Spotlight on Adam Piggot
Posted: 18 January 2024, in News
We’re delighted to be joined by Adam Piggot in our first Supporter Member Spotlight. Adam Piggot is a Brand Strategy Specialist and Identity Designer, working with social enterprises, charities, voluntary associations, and community groups to help equip them with the skills and techniques they need to connect with the people they want to reach. He also designs brand strategies, visual identities and engagement campaigns for socially-focussed clients across Scotland. We spoke to Adam to find out more about what he does, his future plans and tips for social enterprises.
What does your business do?
I provide common good organisations with accessible and affordable routes to high quality brand communication. I help them develop the knowledge, skills and assets they require to connect with the people they need to reach.
How do you do it?
There’s a range of options. I provide workshops that help clients pin down their unique brand voice and embed it throughout their organisation. I offer drop-in mentoring sessions where they can get input on any aspect of brand communication. I collaborate with clients on co-design projects. And I also take on regular design commissions.
Why should someone use your services? What are the benefits and what makes your practice unique?
Folk should get in touch if they’re looking to connect with the people they need to reach, and want to gain confidence in the way they communicate their brand. I run my practice as a teaching studio, and provide clients with strategies, knowledge and skills as an integral part of the design process.
What is your personal motivation?
Well, as I see it, our society increasingly relies on our ability to persuade each other to buy things we don’t need, don’t want, and can’t afford. I don’t think that’s sustainable, so my solution is to work with clients who have a social mission, and use my skills to help them achieve their aims.
What is the current focus for your practice?
My focus is all about developing new ways to help common good organisations communicate effectively. I’m currently piloting a new workshop called ‘Set Your Course’. It’s designed for boards and senior managers, and helps them plot a direct route from their Vision, Mission and Values to their brand identity.
A few of the logos Adam has designed
What exciting things do you have coming up?
I see co-design as an approach that’s going to grow in popularity. Rather than working in a traditional designer-client relationship, co-design projects are approached as a collaboration. My new Brand Kit Essentials programme, for example, has been developed to help start-ups and small organisations co-design their own identities with different levels of support from me.
Who do you want to work with more?
I’d be really interested in working with campaigning organisations – particularly those with a focus on social justice and environmental issues. I’d also be very keen to do more work with community organisations – especially if they’re looking to develop their own capabilities in communication and engagement.
What’s your biggest challenge?
Without a doubt, my biggest challenge is finding ways to help clients stretch their budgets but that’s what’s encouraged me to develop my practice as a teaching studio, and that’s what makes it unique. It’s really rewarding to help clients extend their capabilities, rather than simply providing a service.
Where do you see your practice in 5 years?
I’d like to be doing pretty much exactly what I’m doing now but with a bigger reach. All my services can be accessed online and I already deliver workshops for TSIs around Scotland. I’d like to extend that service to other parts of the UK – and maybe even further afield.
What top tips would you give to social enterprises?
Tip Number 1: Make sure everyone in your organisation understands what makes your brand unique. If they don’t get it, nor will the people you want to reach. Tip Number 2: Find a way to get professionally-taken photography. Photographs make a bigger impression than any other aspect of your visual identity.
For more information about Adam’s work and to get in touch, please visit his website.
Want to read more Member and Supporter Member Spotlights? Visit our blog. If you’d like to be featured, please email membership@socialenterprise.scot.