India today is going through what the USA witnessed in Silicon Valley about 30 years back – a startup boom. First-time entrepreneurs are cropping up by the minute, with innovative ideas for products & services ranging from the online retail space & mobile app-based services to the food & beverage industry.
Now, the first and foremost challenge these entrepreneurs face is ‘branding’ their product or business. Be it coming up with the name or designing the logo for their company, 8/10 entrepreneurs either go to a cousin who is still studying design in college, or to a freelancer who works on the assignment only over the weekends like a side project. This lackadaisical approach towards branding can actually be a major setback to a startup at the very first step itself.
This is where One September steps in. The creative team at One September first understands the startup’s business, USP, target audience, markets etc., then goes through a process of ideation and finally designs the brand identity that includes everything from the logo and guidelines to brand collaterals like business cards, stationery, iconography or even packaging, depending on what is needed for the startup.
JPAX, Design Head and Co-founder of One September, says – “An MBA or a job teaches one – operations, logistics, finance, marketing, sales, even HR or IT; depending on what one’s role is in the organization. But unfortunately, there are very little or no opportunities for one to even understand the basics of design or its importance. Hence, when they turn entrepreneurs, they end up sidelining something as important as their own logo, its colours, typography… All of which helps in a huge way to create an impression, a perception in the mind of their customers. Or even the investors.”
Over the last two years, One September has worked with about 15 startups from Bombay, Bangalore and Chennai.
“Two years back, we were in the exact situation as most of these entrepreneurs. We have personally experienced the challenges of time and resources, in converting a business plan on paper to a living and breathing brand. So we keep in mind the contexts and constraints while designing creative solutions, be it a logo or any other piece of communication. We create stuff based on strong, bold and unconventional ideas that help a startup break the clutter and make a mark quickly,” – Nihal Atawane, Co-founder and Creative Director at One September, says.
One September also has a unique promise of delivering the complete brand identity from start to finish in 14 days. Not a day less or more! Which in itself is unique, considering the job is actually creative in nature.
Apart from design, they have two more verticals – Advertising & Films. They have created ad campaigns for brands like MTV Indies and Fashion @ Big Bazaar. They also have a strong in-house production & post-production team that has produced digital films for brands like Axis Mutual Fund & Jabong.com.
You can check out One September’s work and know more about the team by logging on to www.oneseptember.in or if you have an interesting brief, get in touch with them at hello@oneseptember.in.
Leave a Reply