First things first. The Dugan & O’Sullivan office is now in full effect. “Being able to have our own space has been fantastic,” says Sam Dugan, “it’s really nice to be able to collaborate again. I think that’s the most rewarding thing about being back.”
“There’s nothing better than being able to workshop in person,” says Darcy O’Sullivan of the return. “It’s so refreshing to be getting facetime with not only our clients, but our team as well.”
This year has seen the completion of several major projects. Some with challenges and obstacles, but always with great results. “A little push from the clients is always a great thing,” says Sam, “the outcomes are great and can be really rewarding.”
The results for high end luxury property development La Storia were outstanding, incorporating all facets of design from publishing, illustration, copy and photography to web development and sales, lending the project an international air reminiscent of Italian mid-century greats such as Scarpa, Mollino and Morandi.
The completion of Natbuild, a nationwide wholesale hardware supply group demonstrated our belief in the effectiveness of thorough brand consultation and the creation of a complete design ecosystem. We also continued to work with construction company McCormack and bolstered their digital presence through successful media engagement.
The next 6 months will see some very exciting new projects for both the team and our clients. “Obviously there’s a bit of negative media regarding the economy and interest rates at the moment,” says Darcy, but as Sam adds, “we have some really promising work with property, which is really good to see at this point of the year.”
Leading up to the end of the year will see Dugan & O’Sullivan start work with an ASX listed company. “They’re an amazing business doing genuine environmental work and we’ll be producing a brand development for them. That’s exciting,” says Sam on the yet to be announced project, “we’re looking at a very busy tail end of the year.”
The next 6 months will see continued growth, “from our client base, but also work that fulfils us and will see our team’s continued growth,” says Darcy.
“We’ve been working hard and we’re seeing the changes now,” Sam says of the last few years, “but doors are opening and we’re seeing growth where we want.”
“We have plenty on.”
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As an already established business, Natbuild’s unique approach to their industry had already proven successful. The challenge for Dugan & O’Sullivan was to take Natbuild’s design and communication from adequate to industry leader, creating a design language to build on and be proud of.
Beginning with the new tagline, ‘Together Independent’, Natbuild now sets the tone from the get-go. As Australia’s premier independent building supplies buying group, it was important to be clear every step of the way – this is a business that is here to help independent trade hardware and building material supply businesses compete with the big box retailers, there is no need to mess around with anything other than the facts.
Dugan & O’Sullivan designed a website with clarity and focus on Natbuild’s offerings, not bogging it down in minutiae or fussy details. Crucial in setting the tone, Natbuild’s new branding, logo, colour palette and layout was completely reinvented to sit firmly alongside the competition, the intentions and purpose of the business proudly on display.
As a total communication and design overhaul, Natbuild is a demonstration of the effectiveness of brand consultation and professional design. We were able to take the essence of a great Australian company and give them the look, attention and perception they deserve
Just as building and construction is about the delivery of good work, Natbuild’s website and communications is about delivering an understandable, long-lasting, and useful design language that is thorough, honest and aesthetic. With simple and effective consultation, Dugan & O’Sullivan was able to transform Natbuild’s digital presence from alsoran to competitor, exhibiting all the traits of confident, professional design without taking the business out of its comfort zone and retaining a sense of familiarity akin to their personable approach to business.
The final piece of the puzzle will launch soon as Dugan & O’Sullivan completes the circle of effective communication. Managing Natbuild’s message through social platforms LinkedIn and Instagram, will further validate the effectiveness of total communication and correct engagement.
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These first ‘rules’ became the foundations on which Dugan & O’Sullivan was built. Strategies were developed to build empowered brands, a core tenet of the Dugan & O’Sullivan process.
Dugan & O’Sullivan uses strategy, intuition, and creativity to harness the power of ideas to mobilise people and organisations to realise their full potential, something the agency calls brand-led business consulting. By putting the brand at the centre of all company-wide decisions, the messaging remains clear and coherent by establishing a brand and communication language that is quickly understood and plants seeds for the future.
A compelling story and a way to reach an audience are necessary for any successful brand. However, by focusing on the three essential elements of branding, these services and solutions will work together to give your brand the best possible chance of success.
Governance.
Perhaps the best place to start is great governance. Dugan & O’Sullivan provide your leadership team with the best support possible to make smarter strategic decisions. A thorough examination of the competition, through forecasting, trends, and market research, we put the instruments and information upfront to manage decisions more effectively to increase long-term revenue.
Mobilisation.
For Dugan & O’Sullivan, the idea of mobilisation is to make sure your team, your employees, and everyone involved understands what sets your story and brand apart from the competition. This way you can nurture and maintain relationships with your customers through the delivery of memorable experiences.
Experience.
How you reach and touch your customers is crucial to their experience and commitment to what matters most to them. This is inextricably tied to your brand’s success. It is through experience that we can maximise market penetration, explore untapped corners of the market, and improve market share.
Successful marketing requires full company integration; at Dugan & O’Sullivan all aspects of your brand are considered equally, including the complete alignment of message and brand on all fronts.
With great design and strategy, our agency understands the long-term needs of your brand, and through proper engagement, we can see the fulfilment of your business’s goals and objectives.
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Priding themselves in detail and a high-level of consideration, McCormack needed a website to reflect their philosophies and beliefs; the notions of trust and family are as important today as they were when Jack McCormack first began in 1969. To capture these essential elements and the world in which McCormack finds itself, a rebrand and website were designed to correspond to the four core elements of the business: Reliability, Trust, Teamwork and Progress.
Obviously, as a fit out and construction business, projects are the focus. Still, the way in which McCormack conducts that business was essential in portraying the company as the family-focused, reliable group it purports to be.
The rebrand and website was centred around the brand claim and concept of ‘Family Built’. The website became a home to highlight the people and clients that make their work possible, the importance of life-long relationships and the inclusive work environment they have fostered that drives the business today.
The website also required a robust content management system (CMS) that allowed it to be updated frequently to display case studies and ongoing projects in order to communicate with clients, partners, and potential customers. For McCormack, the ability to tell a story has been integral for 50 years. Their link to their history has always been a way to participate and involve. With the new website and rebrand, their identity now matches their work and motivations. Dugan & O’Sullivan has ensured that every touchpoint’s level of detail and consideration reflects the level of detail and consideration in the entire business.
As the family enters the third generation, their new website brings the fundamental values and philosophy to the forefront, letting their voice and identity speak clearly through confident communication, design and proud storytelling.
Here’s to 50 more years.
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