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Interdisciplinary

A good design agency focuses on so much more than just aesthetics

Design acts as a pivotal mediator, skilfully translating a company’s offerings into a visual language that resonates with the target group in a way that is understandable and relevant.

A design agency therefore not only undertakes work in the graphic sense, it also plays an indispensable role in reinforcing the company’s identity through visual messages. This also entails providing sound advice on positioning and strategy.

The ultimate goal is to make companies and their offerings understandable and comprehensible across all media – from websites to business cards. As well as building trust with the target group and growing with them over time.

The user experience (UX) now plays a very prominent role. A company’s expertise is also measured by whether it is able to deliver an intuitively understandable interface design. Be it a traditional website, apps, the positioning of QR codes on print materials or any other digital applications, aesthetic appeal alone no longer makes anyone happy. Usability always needs to be considered.

A design agency should also be able to test its ideas as early and extensively as possible – as well as record and evaluate the results data using suitable analysis tools. 

A design agency is not simply a design office, but rather a comprehensive service provider that has to cover a broad spectrum of skills ranging from market research and strategy development to media work in all channels. As in virtually all areas of marketing, design also calls for thinking well beyond the next interface as well as interdisciplinary collaboration with a wide range of specialists – be they strategy consultants, web analysts or social media marketers. This is precisely where our strength lies. Because we, the Ruess Group, consistently pursue a holistic and results-orientated approach. This is why we have a wide range of different specialists working together.

Your contact

Steffen Ruess

Steffen Ruess

Managing Partner
Ruess Group

Generating business added value through design

Corporate design (CD) is not only an aesthetic factor, but also a vital instrument in shaping a company’s identity. This identity gives the company a face and establishes a clear positioning, while setting it apart from the competition.

A powerful, clear positioning can only achieve its full effect when it is based on solid, lived corporate values and when the corporate design is clearly in line with the corporate identity. In this constellation, the brand can become a decisive source of orientation and exert a significant influence on purchasing decisions.

Corporate design acts as a vivid manifestation of the brand personality. It visualises and communicates brand strategy, identity and values – generating a consistent recognition experience at every point of contact.

A good design agency is also a UX design agency

User experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design are dedicated to carefully analysing and strategically improving the user experience – ultimately aiming to optimise satisfaction and accessibility.

The thoughts, needs and emotions of users are of vital importance for UX and UI design. Both seek to identify and precisely analyse these aspects. The focus of UX design projects is on presenting complex issues as simply as possible to guide the user to their goal in an efficient and simple way.

Areas of application for UX design

Web design and conversion optimisation

For user experience designers, user-friendliness (usability) is of key importance. If a website or application is overly complex, users tend to leave quickly. The focus here is on designing pages and applications to be intuitive and user-friendly – so that users can immediately grasp the information they need and perform actions such as clicks without hesitation.

To this end, the design teams at UX agencies also carry out user research activities such as analysing web analytics data and targeted A/B testing.

Search engine optimisation (SEO)

UX design can set in motion an upward spiral in search engine optimisation. Search engines recognise well-thought-out UX design – and tend to reward pages with improved UX with better rankings. As a result, more users find the page, stay there longer thanks to the optimised UX and visit more subpages. This in turn sends further positive signals to the search engines, which again respond with better rankings to a certain extent. Many other criteria play a role in all of this. But UX is certainly one of the most important.

Product design

In product design, UX designers take the perspective of potential users on digital products. This way, they ensure that users immediately understand what functions the product has and how it is used. A self-explanatory product also facilitates subsequent communication and marketing strategies, and therefore often the success of the product on the market. UX and UI design agencies help analyse products, optimise them if necessary and can even be involved in developing new, user-centric products.

Logo development

The development of a logo is a very complex process. The process begins with creative concept development and ultimately culminates in its application on products, advertising media and different communication channels.

The development of a logo can take an extended period of time, because as the “face” of the company, it embodies its essence and presents what the brand stands for. The logo represents the heart of the brand identity.

It represents the core values and precisely condenses the mission. An effective logo conveys authenticity, values, quality and image to the viewer in a brief moment and therefore makes a substantial contribution to brand building and increasing brand awareness.

However, the visual design of a logo should only be tackled once the identity of the brand has been carefully developed. This includes a comprehensive analysis of the company, taking into account target groups, sectors and competitors.

Based on this, the positioning, USP, strengths, mission, vision, brand story, brand values, brand essence and brand archetypes are defined. Although this may seem extensive, each facet is an indispensable building block in the development process.

What a logo has to achieve:

A distinctive, unmistakable clarity

A compelling logo anchors any robust brand in the perception of the target group and is recognised immediately and clearly. It should be consistent and effective in a variety of contexts – online, on advertising posters, business stationery and products.

Ideal legibility

A logo that is memorable is one that perfectly fulfils its purpose. The sender’s name in particular should be displayed prominently and memorably. The font should be both easy to read and aesthetically pleasing.

Simplicity and uniqueness

A distinctive and unmistakable logo should be characterised by simplicity and direct recognition. As the VW logo – two letters framed by a circle – proves, the ideal design solution often lies in artful simplicity.

Trade fair designs

Schubert Messestand

Especially when company presentations take place far away from company headquarters, it is essential that the design agency creates an ideal environment for product presentation and customer communication.

Here, in a limited space, the brand can be experienced in its many facets. The following considerations need to be prioritised:

  • Is the corporate presence visible from a distance?
  • Are the attractions clearly recognisable?
  • What quality of stay is offered to visitors?
  • Are the topics presented appealing and engaging?
  • What impressions will be remembered?
  • Is it clear how the brand stands out from the competition?
  • How are the pre- and post-fair activities organised?

A persuasive central idea is essential for an effective trade fair. To ensure maximum impact of the trade fair presentation, all elements need to be related to this central idea. The starting point can be the customer benefit of the products and services or the company’s contribution to relevant industry topics.

The implementation of this central idea and its adaptation to a wide range of media – from the invitation to the website, from the campaign to the trade fair stand – is a complex challenge due to the variety of channels and requires more than just a design agency.

To the trade fair design agency

Conclusion: Design alone is not enough

Design in marketing has a value that goes far beyond the aesthetic dimension. It is the well-thought-out design, which extends across all communicative touchpoints, that makes a brand not only visible, but also tangible, trustworthy and usable for users.

Design creates not only an unforgettable first impression, but also an emotional connection and trust. It differentiates a brand from the competition and creates a long-term connection with recipients.

It is also the mission of a design agency to use design to create a striking difference in the competitive environment and to consider the visual habits of the target groups, the market and various global regions.

To achieve this, however, it is essential to be linked to all areas of marketing and to be able to receive feedback and carry out tests in order to ultimately deliver not only aesthetically pleasing, but above all user-friendly designs.

This is exactly what we, the Ruess Group, can achieve for you. For national and international companies. For current and future market leaders. In short, for leading companies that recognise that not only the product, but also the communication has to stand out.

Your contact

Steffen Ruess

Steffen Ruess

Managing Partner
Ruess Group

Would you like to see more?

Our references

Corporate design for packaging machine manufacturer Schubert

Schubert design manual

A brand is constantly evolving, so their look and feel also need to be continuously updated. Clear guidelines for the visual design ensure consistent communication, strengthen brand presence and increase recognition, which leads to more effective brand communication and a positive brand experience. We as an agency developed the corporate design for the Schubert company.

Convincing Corporate-Design

Convincing Corporate-Design

Time for an update? The Geiger Antriebe (Drives) brand’s visual language was given a completely new look and feel – based on an updated brand identity.

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