new eyes.”

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5.0

Quality: 
4.0
Schedule: 
4.5
Cost: 
4.0
Willing to refer: 
5.0
The Project
 
Confidential
 
Mar. 2018 - June 2018
Project summary: 

The Yard Creative completed numerous projects throughout the engagement, providing crucial insights into the customer experience. They recently completed the experience design for a line of food baskets.

The Reviewer
 
501-1000 Employess
 
London, United Kingdom
Customer Experience Director, Food & Retail Firm
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

While the new designs have yet to launch, the Yard Creative’s efforts garnered overwhelming praise. The team offered a new perspective on food baskets, challenging internal stakeholders to view the product in unexplored ways. Strong communication and an adaptive approach were key to their success.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the customer experience director for a renowned food and retail firm, selling luxury teas biscuits, preserves, and food baskets.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with the Yard Creative?

We initially approached the Yard Creative to conduct research and provide customer insights for our various products. More recently, we re-engaged them to create the experience design for our food baskets, which is one of our core product lines. Customers typically buy them online due to the basket’s size and the fact they’re bought as gifts. However, we needed to be able to express them in a store environment in a way that optimized the available square footage.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

Over the years, we’ve completed several projects with them. For the first project, they provided customer insights based on a series of experience design hypotheses that I had. This involved hosting workshops with various stakeholders and conducting stakeholder/customer interviews.

For our most recent project, they reimagined the experience design for our food baskets, demonstrating how to express the product in any retail environment. They determined the key design principles for the product so that, no matter the space, we could always include the most crucial elements and make the most of the square footage.

Although we had three spaces with specific dimensions, we didn’t want to hinder their design process by showing them the restrictions. Rather, we wanted three general sizes: a small, medium, and large option. In a perfect world with defined perimeters, how would the ideal experience design look? They identified those key design principles so that we could apply them in real scenarios and adjust them as necessary.

What is the team composition?

As the customer experience director, my main point of contact was one of their directors. I believe there were also 4–5 resources working behind the scenes, but I didn’t interact with them as much. The team evolved depending on the task at hand; for example, when we worked on some of the digital aspects, they assigned a user experience expert and moved them off the team once the task ended. The Yard Creative's flexibility was fantastic, and I appreciated their ability to blend skill sets throughout the project.

How did you come to work with The Yard Creative?

I found the Yard Creative about a year after I joined my role. At the time, several research companies offered to monitor our statistics and trends to provide customer insights. However, that kind of insight can fall by the wayside without a clear understanding of the design intent. Ultimately, I went with the Yard Creative because I liked their creative approach.

What is the status of this engagement?

We first collaborated in 2014 for the customer insights and have been working together since then. The first phase of the experience design project for our food baskets lasted from March–June 2018. We’re planning to continue the second phase of the project sometime next year.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

Currently, we’re in the middle of building out the design materials and haven’t gone live yet. However, everyone on our side enjoyed the design process and found it refreshing. They loved the enthusiasm and passion that the Yard Creative brought to the table and were excited by their work. The team reinvigorated everyone’s focus around the product line so that we could see it through new eyes.

How did The Yard Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

They had a robust approach to delivering projects and kept us on track. The team managed expectations upfront, oversaw the process, and remained adaptable where needed. In terms of communication, we coordinated via email, phone, WhatsApp, and in-person meetings. They were transparent about their progress and any potential delays.

What did you find most impressive about them?

We have multiple creative agencies that work with us to provide designs for products, packaging, campaigns, communications, and digital experience. Compared to those vendors, the Yard Creative was able to think at a much higher level of technical detail. They provoked us to think differently and had a unique blend of physical design skills and a customer-centric experience process.

Are there any areas they could improve?

No, nothing specific comes to mind. That’s not to say that everything was perfect, but we’re a small team with big ambitions. We gave them a big task without a lot of time nor access to resources to explore different options. As a result, we didn’t enable them to be more nuanced around commercial discussions that we were having. Considering the circumstances given, they did a good job.

Do you have any advice for potential customers?

Give them the opportunity to use their imaginations and be challenged. If your brief is too narrow, and you have a very clear intent for your solution, then there are other vendors that can produce your ideas. However, if you’ve got a hypothesis or challenge that needs to be addressed, then talk to them and give them as broad an opportunity as you can to let them work.

5.0
Overall Score
  • 4.5 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
  • 4.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
  • 4.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
  • 5.0 NPS
    Willing to refer

Branding & Positioning for Large Cosmetics Company

“They focus on finding out what the consumer wants and delivering us what’s going to make us a return on investment.”

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4.0

Quality: 
5.0
Schedule: 
4.0
Cost: 
4.0
Willing to refer: 
4.0
The Project
 
Confidential
 
Jan. 2018 - Ongoing
Project summary: 

Working from an initial brief, The Yard Creative designed and implements a rebranding and positioning for a global brand.

The Reviewer
 
10,000+ Employees
 
London, United Kingdom
Sr. Merchandising Manager, Cosmetics Company
 
Verified
The Review
Feedback summary: 

Bringing outside-the-box thinking, The Yard Creative is revolutionizing the branding approach. Their thorough, proactive approach—exemplified by additional research they undertook to better understand consumer needs—combines with a sharp strategic focus to achieve financial returns.

A Clutch analyst personally interviewed this client over the phone. Below is an edited transcript.

BACKGROUND

Introduce your business and what you do there.

I’m the senior merchandising manager at a large cosmetics and consumer beauty company. Within our global team, I manage the creation and installation of store fittings, shop in shops, and merchandising for multiple brands.

OPPORTUNITY / CHALLENGE

What challenge were you trying to address with The Yard Creative?

Our aim was to create a disruptive in-store experience for one of the brands in our portfolio. The brand had been around for many years and needed a refresh in line with its new brand purpose and positioning. We wanted to bring a revolutionary marketing vision to a 3D reality in-store.

SOLUTION

What was the scope of their involvement?

We shared a brief with them that outlined where we wanted to position ourselves, the challenges we face in different markets across the 80 countries we work in, different retailer requirements, etc. We asked them to come back to us with three or more ideas for each of two objectives. Over a three-week period, they took that information and developed a number of pitches for us. They also did their own independent research to understand more deeply who our consumer was and the right ways to approach them.

They pitched to us with a standard slide deck as well as what they called their book, which was a story of the way they’d approached the project, the research they’d done, as well as 3D visual concepts and proposals for graphics, artwork, positioning for text, etc. It gave us the whole picture of how the brand could be positioned, down to the different materials they’d explored for building the in-store designs.

We’re now in the middle of a 12-month development stage to build out their proposals, including prototypes and production.

What is the team composition?

My main point of contact is their managing director. There are a number of other people within the team across graphic design, architecture, and interior design.

How did you come to work with The Yard Creative?

They were recommended to me by a colleague within the company who had worked with them. I’m not sure how she originally found them. she recommended them because they think outside the box and aren’t afraid to challenge the status quo. They told us that they only want to work on projects that are challenging, that are going to change direction or create something new. This was clear from the pitches they created as compared to the other vendors we looked at who took a more standard approach.

What is the status of this engagement?

We started working together in January 2018 and it’s ongoing.

RESULTS & FEEDBACK

What evidence can you share that demonstrates the impact of the engagement?

They’re thorough and strategic. When we make requests, they ask us questions about why we think that request will deliver for us. They force us to think about what will get us the results we want—based on the consumer research and sales data, rather than on existing strategies that we may have followed for 10 years but that don’t meet our needs. They focus on finding out what the consumer wants and creating experiences that will make us a return on investment. I’m confident that they’ll deliver on our financial goals.

How did The Yard Creative perform from a project management standpoint?

They’re proactive and organized in their approach. They break the team into sub-teams to focus on specific projects so that they can fully immerse and focus on those projects. As they move forward, they bring in other teams as needed.

What did you find most impressive about them?

They want to challenge the norms and the status quo. They want to work on projects that they see as groundbreaking and revolutionary. Other agencies I've worked with before have focused more on execution. If you don't give them every bit of information, they won't be able to come up with the right idea. The Yard Creative is able to take feedback but will push you to do something that’s different.

Are there any areas they could improve?

They could be more willing to accept when something is not aligned with people’s interests within a large organization. Sometimes you need to let a particular direction go and focus on another one. That's also part of their uniqueness—wanting to drive forward what they truly believe will work. It’s not necessarily a negative but they may want to adapt the way they could work.

4.0
Overall Score They're a very nice team of people to work with, both personally and professionally. They’re very accommodating. There's always some room for improvement but it’s been very positive working experience so far.
  • 4.0 Scheduling
    ON TIME / DEADLINES
    They manage their time well but may need more direction to meet specific deadlines. If you emphasize a deadline, they’ll rearrange their working capacity to best meet your deadlines. We often request things on a short lead time so the onus is on us.
  • 4.0 Cost
    Value / within estimates
    They’re a high-cost company but you get quality outputs.
  • 5.0 Quality
    Service & deliverables
    Their outputs are professional and thorough. Execution is always high quality aesthetically and in terms of legibility.
  • 4.0 NPS
    Willing to refer
    If someone wants something out-of-the-box and new, I'd 100% recommend them.