Following 14 years of working for a design agency, Sheaf Design Works founder Leanne Keetley made the decision to go solo and set up her own independent studio in 2018.
Situated in the heart of Kelham Island’s creative hub, you’ll find their office on the top floor of Hope Works on Mowbray Steet. Forming a dream team with her husband, Martin, the company specialises in branding and print design for a wide range of small to medium-sized businesses.
“We took lockdown as an opportunity to reassess what we were doing,” Leanne tells unLTD. “After initially setting up as a sole trader, we took on a lot of new customers and new responsibilities, so we decided to become a limited company. Moving to this new studio has been a game-changer for us; we’re surrounded by small businesses who pass the office and get in touch to see if we can work together.”
A welcoming office space is also useful for entertaining clients on a separate side of their business – award-winning wedding stationery design. You can find out more about that and browse their recently launched off-the-shelf collection at sheafstationery.co.uk.
However, the bulk of Sheaf Design’s workload revolves around collaborating with local businesses in both digital and print formats, working on branding, website design, social media presence, press assets, brochures, stationery – you name it! Together, they make the ideal partnership: Leanne oversees the design aspect, while Martin ensures the smooth operation of administrative tasks.
When discussing the type of client they aim to attract, Leanne points to a particular passion for working with smaller independent companies like their own. “We’ve seen how smaller businesses without the budget for a full-service design agency can turn to doing things themselves, sometimes stunting their own growth as result. Earlier this year, we launched a series of packages, ranging from a lower-cost ‘Branding Essentials’ aimed at start-ups and sole traders, right through to what we call ‘The Works’ – a complete brand identity and website package.”
The studio has built up relationships with a wide range of businesses, working with photographers and personal trainers alongside charities and consultancy firms to help their brands effectively cut through the noise. “Helping businesses grow with design that works is what we’re all about. I think people can often think that working with a design agency is going to be a really complex process, but we’re keen to ensure that it’s a fun, friendly experience and people feel comfortable asking us anything.”
Honesty and openness are another key tenet of the Sheaf Design Works philosophy, explains Leanne. “The pricing is there for everyone to see from the beginning and we’re open with the client throughout every part of the process. It’s not a case of doing a load of work and then some surprises turning up on an invoice sent later down the line; we’ll deliver a quote that works for your business’s budget and stick to it.”
“A lot of what we do is about educating businesses about the importance of good design for a business to grow,” adds Martin. “Demonstrating the value that design has is a big thing, especially in the social media age where representing your business in the best way possible is so important.”
With multiple studies showing that the ‘scrollability’ of social media has reduced consumer’s attention spans (8 seconds is often the golden figure quoted), design studios such as theirs play an increasingly pivotal role in ensuring a company’s ethos and values are clearly and effectively communicated.
“For me, the best bit of the job is when a client provides feedback saying that working with us has been a gamechanger for their business,” says Leanne. “I still get excited when I see our design work out and about. I love the creative side of it, but seeing businesses grow and benefit from our work is the most rewarding part of the job.”
