3 Minutes with Public Design Group
Co-founder Jason Pollard from Sydney based Public Design Group took some time on the bus to answer a few questions.
Dan, Jason and James have known each other for 16 years. They cut their teeth in London at the big design and brand agencies, Fitch, Enterprise, 20/20 and FutureBrand. Dan and Jason started a retail studio for FutureBrand in Sydney back in 2001 and broke off two years later to form Public. James joined 2 years ago brining graphic design and brand communications expertise.
“Through no real planning, we have become quite specialised in service industry retail, i.e. Telco, optometry, banking etc. We work with a network of extremely talented specialists who all compliment our core design skill. Our current clients are all big national retail brands here and in Asia with large often complex store networks. Our model is simple, we design prototype store / branch formats that build longevity and future positioning for the brand (takes about 9 months) then administer the nationwide roll out over the next 2-3 years. We are quite proud of the fact that every store we have designed has been successfully rolled out with an increase in revenue across the network of at least 20%”.
Give us some insight into Public Design Group, the inspiration behind it and the time it took to create it?
Every designer dreams of working with good people on good projects. Dan and I spent the better part of our 20’s talking in the pub about how we would one day do this. I suppose we’ve been lucky enough to fulfil our ambition.
What are you expectations for PDG? To keep it just as it is, to never sell it to some large corporate who will systematically fill it with suits, fire all the creative talent and wind it into the ground. Seen it happen too many times.
Where are you now… we mean… right this minute? On the bus where I do stuff that doesn’t need me to be with the others.
Can you give us some insight into what makes you tick: How Asia makes you see things differently. Working with the best people in the business.
Our site creates a platform for people to challenge the status quo. We like to focus on thought activation crossed with inspiring content and amazing design. As a result, a lot of our readers are entrepreneurs, business owners and creatives. With this type of work comes a lot of highs and lows. Can you share with us one of your notable highs: Winning pitches against our previous employer for major national retail projects. Twice.
How about a notable low: Having a creative concept pitch idea stolen by a major bank who then implemented the idea incorrectly with an architect who didn’t understand customer mindset. What a waste.
Do you think the two relate? They are both the outcome of calculated risk taking and lots of hard work / ego involved so yes absolutely. Have I gone off on a tangent here?
Ok Jason, share a 3 minute inspiring story with us: We know an Optus franchisee who has 11 stores. 3 metro which had always made money and 8 regional which had always lost money. His life up until the Yes Shop (new Optus store design by Public Design Group) was a balancing act of survival with little profit. Now his stores are all Optus Yes Shops and are all pumping. It has changed his life forever. His story made us realise that our work doesn’t always just propagate consumption for the profit of shareholders, but actually can make a real difference to everyday people, families and communities.
A quote to live by: Pass it on when you’re ready.
Publics Mission: To keep riding our incredible wave.
The Best Websites on the planet according to the Jason Pollard: Will my wife see this?
My Social Networks… where do we find you online or out and about if we were considering staling you? Café Morso or on the Northern Beaches
Finish this quote: “What the world needs more than anything right now is”… To re-boot.
Website: www.publicdesigngroup.com
Thanks Jason for your time. Enjoy the ride.
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