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14islands is an international design and technology studio known for crafting digital experiences that help businesses better connect with people. Perfecting Scandinavian minimalism, 14islands, based in Stockholm, Florianópolis, and Reykjavík harness this energy to design solutions that balance function and aesthetics. Their services span UX design, creative technology, and brand strategy, among others, to cater to clients across tech, gaming, and sustainability.
14islands wanted results in the highly competitive US and Swedish design and technology markets. The studio needed to overcome the difficulty of establishing the brand's credibility with longstanding design and tech firms, but also to create differentiation for its unique approach.
Competing against agencies with longstanding visibility in the Swedish and US media, 14islands had to convey how value is delivered from its studio which crafts visually stimulating and meaningful, user-centred interactions.
With a portfolio spanning from tech and gaming to sustainability, the studio required a tailored PR approach that resonated across multi-verticals. Another challenge was establishing thought leadership in a crowded industry where innovation and expertise are key. 14islands brief was to position itself as an industry leader in UX design and creative technology while building trust and excitement among potential clients who were unfamiliar with their unique design ethos.
For 14islands, PRLab created an overall PR strategy that included raising awareness, building credibility, and driving thought leadership. The response to this challenge involved:
PRLab has carried out in-depth competitor analysis to understand where 14islands differ. The focus of attention has been the gap competitors have had in terms of media representation and in combining thought leadership and general company news. The goal was to use this to position 14islands as a front-runner within human-centred, tech-integrated design.
Thought leadership was a big part of the strategy. PRLab created various materials, from press releases to opinion pieces, to industry-focused articles that positioned 14islands as knowledgeable in their field. We also secured interviews. Key messages underlined the Scandinavian origin of this studio, its small and agile team, and a passion for merging aesthetics with a positive user experience. We created content to target publications in the tech, design, and business media with special appeal to the US and Swedish audiences.
The team then compiled a detailed media list, segmenting it into tiers-targeting high-profile outlets. PRLab managed to coordinate pitches with key journalists at tier 1 publications until thought leadership placements and mentions were achieved with this outreach.
With PRLab's well-timed outreach, the agency created, pitched and secured commentary opportunities for the leadership of 14islands to make the brand the voice that mattered in conversations of emerging trends like Generative AI and design.
With 16 pieces of coverage landed with the highest DA of 94, 14islands got featured in targeted publications in design and tech outlets while growing its credibility in the US and Swedish markets. The response was overwhelmingly positive in tech and creative circles.
With the help of PRLab, 14islands was able to highlight its commitment to user-centered digital products.
Media placements further cemented 14islands as industry thought leaders in UX and digital transformation, opening up new avenues for 14islands to reach the desired audiences.
“We were truly impressed by the friendly culture and open process at PRLab. Their focus on delivering valuable outcomes resulted in numerous high-value publications and secured conference spots for us. The weekly meetings kept us aligned, and PRLab expertly led the entire process from start to finish, saving us time and ensuring we stayed on target”
CEO and CoFounder, 14Islands - Hjörtur Hilmarsson
