Simona Hancu (Pattern Agency): “In 2018 we intend to consolidate our position by taking on new projects and expanding our client portfolio in Romania as well as globally”

Simona Hancu, founder of Pattern Agency, talks about the plans of her company and the wide array of digital projects developed by the agency for a wide array of customers. She also talks about the work of her firm on Samsung Developers Website.

What are the main business objectives of the Pattern Agency in 2018?

In 2018 we intend to consolidate our position by taking on new projects and expanding our client portfolio in Romania as well as globally.

As a design agency, Pattern, our focus lies with branding and digital projects. We will also continue to deliver projects that have BTL & Events elements.

What are the main drivers of demand for the visual design & digital content services in Romania? From what industries are the companies that seek your expertize?

Nowadays almost everyone needs digital content, so our clients cover all kinds of industries. For visual design though, there are either the small entrepreneurs & startups, or companies that need to get a different creative approach from us, whether it is a packaging design project or a corporate one. And this is where we come in, at the crossroads between small companies in need for a flexible but creative team and bigger clients in need for that extra creative spice. We love to start a branding project, and then to grow it into digital, whether we speak of website development or social media strategy / content. It’s like seeing your baby’s first steps.

Your agency has redesigned the Samsung Developers Website. How long did you work on this project and how challenging was it? What were the results for Samsung following the redesign?

Samsung Developers website is the longest project we’ve worked on. It started in November 2016 and we are still delivering content and offering maintenance services for them.

Being a content website that keeps resources & SDK’s for developers, we had to make sure the design stays a priority without affecting the website’s functionality. To keep a healthy balance between design needs and functionality needs for such a big client is sometimes challenging. We are working though with a great team from Samsung US and we succeeded to keep the client happy without making too many compromises on the creative side / standard.

You have founded your own agency after holding for more than a decade leadership roles in the marketing departments of several large companies. How was the transition to entrepreneurship?

I used to dream about this step since quite a few years ago, but there were always fears or challenges.

After maternal leave, in 2012, I chose the role of Marketing Director for a big Romanian company, wine producer Vincon. I wanted to see what the limits, challenges, and differences between corporations and local Romanian companies are and how they influence me in becoming a better manager and person. I also took the job because I think wine industry is one of the most challenging and beautiful for a marketer. Of course, there were differences, but for me it was a big step forward to entrepreneurship.

I think it took me 4, 5 years to make this decision, but when I did, I took my chances without looking back.

Being an entrepreneur in Romania is more difficult, I believe, than in other countries, so you have to enjoy risk at some level and be constant in pursuing your goals. Then, there is the team, so, project management, team management, financial management, new business and account management, strategy approach, all these are on my shoulders. Sometimes it can be overwhelming, sometimes exhausting, but in the end, when you see a team grow, and projects delivered to a happy client, that’s what makes the difference. It is essential I believe, for an entrepreneur, to have the mindset of assuming fails and being ready to start all over again.

How does Pattern Agency implement innovative solutions for customers? What are some of the trends you see in the technology sector that can enhance the engagement with customers (companies)/consumers?

Animations and motion graphics are already a standard for an up-to-date brand and the right way to have innovative storytelling. Pattern can bring innovative solutions at this crossroads between offline and digital with VR and AR apps coming at the interaction of consumers in their psychical space or creating events that are focused on a memorable experience for the user.

Having so much content everywhere sets the objective for brands to avoid the clutter and remain distinct. It is here we that we try to bring solutions by changing perspectives and disrupting perceptions trough AR/ VR /animations / illustrations. And even simply bringing to offline more of what exists in digital is part of our innovative approach.

Does the agency have plans to further develop any of its business lines this year?

This year we are focusing on taking projects on design and events with a touch of technology implied. Also the focus is permanently on growing the team and we will be looking soon for two new colleagues to join us in planning and communication.

What are some of the agency’s projects you are the proudest of?

Being able to keep a client like Samsung on digital services is one of our biggest achievements, as mentioned. More details on our projects can be found at

www.pattern.us/portfolio

DMCA

PROTECTED