Thusday, 22 Oct 15, the Wonderstuff team attended the William Russell talk at the Northern Design Event at the Swan. We attended a talk about Pentagram and as William Russell is a recognised architect, now stationed at Pentagram, were all excited to learn more about this well-known design firm.
1. Architecture
William’s talk brought to the fore that Pentagram really is a multi disciplinary group, and though graphic design is the most often thought of element, they also deliver architecture and product design as core parts of the organisation. This means they can deliver clients in the retail sector an almost full service offering.
2. Be organic
The Pentagram brand has been around since the 1960’s and has achieved a near mythical status amongst designers. Maybe it’s because as an organisation it’s grown organically, allowing it to shift in line with the markets needs, and as new talented businesses have come along to be a part of it.
3. Powerful positioning
The brand has created a strong position around the world, creating great opportunities for the individuals, without the burden of the overheads incurred by the monolithic organisations.
4. Partnership
Pentagram offers more than its five-sided name suggests. Its designers work on projects for graphic design, architecture, editorial, packaging, and interiors, amongst others. The firm is made up of nineteen partners working from five offices in the US, UK and Germany, and has built an enviable reputation for delivering top-flight design.
They have a ’flat’ organisational structure, which dates back to 1972. Most design businesses have top-down management, limiting themselves to one director/owner and (maybe) sharing ownership. Pentagram has mastered a democratic approach to partnership.
Pentagram’s nineteen partners each runs their own design practice independently, but under the umbrella of Pentagram, deciding which work to take on, how much to charge and who to hire.
– Annual income is shared equally.
Every partner knows that in a bad year he or she will be helped by the others.
– Collaboration enables you to do larger projects.
The partnership allows Pentagram partners to get projects that spread beyond the boundaries of ‘graphic design’.
– Each partners reputation opens up new opportunities for you.
Collaboration lets Pentagram partners broaden their experience.
After visiting the Pentagram Office in London, it was clear this was a graphic design heaven – hundreds of inspiring typography-, design- and illustration/books perched on their shelves, their offices were modern with big windows and quality materials throughout, and after attending the ISTD award ceremonial, we got to see the inside of the London Pentagram Office, which was a stylish, spacious yet relaxing workplace.
Clearly our perception of Pentagram has now changed; it was interesting to learn that Pentagram used to be interior architects, after thinking they mainly did graphic design, specialising in typography, and we now understand that not only do Pentagram do Graphic Design, they also do 3D, Film and Architecture and possibly will be expanding their tricks and trades in the future.
The question we were left with was however: When expanding into such amounts of different specialisations, can they really specialise in anything? Will they lose their identity?
Blog
Thusday, 22 Oct 15, the Wonderstuff team attended the William Russell talk at the Northern Design Event at the Swan. We attended a talk about Pentagram and as William Russell is a recognised architect, now stationed at Pentagram, were all excited to learn more about this well-known design firm.
Margaret Howell
Cos – H&M
Tate Modern – Global Cities
Alexander McQueen
Matter
Drake’s
Cass Art
Natural History Museum
Mouki
Circular
John Lewis
Sarabande
Pentagram offers more than its five-sided name suggests. Its designers work on projects for graphic design, architecture, editorial, packaging, and interiors, amongst others. The firm is made up of nineteen partners working from five offices in the US, UK and Germany, and has built an enviable reputation for delivering top-flight design.
They have a ’flat’ organisational structure, which dates back to 1972. Most design businesses have top-down management, limiting themselves to one director/owner and (maybe) sharing ownership. Pentagram has mastered a democratic approach to partnership.
Pentagram’s nineteen partners each runs their own design practice independently, but under the umbrella of Pentagram, deciding which work to take on, how much to charge and who to hire.
– Annual income is shared equally.
Every partner knows that in a bad year he or she will be helped by the others.
– Collaboration enables you to do larger projects.
The partnership allows Pentagram partners to get projects that spread beyond the boundaries of ‘graphic design’.
– Each partners reputation opens up new opportunities for you.
Collaboration lets Pentagram partners broaden their experience.
Community
From listening to William speak it was evident that Pentagram as an organisation is consciously keen to develop a communal environment within the workplace. By downing tools collectively for lunch each day the team have an opportunity to take a welcomed break away from the passion of their projects, this also allows for organic internal collaborations amongst colleagues.
Satisfaction
The client is central to Pentagrams process with satisfaction encompassing both Pentagram and the client internally and externally.
After visiting the Pentagram Office in London, it was clear this was a graphic design heaven – hundreds of inspiring typography-, design- and illustration/books perched on their shelves, their offices were modern with big windows and quality materials throughout, and after attending the ISTD award ceremonial, we got to see the inside of the London Pentagram Office, which was a stylish, spacious yet relaxing workplace.
Clearly our perception of Pentagram has now changed; it was interesting to learn that Pentagram used to be interior architects, after thinking they mainly did graphic design, specialising in typography, and we now understand that not only do Pentagram do Graphic Design, they also do 3D, Film and Architecture and possibly will be expanding their tricks and trades in the future.
The question we were left with was however: When expanding into such amounts of different specialisations, can they really specialise in anything? Will they lose their identity?
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