Up to the Light’s ‘What Clients Think’ report is the definitive annual snapshot of the client/design agency relationship, eagerly anticipated by agencies around the world. Now in its 10th year, the 2024 report is based on 675 client interviews conducted on behalf of agencies, the highest-ever number. The report is packed with information, evidence and insight for agencies.
Up to the Light’s founder, Jonathan Kirk, will take us through an exclusive pre-launch review of the report’s highlights and explore how agency owners and principals, designers and creatives can improve client/agency relationships, strengthen client service, collaboration, client growth and retention.
What do clients think about agencies’ new business and pitches, websites, marketing content, new business presentations, value for money and building optimum client/agency relationships?
As this is the 10th ‘What Clients Think’ report, Jonathan will also look at trends over the last 10 years and how client issues have shifted.
The ‘What Clients Think’ report is totally unique in its scope and quality. All 675 interviews (not an online survey) were paid for by individual agencies commissioning Up to the Light to provide independent client surveys. Therefore, the report is based on in-depth interviews with interested clients who are talking at length about their relationships with agencies. In this sense, the quality of the raw material upon which the report is based is unparalleled.
Join us online on Friday, 22nd March 2024 when Jonathan Kirk will give us an exclusive preview of the report’s highlights, providing us with invaluable insight into the world of clients to help you shape your offer for 2024.
Limited places so book your ticket for What Clients Think 2024 preview today!
*Free for IDI members.
Content
About the trainer
Jonathan Kirk is the founder of Up to the Light. The consultancy advises a significant proportion of the UK’s top 100 agencies across a wide range of issues concerned with business growth and improvement. As the leading provider of client surveys to the design industry, their insight into the client/agency relationship is unrivalled.
For the last 11 years Up to the Light has published the influential ‘What Clients Think’ report. This year’s report is based on 680 client interviews conducted on behalf of design agencies and is a revealing snapshot of the client/agency relationship.
As well as advising agencies, Up to the Light is also a brand consultancy that provides brand positioning and strategy for clients. So many consultants become theorists and teachers, slightly removed from reality, but Jonathan is continually involved at the sharp end presenting, pitching and delivering high-profile strategic work for brands. This is of huge benefit to his clients. He is a regular trade press contributor and conference speaker.
“We tend to advocate the power of data insights for our clients, particularly consumer insights. However, when it comes to using these techniques to inform our own industry insights we seem more like the proverbial cobblers shoes. “What Clients Think” report, provides valuable insights from across a wide breadth of direct one-to-one interviews. There’s a broad range of interviews that make up this report which adds a macro view on the challenges and opportunities our clients face.”
‘Invaluable for knowing the honest truth in what clients think about working with agencies, which means we can do something about it to become better business partners. I look forward to reading this every year as it informs me in how we need to change in delivering better communications, services and relationships with clients. The report not only gives us an idea of what clients want from agencies, it gives me a better idea of what their own priorities are for the year.’
‘The ‘What Clients Think’ report is for me the most valuable industry publication of the year. As an agency owner, I find it extremely thought-provoking as it forces me to hold the mirror up to my face and ask myself the difficult questions. What’s more Jonathan Kirk is a trusted authority with razor-sharp insights and I’ve 100% confidence in the validity of the data. It’s literally the only document I have sitting beside my keyboard all year round.’
'Any tool that helps us define opportunities within the client community and weaknesses within our own is a win-win in my book. Some of Jonathan’s insights simply encourage us to ‘get over ourselves’ and focus on, as he says.. ‘ what clients really want’.'
More events you might like
Read moreUX Tree – Applied Learning and Mentorship Programme in UX 2025 - Information Sessions
Join us for an information session on the UX Tree Applied Learning and Mentorship Programme in UX 2025.
Read moreProfessional Diploma in UX Design 2025
A unique 6-month university-accredited programme in UX for Designers and Creatives, combining online learning and live webinars to further develop business skills and build successful careers.
Read moreProfessional Certificate in Designing for Accessibility 2025
As accessibility moves to the forefront of digital design, this practical, expert-led course equips UX and product professionals with the tools to meet legal requirements and build better experiences for all users.
Read moreProfessional Certificate in UI 2025
Are your digital design skills holding you back? Master the key concepts and techniques of user interface design with this 3-month university-accredited programme in UI for Designers and Creatives, combining online learning and live webinars.
Read moreProfessional Certificate in Content Design 2025
Are your content design skills holding you back? Master the key concepts and techniques of content design with this 10-week university-accredited programme in Content Design for Designers, UX/UI Professional and Creatives, combining online learning and live webinars.
Read moreProfessional Certificate in User Research 2025
A unique 4-month university-accredited programme in User Research for Designers and Creatives, combining online learning and live webinars to further develop business skills and build successful careers.
Read moreDesign Summer Sessions 2025
The Design Summer Sessions is a three-day festival of learning for designers and creatives, jam-packed with interactive and insightful webinar sessions for designers and creatives.
Read moreDesigners FORUMS
IDI’s Monthly Forums are all about giving you the opportunity to set your agenda to discuss the topics of most relevance to you with the people who understand most. The IDI’s Forums series give you a safe space to discuss the topics that are most pressing in your field of work, with others in the same position.
Read moreUX Tree - Applied Learning and Mentorship Programme in UX - 2025
UX Tree is a mentorship programme focused on career development and the improvement of UX skills for mentors and mentees. The Programme provides guidance and support to mentees in developing or improving their professional skills in the field of UX Design and aims to bridge the gap between education and the workplace.
Read moreProfessional Diploma in Service Design 2025
Gain a Professional Award in Service Design. Service designers create solutions for complex systemic and societal challenges, developing experiences that address the needs of a diverse range of stakeholders. The Professional Diploma in Service Design teaches the application of design methods, tools and thinking to sectors such as healthcare, technology, finance, transportation and education.