About - Outspoken Entourage - Marketing & Graphic & Web Design Studio

Outspoken Entourage - Coffs Harbour, Sydney - Graphic Designers Story

about

our story

TIMELINE
2014 - 2017

Outspoken Entourage was established in 2014. Nicola started the business and operated it full time, while Mark was on board in a part time capacity.

We are often asked about our name and it wasn’t created as a great conversation starter! It was chosen due to our main clients at the time being keynote & corporate speakers.

The business grew steadily until we experienced quick growth in 2017 as word began to spread throughout the local business community.

Continued growth enabled Mark to begin working full-time within the business and leave his senior role with the Australian round of the World Rally Championships (WRC).

2018

Once Mark became available in a full-time capacity to engage in additional client design projects, we opened our studio in the Jetty area in 2018.

It was a tiny 13 square metre sub-let space with street front signage and within close quarters to several cafes for our regular caffeine hit!

It wasn't long before we looked at recruiting staff and realised the small office was bursting at the seams.

2019

In 2019 Outspoken Entourage took on a new 65 square metre waterfront office within the same complex.

We employed another Graphic Designer to help with the ever-increasing workload for websites and branding projects and assist in the design of the surging social media part of the business.

Plans were made to appoint a dedicated social media resource to assist Nicola with the workload and the 17k posts made on behalf of clients per annum across a variety of industries.

2020

2020 started off with a bang until Covid-19 arrived. Whilst the impact was sudden and drastic, we were able to recover relatively quickly and as businesses regained confidence, we were able to appoint a Social Media Manager.

A few short months later, a Content Creator was added to the team and we were able to work with a software developer to take our social media proofing to a digital process with online proofing, scheduling and live alterations.

2021

Early in 2021 a Studio Manager was appointed to assist with project managing the design team helping to keep the designers fed with all the information required for them to commence and complete the various projects on the books.

Covid-19 Lockdown 2 commenced and we lost that team member to a similar business locally. With the coming months an unknown, we decided not to re-employ but find alternative means to manage the workflow.

By mid-year it was announced that the complex we tenanted was to be redeveloped into apartment buildings in the near future.

2021 - 2022

With other team members parting to relocate outside the area and the lease ending in early 2022 for the studio, Nicola and Mark made the decision to build a custom design studio to provide a dedicated permanent space.

The studio space was completed late 2021 and features four metre high raked ceilings, polished concrete floors, an abundance of natural light, exposed industrial steel beams, park-like surroundings and all of the designer touches you would expect (including a cafe quality coffee setup).

The perfect space to create for our clients.

2022 - 2023

With a high number of clients now located throughout Australia with a large focus in Sydney and Melbourne, we took the step to establish a new studio a few kilometres from the CBD in Melbourne. We are embracing the cultural diversity and creativity of one of Australia's most dynamic cities.

2023

After transitioning to Greater Melbourne in late 2022, we decided to make a move across town into a heritage listed 1850s warehouse conversion featuring red brick, concrete, exposed ceiling beams and steel fire doors in the suburb of West Melbourne which borders the CBD.

With this move we decided to evolve our logo to better represent our surroundings and renewed creative inspiration.

Outspoken Entourage Studio sign
Outspoken Entourage polished concrete designer floors
Green foliage - office plants

achievements


AWARDS

2023 - LogoLounge 14 - Logo Design Competition (International)
Our logo for The Crux was a winner in this international logo design competition and will be published in the LogoLounge Fourteen book.

2022 -
Web Excellence Awards - Website Design (International)
We received a second International website design award for our work on JDG Constructions website launched earlier in the year.

2022 -
Orpetron Web Design Awards - Website Design (International)
We received a Site Of The Day (SOTD) Award for our JDG Constructions website project. This is awarded where a project is the highest scoring website of the day. It is then entered into the running for Site Of The Month and Site Of The Year Awards.

2022
- Orpetron Web Design Awards - Website Design (International)
We received an Appreciation Award for our JDG Constructions website project. This is achieved when judges score a site above 70%.

2022 - World Vodka Awards - Packaging Design (International)
We took out a Bronze Design Award for a Vodka label design. This awards organisation recognises the best alcohol packaging design in the world.

2022 -
World Gin Awards - Packaging Design (International)
Packaging design, (on behalf of a client) we took out a Bronze Design Award for a Gin label design which recognises the best packaging design in the world.

2022 -
Awwwards - Website Design (International)
We received a Nomination for a website project completed for a client - luxury builder JDG Constructions. This website awards program recognises the best of the best in website design. Previous winners include Mercedes Benz and Apple.

2021 -
Designers Australia 2021 Awards - Logo & Brand Identity Design (Australia)
We were a Finalist (shortlisted) for the prestigious Designers Australia 2021 Awards in the Interact Category for a logo and branding project completed for Clarence Valley Conservatorium (CVCON) a NFP based in Grafton. This award program is cross-disciplinary and includes not only Graphic Design, but Architecture, Product Design, and other design disciplines.

2021 -
Orpetron Web Design Awards - Website Design (International)
We received an Appreciation Award for our company website. This is achieved when judges score a site above 75%.

2021 -
World Drinks Awards - Packaging Design (International)
Packaging design, (on behalf of a client) we won a Bronze Design Award which recognises the best packaging design in the highly competitive and creative alcohol industry.

2021 - Coffs Coast Business Awards - General Business (Regional)
In 2021 we were a Finalist for Small Business of the Year. This is a local awards program which is across all industries.

2020 -
Awwwards - Website Design (International)
We received another Nomination for our own website evolution. Awwwards is considered the most prominent awards program in the Web Design Field. Simply making the nominated list was an honour.

Site of the day - web design award JDG Melbourne JDG Constructions website project
Site of the day - web design award JDG Melbourne
Orpetron Web Design Awards Melbourne OWA
World Vodka Awards 2022 Bronze Winner Packaging Design Coffs Harbour Sydney Melbourne Alcohol
Logolounge 14
World Gin Awards Packaging graphic design Coffs Harbour Sydney Melbourne
Designers Australia 2021 Awards Finalist Winner Outspoken Entourage
Orpetron International Web Design Award Outspoken Entourage
International World Drink Vodka Award Outspoken Entourage Bronze
Awwwards International Web Design Award Nomination Finalist Outspoken Entourage

core team

Nicola Ruitenberg
NICOLA
STUDIO DIRECTOR
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Mark Ruitenberg
MARK
Designer MDIA (AD)
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Zoe Kiki Gargamel RuitenbergZoe Kiki Gargamel Ruitenberg
ZOE
Security
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Valentino Enzo RuitenbergValentino Enzo
VALENTINO
Welcoming Committee
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Outspoken Entourage understand when you have a project created, you may need to make changes, add a new page or even restyle it to suit a new look or branding change. One of our core principles is that we do not outsource projects offshore or to third parties who may not be available in three years to make the desired changes. This means when you need that edit made, we don't need to rebuild your website from the ground up when we can't understand how (in the example of a website) it was put together by an outside party. It also ensures that we maintain the quality of our work, and projects are completed to deadline, without the stress of having a third party go MIA.

associates

In addition to our core team above, we also work with a few colourful individuals in varying capacity to deliver your project without delay and with the attention it so greatly deserves.

Each of our associates hold the same values as our core team along with an individual skillset in their respective role in delivering the absolute best for your project and business.

Zoie
ZOIE
CONTRIBUTOR
Connor
CONNOR
COLLABORATOR
Richard
RICH
DEVELOPER
Mel
MEL
CONTRIBUTOR

accreditation

Outspoken Entourage is a member of the following associations dedicated to upholding the quality of work, ethics and practices of the design and marketing industry.

Our Practice Membership with the Design Institute of Australia requires Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credits to be logged throughout the year to maintain membership. This continued learning is part of our dedication to being abreast of all relevant movements within the industry and ensures we continue to offer exemplary services within the industry.
Design Practice member of the Design Institute of Australia.
Professional member Australian Graphic Design Association.