Pictured above: Stuart Davis and Jayne Waistell from
Optima, Dame Kelly Holmes, Sam Clark (holding award) and Louise
Belfield from University of Lincoln and Simon Shaw Optima's
managing director.
Lincolnshire based Optima is celebrating after becoming the only
East Midlands design consultancy to gain a place on DesignWeek's
list of top 100 UK agencies.
Optima Graphic Design Consultants came in at number 85 on the
prestigious list, jumping a massive 22 places, and beating its
previous best positions.
Simon Shaw, Optima's co-owner and MD, said: "We are absolutely
delighted to be on the list, which is a well known gauge of success
for the design industry.
"There were more agencies from outside London on the list this
year which is brilliant news for us and the East Midlands.
Companies believe that the best design talent is in the capital
which is plainly not true, and clear from this year's list."
Optima's huge leap from position 106 to 85 is evidence of
Optima's continued resilience and growth during the downturn which
has come from retaining the excellent client based it has, while
also bringing in several new heavyweight clients, said Simon.
"We leaped an amazing 22 places up the top 100 list, making us
the fifth largest growing agency in the top 100," he added.
"While it is evident that the design industry has suffered in
the economic downturn, Optima has bucked the trend - even though
two of our major clients are in the construction industry. We are
looking forward this year with continues optimism and our desire to
firmly cement our place in that top one hundred."
Optima, a full design and web agency, was established in 1995 by
Simon and has been entering the awards since 2005. They now employ
15 people. Clients include WWF, Branston Limited, Corus, University
of Lincoln and British Gypsum.
There was more good news for Optima when they won silver at the
Heist Awards for Best Higher Education Prospectus
Optima, which sees itself as a national agency based in Lincoln,
employs local Lincolnshire talent. The company works closely with
the University of Lincoln to provide a graduate recruitment drive -
and Simon and his colleagues have lectured there regularly.
As a result, many of the Optima team are University of Lincoln
graduates - with specialisms in graphic design and screen based
graphics. At present Optima has six graduates from the university
in the team of 15.
"Our work is constantly changing, and by recruiting bright, hard
working, talented graduates, we can continue to expand and enhance
our skills base," said Simon.