We have a lot to thank our clients for and the press

It’s hard to believe that it is two years this month since Family and Friends was formed. The branding industry has been going through tough times and despite fmcg business normally doing pretty well, I know that other packaging consultancies, as well as ourselves, have felt more than a pinch.

That said, we’ve made it this far, so we wanted to say a very personal and genuine thank you to everyone at the risk of it appearing like some sort of slightly lame Oscar’s speech. We would like to thank not only our clients, who have had faith in our abilities; our design and strategy friends, who have helped us deliver on our assignments; our family, of course; but also the press, most especially Design Week for avidly supporting us and featuring our work.

Some marketing and PR advisers would have you believe that industry publications just ’speak to themselves’, but we know from first-hand experience that that is not the case.

A fair proportion of potential clients looking for design services have remarked that they first saw our work in DW, or found us online elsewhere, such as The Dieline or Lovely Package. Getting stories out there certainly helps smaller groups get noticed and be in with a chance.

Derek Johnston (pictured) and Alex Durbridge, Co-founders, Family and Friends, Summerstown, London SW17