Craft

What does Craft do? It's quite simple really: 💥 We shape creative teams and discover dream jobs 💥 Our clients are world-class design agencies and global creative studios, who we connect with inspiring, team-defining talent. And we're very proud of what we do. You can find out more about our partnerships, jobs and opportunities right here: https://craftagency.co.uk/ #branding #job #designjob #designer #clientservices #brandstrategy

We admit it. We have very good taste in office space. It’s essential that our team have hardworking tech, up-to-date programmes and a space they can call ‘work,’ not home. When Fionn said she wanted a new space to work from, we found one for her. So welcome to our latest Craft space; A'DAM&Co.work in Amsterdam's A’Dam Tower. And with our ‘work from anywhere’ benefit, this spot is open for fellow Crafters from the UK too 👯♂️ #workspace #workfromanywhere #office #newspace 📸 Images from the A’DAM&Co website

Craft is ten years old this week... and because feeling a little nostalgic about it, we've had a delve into the archives. 🍻 Did you receive beers when you started a new job through Craft? We used to send them to every single new starter! 🏆 Were you there when we won our Design Business Association (DBA) award for our brand? ☕ Ever get your hands on our limited edition coffee or candle collabs? 🧠 Perhaps you got portfolio advice or a beer on us at the events we've ran and supported over the years? 👯 Or maybe you haven't partnered with Craft yet? That's okay, we'll be here for a while. Thank you to our wonderful team and partners for a very enjoyable decade! This year we have big plans for our role in the design industry, adding greater value to our clients and providing support to people at all stages of their career journey. #tenyears #business #growingbusiness #designrecruitment

While there’s no magic formula for hiring the right person first time, every time (we wish there was), there are tools employers can use to reduce the risks of a failed hire – which can cost a lot. Writing for Business Reporter, our Founder and Managing Director Dan Crowder shares why the first step to success is objectivity – and to achieve this, employers need to uncover their own biases: the sorts of personalities they’re subconsciously drawn to or turned off by. One tried and tested way to tackle unconscious bias? Psychometric profiling. While it may sound a little daunting at first, it’s simply used to benefit both the employee and the business – seeking to understand a person’s unique ways of working to tailor the recruitment process, enhance their future employee experience, and find a working relationship that’s the best fit for all sides. ‘But what exactly IS psychometric profiling’ we hear you ask… from aptitude tests to different personality types, Dan explains all at the link below – including why it’s important that employers don't use psychometrics to rule people out, but as part of a robust selection process that involves a deep understanding of the company’s vision, values, and challenges. For more on hiring the talent you need, read Dan’s full piece here: https://lnkd.in/eYngXDPz #psychometricprofiling #recruitment #team #talent #growth 

Feeling thirsty? Craft’s latest newsletter looks at the latest and greatest drinks drops and beverage branding, curated by our Associate Director Tommy. What's going on in the drinks world? Well, amongst the continued growth of functional beverages, a 2024 passion for gut health, a shaky performance for 0% and a perpetual reach for the most luxurious experiences, quite a lot actually... Some of Tommy’s favourite beverage moments so far this year? 😍 “I love the new air up® branding by Mother Design. I’m a sucker for a custom typeface, which pairs perfectly with a refined logo and fresh brand tone.” 🍻 "The Brooklyn Brewery masterbrand has been updated by Thirst, bringing the story of each product into a more powerful and unified brand world.” 🇮🇪 "Granuaile Irish Gin has had a serious (and much-needed, IMO) glow-up by the team at Backbar Studios” ☕ “My favourite packaging project this year has to be Kloo: craft coffee that’s complex, not complicated. The silver closure, tactile appeal of the bottle and sexy, curvy K all say ‘quiet luxury.’ ☕ Killer work from Outline.” 💥 "I have a lot of respect for brands who can make humour work. FIG recent When Thungry, Get naked campaign is full of fun - 'the drink you can food' is genius.” I need no further encouragement to log off for a pint 👋 #beverage #design #inspiration #designindustry #designstudio #branding #advertising #campaign

H̶a̶p̶p̶y̶ N̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶a̶l̶ F̶r̶e̶e̶l̶a̶n̶c̶e̶r̶s̶ D̶a̶y̶ 📣 Every day is Freelance day. In fact, we’ve booked 5,000 days of freelance this year. That includes monthly contracts, urgent requests, Creative Directors, Strategists, life savers, project definers and inspirers - all across the UK, the US, and Europe. Why do all these freelancers work through Craft? ↪ We invoice so you don’t have to ↪ Our network includes the world’s greatest design agencies and in-house studios ↪ We pay you directly, within a week of timesheet sign-off ↪ If you’re not a limited company, we take complete care of all tax obligations ↪ Electronic timesheets make things easy and hassle-free ↪ Pay is guaranteed - no more chasing invoices! ↪ We look after our freelance network with trusted recruiters, often resulting in repeat bookings or conversion to permanent roles, if that’s your jam. Find out more about freelancing through Craft here >> https://lnkd.in/e-8r3CcX #freelance #freelancelife #freelanceday #contract #global #designstudio

Our Senior Leadership Team & Heads of Departments took time out of the office this week to ‘zoooooom out’ at Ducie Street Warehouse. We’re halfway through the year and ten years in business - so we took another quarterly off-site day to review all areas of Craft, including People, Marketing, Operations, Finance, Products and Service. Spoiler alert: Green post-its are things that are working well, pink post-its are things that need work. We’re not a perfect business, but we’re aiming to be 🚀 That’s why, before our regular All Agency Day next week, we’ll be setting goals and putting things in place to better ourselves in many ways. And this month’s All Agency Day is a little different… because immediately after the usual reports and learning, we're flying to Porto for our Craft summer trip ✈ 🏖 🍷 #team #dreamteam #SLT #people #culture #planning #review 

Here at Craft, we believe that wellness has no season. Mindfulness and mental wellbeing are always a priority, not just something to shout about once or twice a year. But, the sunshine definitely helps us feel a bit better ☀ Now the evenings are longer, days are warmer, and running clubs have become the new nightclubs, we’re on the lookout for brands and beautiful design that give us an extra boost 💪 Here are some recent launches that we’re putting at the top of our mindfulness motivation list: 🍄 Going beyond its CBD drinks, TRIP’s new Mindful Blend range incorporates mushrooms and adaptogens in four fresh flavours (we’ve got our eyes on Cucumber Mint), packaged in the brand’s distinctive pastel colours created by Neue Designs. Time to drink ourselves calm. 🎧 Our favourite self-care app Headspace has expanded to Headspace Care, now with new therapeutic content beyond meditation and breathing exercises. Marked with a brand refresh by in-house teams and ITAL/C studio, the new identity includes a new, ‘Headspace-ified version’ of their Aperçu typeface that incorporates curves from the Headspace smile. We love. 🧘♂️ DesignStudio looked to push the boundaries of what a healthcare brand can look like with its new identity for Compound – a digital healthcare company created with men’s health in mind – fusing the old with the futuristic to create something ‘new and a little weird’. #Mindfulness #MentalHealth #Wellness #Design

It’s time to say hello to our newest team members! 👋 Now they’re all working with the greatest design studios in the world, we had to ask these new Crafters about their favourite brands... 📺 Leon W-Jones ↗ “When we were at the D&AD awards ceremony, I was blown away by the recent Channel 4 indents that won multiple awards. I'm a big fan of the creative output from Channel 4!" ✔ Josh Heycock ↗ “It’s got to be Nike; the ethos of the brand transcends from sport to music to fitness, and no matter where I am, I’ve always got a bit of Nike on!” 🛍️ Daisy Crowder ↗ “Easy question. Liberty London: Heritage story, timeless branding, craft. Tick, tick, tick!” What a classy bunch. And with years of design recruitment and agency knowledge under their belts, we’re expecting big things from this new wave of Crafters! #design #designrecruitment #designindustry 

When we say ‘festival’ does your mind go to muddy fields, long walks lugging a tent, and long nights dancing? ⛺ Or do you think of unique team-building opportunities, true creative freedom and workshops in the woods? 🌳 The UK design scene continues to collide with the typical festival setup, which invites an opportunity for creative teams to move away from conferences and after-work events for a dose of inspiration. As more people step away from boozy weekends, a wholesome and art-driven landscape of festivals offers more diverse, culture-driven experiences. Here are some weekenders to consider for this summer's team-building, or to add to your design inspiration budget this year... ✴ Where ideas run wild... 'Also Festival' hits Warwickshire this summer and could be a unique creative-team-building opportunity. Bring on the creative masterclasses, quantum theorist talks and… disco bunker. https://lnkd.in/eTF6_64B ✴ If you think a spot of surrealist collage or woodturning would invigorate your creative team, then Lost Village is the one for you. https://lnkd.in/efkWgEGD ✴ Wilderness touts itself as a four-day party like no other; a weekend of escapism, high jinks, and wholesome hedonism. The lineup includes a biofluorescent night walk, wine tasting and wilderness dinner parties. https://lnkd.in/gxc-yt6 ✴ Or... for those of you who are leading businesses and just need a damn break, consider booking yourself onto the Creative Light Festival. Almost guaranteed to have no phone signal, it’s time to chill out with other creatives exploring the Outer Hebrides with a focus on wellbeing and photography. https://lnkd.in/eAV27Q4V #design #designevents #festival #designfestival #inspiration #teambuilding