The design industry may be thriving but continued success depends on the ability to adapt. The trick is to create ambitious fast-track plans and to go for it. There is no reason why a consultancy sitting at number 100 in the league table shouldn't reach the top ten within five years.

 

Look at how Start Design, which was only founded in 1996, has raced to position 34 in the Top 100 Design Groups league table! Companies would do well to learn from Start's ambition and drive. If you only forecast a modest 15% growth, then you are unlikely to achieve the 50% growth that Start Design has achieved. People hardly ever outperform their preset targets. The idea is to aim high and stay agile.

 

Start Design comes in at number 11 in the Top Private Independent Consultancies with a UK fee-income of GBP5.107m, hot on the heels of Pentagram Design at GBP5.373m. The recent acquisition of Wolff Olins (ranked number 2) by the Omnicom Group, has meant that Start Design jump to claim the number 10 hot spot in the Top 10 Private Independent Consultancies league table.

 

Start Design was also ranked 14 in the UK Top 20 Corporate Identity league table with a UK fee-income of GBP2.21m for this specialism. Total fees reported for the UK by Top 20 groups this year is GBP81.96m, compared with GBP44.76m last year - a massive 83% per cent hike.