About us
Creatives Inc. was founded in 2007. Our first products were for the stationery industry, working with artists from London and LA. Today we work with new and established artists from across the UK, US and Central Europe.
We are expanding into fashion, retail and product design, publishing and designing bespoke ranges for retail organisations. Today’s retail world is a difficult one, and the pressure to create beautiful & individual product is a key to success in today’s market, as well as managing cost and quality.
Creatives Inc., using its collective of illustrators & graphic designers can help.
For the Client:
We provide a platform for Artists to show their work. If you find someone you like the look of, please let us know rather than directly approaching the artist. We aren’t being precious, We have two good reasons…
1: We strive to operate within ethical guidelines where both Designers, Publishers & Retailers all benefit. These rules can work very well for both client and artist. We dont live on fresh air and NOT giving Creatives Inc credit means we are restricted on who we bring to the table and how we can plan projects. This affects us and the industry as a whole.
2: We are also discreet; you wont see our name bandied about the High Street [unless you want to sing our praises of course]. Its not about us. We’re all about getting the product out there, getting you the best return possible.
If required, we can project manage your printing requirements from start to finish. The design, layouts, bar-codes, packaging & delivery. Or we can just research & sell you some stunning designs for stationery, t shirts & textiles on behalf of our wonderful designers.
Where possible we will always try to base our production in the UK, and source products from sustainable sources. Manufacturing in Great Britain needs our support, small print runs are more accessible and can still be cost effective depending on your budget.
We are always looking at the bigger picture, and we learn something new everyday, which is why Creatives Inc. won the ‘Best New Business’ award for the Thames gateway region in 2008. In 2009 we were nominated for a Henry award – the equivalent of an Oscar in the card industry [there are over 16,000 entries].
If you would like to discuss your challenges with friendly, like minded professionals then either fill in our contact form, or contact us on the number or email below.
For the Artist:
We don’t operate as an ‘agent’ in the traditional sense. If you are an illustrator, artist or designer, we only take commission on what you sell through us. We don’t ask for exclusivity on all your work, just the artwork that we sell through Creatives Inc. All points are negotiable.
Where possible we will always try to ensure the artist keeps their copyright. Or at least ensure the designer has some idea of how & where the artwork will be used. More and more, the buying public are keen to know where their products come from, and having a designers name on a product can be a high selling point.
We promote your artwork through our website and through physical portfolios when visiting clients. We would appreciate if you are approached for work that has been featured on Creatives Inc that you involve us in the process, as we can also can advise. We do work on trying to support your opportunities.
T: 079610071947
E: agency@creativesinc.com
Creative web support required for London Card Company
Our good friends at Loveday Designs are developing their website to show off their extensive collection of fun greetings cards and new products.
They are looking for a freelancer for a few days that can create a simple online gallery within WordPress to show off all their fancy wares, format the artwork, and finally upload the images. Its a great chance to work with the designer and get a peek inside the industry. And you never know where these things lead!
So if you are someone that can format fiddly illustrator digital images into lovely web images without blowing up computers, can show a few examples of websites you have worked on using wordpress, have a creative outlook and live in London – please contact Michael at michael@whorrellrogers.com
Winston Churchill Design Competition with ARTSTHREAD
ARTS THREAD has partnered with the Churchill Centre and Pentland Group plc as the platform for this new competition. To enter the Winston Churchill Design Competition please register and upload your entry on ARTS THREAD.
Read the Brief here
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Location: UK resident during the competition start-end dates
Experience/age: BA or MA students & recent 2010 or 2011 graduate
How: upload entry onto ARTS THREAD by registering here and email us at winstonchurchill@artsthread.com to confirm your participation
If you already have an ARTS THREAD portfolio, simply email us to confirm your confirmation.
Entry: free
Deadline: May 31 2013
Prize: First prize £1000, Second Prize £750, Third Prize £500. All three winners will be considered for work experience at Pentland headquarters in London.
Websites:
Artshread http://www.artsthread.com
Churchill Centre www.winstonchurchill.org
How to present Artwork to Creatives Inc: A quick guide!
In order for us to get the best out of your collection, here is a basic outline of how you can make our clients stop & take notice!
Think about what it is that will make your designs sell.
1: Be prepared to wear 2 hats…one for your artistic output, and one for commercial purposes. Try not to send us just a link to your website, often, artwork is dispersed over many pages and it is difficult to make an initial assessment. If your website is split into specific areas – direct us to what you would like us to look at.
2: Group designs in batches of 6 with a common thread if possible – this gives us a good idea if a collection can be created whether it be Greetings cards, clothing etc…If its a 2 or 3D design and not a digitally created image, good close up photographs are a must.
3: Send us low-res jpegs for the website porfolio – max 800px wide. Include a 950 x 500 px image f your link into your porfolio. Pick your brightest or most commercial image.
4: You can also send an A4 PDF with your designs already laid out. If we need to print anything out for a portfolio or for a sample, we will ask for a hi-res image [300 dpi].
5: A brief biography about yourself – let us know what your influences are, make it fun or serious. We want to getyour message across.
We want to work with you in a transparent manner – so we have created a basic agreement in advance of any work being used or requested etc
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1 Creatives Inc is seeking use of a series of designs created by the Artist with a view to promote the artist through
· Trade Shows
· Online presence
· Physical Portfolios
2 The publisher can use agreed designs within promotion for Creatives Inc artists. [Adverts, leaflets, catalogues & online].
3 The Artists name will at all times be attributed to any samples created, and any portfolio copies sent to potential clients.
4 The Artist reserves the copyright to all works used by the publisher, including all reproduction rights.
5 No work may be reproduced for sale by Creatives Inc without the prior written approval of Artist.
6 The Artist has the right at any time to retract designs from use by Creatives Inc before any commissions have been agreed.
7 Any commissions for artwork in the UK made directly through Creatives Inc must be agreed with the artist and financial remittance agreed in advance.
8 Any designs commissioned by a third party through Creatives Inc for use on apparel, accessories, stationery & other goods will be exclusive for use in the UK for a period of 36 months. Worldwide rights will be negotiated further by both artist, Creatives Inc and the buyer.
9 Acknowledge & Agreement to these terms can be made via email, or a written & signed copy by both parties can be sent on request.
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We aren’t hard taskmasters, we want to support your entry into the world of commerce, so here are some words of advice!
Always put a Copyright disclaimer on your website or whenever you submit designs to publishers. Also take advice on what happens to your copyright when you sell artwork on…I found this US article fairly relevent even for the UK. We at Creatives Inc will always try to ensure you keep your copyright where possble.
Join a relevant association like the Association of illustrators etc. And especially LinkedIn – they have lots of groups you can join and ask stupid questions without being laughed at! I learn something everyday from my peers there. Its not just for fusty old business people like me. I have met some key people through it.
Make sure your portfolio if you are a new graduate is up on the Artsthread website – a lot of business use this site to search out talent.
CREATIVESINC@PGLIVE 2012
Creatives Inc exhibited at the Greetings Card tradeshow ‘Progressive Greetings Live’ this week at the Business Design Centre, London to showcase talent both published and unpublished by artists & illustrators from the Creatives Inc collective.
We were in the well received new licensing section DIAL [Design, Image & Art Licensing], where we got to make new & also renew aquaintances, got great feedback on the artwork showing, and new clients for the published ranges. Our little corner of the show did stand out a bit, given we put all sorts of product out there [no one else did..but when did we ever follow protocol?]. You certainly couldn’t miss us anyway.
Images by Rebecca Marshall, Ashley Percival & Ryan Robinson stood out, and there was good news for some of the other illustrators too. We look forward to taking these designers in to a new direction and see them published, in what is still a very difficult market.
In spite of the swamp condidtions [it was very hot], we survived long enough to enjoy the iced champagne on offer at the end of Day 1, and managed to drag ourselves to the Drinks party held for all exhibitors & visitors. Hard work, but someone’s gotta do it!
CREATIVES INC @ NEW DESIGNERS
Creatives will be one of the companies on hand at New Designers Part I & II, advising on portfolio presentation. Looking forward to meeting the future faces of creativity.
We will be there on Friday 29th June between 1 and 6pm, and FRIDAY 6th JULY between 1 and 6 pm supporting ARTSTHREAD – The website supporting Art & Design Graduates, free to upload your portfolio. DO IT NOW!!
New Designers 2011 – Press Quotes:
New Design magazine – June 2011
‘Young Talent’: The UK’s design courses are internationally renowned for their excellent teaching which stimulates creative innovation and hones professional skills. It’s the biggest gathering of design graduates in one place and therefore attracts prospective employers from all over the world, working in every field and every discipline. New Designers is their priority destination.
The Architects’ Journal – AJ Specification supplement – June 2011
The popular summer event gives a snapshot of the latest ideas, trends and creative minds as 3500 new designers come together and present their work.
FX – May 2011
Now in its 26th year, New Designers is a great resource for those who attend and a great springboard for those who exhibit.
Designer magazine – June 2011
If ever anyone doubted whether the UK is producing inspiring young design talent then a visit to New Designers will certainly hel to set the record straight.
Professional Jeweller – June 2011
The One Year On section of the show, occupied by designers who were new graduates last year and have now been working in the industry for a year, is a rich segment of the exhibition with a serious tour-de-force of emerging design talent that can offer retailers the chance to discover jewellers on the rise that are more seasoned and shop-ready than the graduates.
Mix – issue 24 Two 2011
And finally there is a bigger and better talks programme, a key focus for new designers and an open forum for tutors, students, industry professional and the media, a welcome chance to air issues that affect designers both new and established.
Develop3D – June 2011
Many university course tutors and lecturers deem New Designers a vital showcase for their students and so keep coming back year after year. ‘Its important for us to exhibit at New Designers. It provides students with an opportunity for peer review and to meet their contemporaries,’ says Graham Hill, course leader of BA (Hons) Product Design at University of Central Lancashire.
Evening Standard Homes & Property – 29 June – Corinne Julius
‘Hunt through the young designer shows for bargains’: The Government is keen to stress the creativity of Britain’s young designers and the contribution they make to the economy, while bigname manufacturers and high street retailers are eager to exploit their talent. However, at this time of year the public also gets to marvel at the work of the UK’s newly emerging designers at graduate degree shows – and if you are really savvy, you might commission work from a future design star.
The Independent – 8 July – Trish Lorenz
‘Britain’s got talent’: this year’s tranche of design graduates may have the next Starck in its ranks and the New Designers exhibition, which is currently running at Islington’s Business Design Centre, is the place to spot young talent and grab yourself a bargain. ……. It’s also a chance to get your hands on some well-crafted original pieces at reasonable prices. Or why not commission something bespoke? After all, it’s an opportunity to own a one-off by a designer who one day might be too busy and too famous to be affordable.
{BTW Creatives Inc doesnt agree with the above statement by Trish Lorenz…we would never refer to someone as a bargain!]
Express.co.uk – 29 June – Your Money – Maisha Frost
The event, staged at London’s Business Design Centre, is renowned for drawing prospective employers, buyers, retailers and gallery owners as well as the public and noted for the practical support it gives budding entrepreneurs planning to start their own ventures and make a living from design.
Buddingdesigners.co.uk
The Budding Designers team visited the New Designers graduates show today; we had an absolutely fantastic time! This is definitely one of the best shows we’ve been to all year. The quality of the work is stunning, more designs are finished products this year and the attention to detail is very impressive. Anyone in the creative industries should head down to the Business Design Centre in London over the next couple of weeks!
Lolita and Me blog
I have visited the exhibition for the last few years and am always extremely impressed with the standard of the show. ………. The work this summer was incredible and I was blown away from the moment I walked through the door.
Mydeco.com blog
New Designers 2011 had a lot to live up to. Having been cited by mydeco’s features editor Ellie as her ‘highlight of the year’ we had high expectations heading down to the event and awards presentation……..We weren’t disappointed – not just because of the free cocktails! The show was a hub of activity brimming with newly graduated, fresh fashion, furniture and textile design talent. There was so much to see that it was quite overwhelming.
New Designers 2012
Part 1: 27 – 30 June 2012
Part 2: 4 – 7 July 2012
