Meet our newest addition —
It’s been an eventful few months at JAC&. We’ve loved being a part of Sara’s journey into parenthood and have just been through a thorough and humbling hiring process. We’re now settling into a new pace and are excited to introduce the latest person to join JAC&. Meet Dom Platz!
Dom brings a wonderful new energy to the studio. He has comprehensive print and digital experience across branding, publications, campaigns, illustration, UI and web design. Having worked with small business and global organisations, he is passionate about communication and exploring new ways to tell a brand’s story.
What stood out to us about Dom – apart from his incredible design eye – was his warm, thoughtful and positive character. We know that our clients will enjoy working with him as much as we already do and are looking forward to the diversity and growth ahead.
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Parental leave and small business —
We believe that small businesses have an opportunity to make a difference when it comes to equality. A lot of small business owners we meet have a really admirable mindset when it comes to social responsibility and want to create progressive working environments for their staff. The common hurdle many face is budget. There are some positives to a lacking budget though, the biggest one (we think) is resourceful thinking.
When developing our parental leave policy recently – with financial limitations – we got creative and found a few ways to help make the transition as smooth and enjoyable as possible. To help other small businesses, we thought we’d share what we came up with. In addition to the Government Paid Parental Leave Scheme, we are:
- Increasing superannuation for 12 months after returning to work
- Providing a learning and development budget to be spent on short courses, online learning, talks, seminars or even reading matter.
- Offering a flexible work arrangement when returning to work.
These are small gestures, but sometimes it’s the things that don’t cost a lot of money that make the biggest difference.
Sharing our insights on the hiring process —
We recently put a call out for a designer to join us at JAC& and were humbled to receive hundreds of applications. It was an incredibly difficult and time-consuming task to choose just one applicant. We’re looking forward to introducing you to the wonderful person joining us soon.
Having reviewed a large number of resumés and folios, we picked up on some common threads and, in an effort to help people improve for future applications either at JAC& or elsewhere, we held a review session at the studio to share our insights and knowledge. Here’s a summary of what we spoke about on the night:
Know who you’re talking to:
Research the studio before you apply and ask yourself if you’re the right fit for the job and (importantly) if the job is the right fit for you. If it feels right and you’re going to apply, try to pick up on the studio values through their site or social media then demonstrate you’ve paid attention to this in your application.
Do what’s asked:
This is a really easy win. Pay attention to what’s been asked and do it. For example, if you’re asked to upload a folio don’t send a link to your website. Doing anything other than what’s asked implies that you’re either not listening or don’t care.
Resumé tips:
- Make sure your name and contact details are on there!
- Substance over style, content is key
- Name your file logically (i.e. FULL NAME_CV_YEAR.PDF)
- Supply references
- PDF’s only (no other file type)
- Ensure text is accessible (not flattened or outlined)
Folio tips:
- Don’t brand yourself as a studio if you’re going for a job in a studio
- Tailor your folio. If you don’t have suitable previous work, create it
- Full screen mode? Don’t
- Communicate your input. Were you the lead designer on the project or did you help roll out? Be honest and credit where appropriate
- Get feedback before submitting. Ask your peers, friends, teachers (anyone!) to provide some honest thoughts and impressions for you
A big thanks to everyone who showed an interest in working at JAC& and took the time to go through the application process.
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JAC& is hiring —
We’re searching for a designer with great communication and time-management skills, someone who understands our ethos and is excited to grow with us.
If you:
- Can work on-site in Collingwood 4 days per week
- Have a minimum of 2 years experience in (and a love of) branding and digital design
- Are considered, driven and organised
Please do apply!
Submissions will be closing on the 18th of April.
Branding for creative professionals —
The past year saw us working with more creative professionals than ever. In particular, we’ve seen an increase in the number of architects and interior designers who walk through our door for workshops and/or branding. Each project has reinforced the similarities we share as creative professionals and improved our self-awareness too. Certain themes have cropped up repeatedly that we thought would be useful to share.
DIY mentality
While you may have the skills to create a logo or roll-out some marketing collateral, that doesn’t mean you should. Results aside, you’re missing out on an opportunity to learn through collaborating with a professional. Understanding that finances often dictate the need for DIY, we offer flexible payment terms and we’re sure other studios would be open to discussing this too. So, don’t let money be the sole deterrent!
Empathy for clients
Most creative industries have a bit of an issue with client blaming. When a project doesn’t go to plan, people often look for a scapegoat before looking inwards. It’s something we actively avoid at JAC& and encourage our clients to do the same. One of our architect clients shared a great snippet of wisdom in a workshop last year that we think about often. For every project – regardless of size or budget – she reminds herself that it’s likely the biggest and most important thing her client has done to-date. A really useful thing to recall if tensions or anxieties arise.
Project lag, folio struggle
For architects in particular, projects can often be a long process, which makes updating your folio regularly a struggle. While it’s beneficial to find a way to share what you’re working on in the interim, it’s a much better idea to communicate who you are through your brand. Rather than relying solely on your work to tell your story, use your brand character to connect with your audience and attract ideal clients.
Though we’ve seen these patterns in working with creative professionals, these themes can be present in any industry. If you’d like to chat about any issues you’re facing in your business and explore how your brand can help, please do get in touch.