Raw Materials on winning D&AD's Design Studio of the Year by...
Each year, D&AD, the global association of creative advertising and design communities, publishes its official table of the most successful design agencies. These rankings are based on the results of the D&AD Awards, with companies allocated points for each win. This year, the overall winner is Raw Materials, which is unusual for two reasons. Firstly, because the American agency – a team of digital product designers, brand designers, strategists and technologists – was only founded in 2023. And secondly, because, well, that's what they call themselves. The tagline on their homepage is literally: "An unusual design company".
Working with early start-ups and established brands such as Meta, Peacock, JP Morgan Chase, and 7-Eleven, Raw Materials aims to break the mould of repetitive, cookie-cutter digital products, instead opting for work that embraces difference as a competitive advantage.
The Philosophy Behind Raw Materials
As their mission statement says, "We believe that when everything is the same, different is the greatest of opportunities. Unusual wins. We bring together bold and ambitious company leaders and the best creative talent in the world to design and build products founded on the power of difference."
So, what does that philosophy look like in practice? And how did this approach catapult Raw Materials to become the D&AD Design Studio of the Year within just a year of operation?
The Unusual Approach
We caught up with CEO John Roescher, CCO Pablo Marques, and COO Jennifer Allen to delve deeper into what makes Raw Materials so… well, unusual. From their origin story to their collaborative approach with clients and competitors, Raw Materials' success is built on a foundation of creativity and problem-solving.
Breaking from Convention
From day one, the philosophy that drives Raw Materials has been a desire to break from convention and find new solutions. This approach has led them to create unique and impactful designs that stand out in a crowded digital landscape.
Embracing Creativity
Raw Materials places a strong emphasis on creativity as a vital force that can drive meaningful change. By focusing on collaboration rather than competition and by reimagining traditional design concepts, they have been able to create standout projects for clients like Peacock and 7-Eleven.
Looking Towards the Future
As Raw Materials continues to grow and innovate, they remain committed to staying true to their philosophy of embracing difference and avoiding trends. By prioritizing problem-solving and creativity, they have set themselves apart in the design industry.
Raw Materials has proven that being unusual truly wins in a world where designs often seem to blend together.
