HirschWorks Profile

HirschWorks is an independent consultancy that assists organisations in the planning stages of their web and interactive media projects. We work equally with commissioners and supply-side agencies, helping the former to realise value and effectiveness from their new media investment, and helping the latter to win tenders and deliver results.

The Company

HirschWorks' founder and principal consultant is Jonathan Hirsch, an interactive media consultant whose experience dates back to the early days of the commercial web. The business was originally established at the beginning of 1999 under the name Jonathan Hirsch New Media Consultancy. In January 2002, it was formally incorporated as a Limited Liability Company and re-branded as HirschWorks.

We have deliberately chosen to remain a small company, but are able to draw on a large network of highly experienced and trusted associates who we can work with or refer you to. This affords flexibility and cost-effectiveness, which translates into added value for clients.

Jonathan Hirsch

Jonathan Hirsch holds a Master's Degree in Design for Interactive Media and has worked in the new media industry since 1995. He has researched, designed and produced all manner of multimedia and web projects for a wide range of clients including government, academic, public, private and voluntary sector organisations.

Jonathan brings the benefit of a keen analytical mind backed by substantial experience and expertise, as well as a rarely found cross-disciplinary understanding, encompassing business, content, design and technical issues.

Before founding HirschWorks, Jonathan was a Director of two well-respected new media design agencies – The Art of Invention and Fahrenheit 451 – where early projects included Shell International's award-winning main corporate web site and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's most successful multimedia CD-Rom, 'Britain in Brief'.

As an independent consultant, notable projects have included consultancy for the Countryside Agency and Pearson's Broadband Educational TV pilot.

More recently, Jonathan has:

Provided Human-Computer Interface usability consultancy to Freeserve
Produced an independent project evaluation on behalf of SEEDA and SkillsTrain
Undertaken a large-scale web site review project for DANTE
Authored Skillset's national interactive media skills strategy

A full client list, and links to case studies, can be found in the 'Portfolio' section of this site.

In addition to his consultancy work, Jonathan has been a visiting tutor at the Royal College of Art, Central Saint Martin's College of Art and Design, Middlesex University and the University of Brighton. He has also provided new media training for the Central Office of Information and The Open Society Institute in Prague.

He is a Specialist Advisor to Skillset (the Sector Skills Council for the film, television, video and interactive media industries) and sits on the Skillset Research Committee. Here he has assisted in the development of Skillset's annual industry census, which is supported by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Jonathan was a founding Director of the Association of New Media Freelancers and is an active member of the International Visual Communications Association. He regularly serves on judging panels for the IVCA's highly respected industry award schemes.

Jonathan has an unrivalled understanding of the needs of clients and suppliers, and of the challenges inherent in bringing a new media project to successful fruition. He has the production experience to appreciate what is involved in creating a new media project and the communication skills to guide commissioners through what is often unfamiliar territory.