We turn brands into four-dimensional success stories. Not through big budgets, but through inspiring ideas. Because we believe in the extraordinary power of enthusiasm.
To achieve this, we constantly question the ordinary and supplement the three marketing dimensions of strategy, creation and realization with the fourth dimension: our enthusiasm for what we do.
We bring together a wide range of expertise in our team. But one of our most important talents is our openness to cooperating with professionals in their field for special services. This combination of strong skills and a strong network is your four-dimensional advantage. We always act according to the motto “The star is the team”. This means that we have plenty of top professionals in their field, but we only become unbeatable when we work together.
Company: vierdimensional Markenkommunikation GmbH
We are thrilled to have you join us today, welcome to ValiantCEO Magazine’s exclusive interview! Let’s start off with a little introduction. Tell our readers a bit about yourself and your company
Alexander Savarino: My name is Alexander Savarino, and I was born in 1973 in Ingolstadt, Germany. In 1995, I studied Graphic Design at the SFG (School of Design) in Ravensburg, a direct offshoot of the famous HFG Ulm (University of Design), which was considered the most internationally significant design school after the Bauhaus.
Since 1998, I worked at various renowned design agencies to gain experience through international projects. With these insights, I became self-employed in 2002 and founded the vierdimensional advertising agency in the basement of my parents-in-law’s house. Over time, this evolved into what is now the vierdimensional //Brand Intelligence Group.
With nearly 30 employees and diverse expertise in marketing, strategy, brand building, design, digital, SEO, SEA, and performance marketing, we are now one of the larger agencies in southwestern Germany. We are successfully active for our clients in a wide range of areas, both nationally and internationally.
If you were in an elevator with Warren Buffett, how would you describe your company, your services or products? What makes your company different from others? What is your company’s biggest strength?
Alexander Savarino: We believe in the power of enthusiasm. In everything we do. That’s why we’ve set ourselves the goal of creating brand communication that excites. And we do this with a holistic approach. Because when you do, a brand’s success follows naturally.
At the same time, we are convinced that enthusiasm is the fuel for achieving the extraordinary. That’s why we always look for team members who do what they do with absolute passion. Only then can the result inspire others. This is the only way to consistently run successful campaigns and communications in the long term.
Our greatest strength is our team, the solidarity within it, and the ability to provide our clients with comprehensive support. Essentially, we offer a one-stop-shop for those who want it. Our clients receive everything from a single source—highest quality, efficient and sustainable, from the initial idea sketch to the finished end product, whether it’s print, digital, or film. Truly “Made in Germany”!
Quiet quitting, The Great Resignation, is an ongoing trend causing many businesses to struggle to keep talent engaged and motivated. Most are leaving because of their boss or their company culture. 82% of people feel unheard, undervalued, and misunderstood in the workplace. In your experience, what keeps employees happy? And how are you adapting to the current shift we see?
Alexander Savarino: From my perspective, it’s primarily about designing people’s jobs and tasks in a way that allows them to perform with enjoyment and enthusiasm. The most extravagant and best benefits are useless if the job is dull, unenjoyable, and unfulfilling. When work is fun, benefits are just the cherry on top. Someone really smart once said, “If you find the job that brings you the most joy, you’ll never have to work a day in your life…” I’ve definitely found that for myself, and I live by this mindset, setting an example for my employees every day. So far, we’ve been doing pretty well.
Of course, we also offer many benefits, such as free drinks, flexible working hours, remote work options, free fitness opportunities, and various professional development and team-building events to counteract fluctuations in motivation.
Online business keeps on surging higher than ever, B2B, B2C, online shopping, virtual meetings, remote work, Zoom medical consultations, what are your expectations for the year to come and how are you capitalizing on the tidal wave?
Alexander Savarino: The market, and thus our industry, is undergoing significant changes, as approximately 90% of all current inquiries we receive are digital in nature. I am convinced that traditional print agencies, as we know them today, will no longer exist in the near future. Everything is becoming digital—and that’s a good thing! Those who don’t adapt, change their structures, and continue to train their teams in the direction of digital, will eventually disappear from the market or be displaced by more innovative companies.
Three years ago, during the pandemic, we began our journey towards becoming more digital. We expanded and enhanced our expertise and know-how in areas such as web development, e-commerce, social media marketing, and Google marketing, ensuring that we are well-prepared for new demands.
The same applies to new technologies like AI, which are increasingly becoming a part of our daily work—whether in image editing, text development, or research and data analysis. We are currently developing customized AI solutions for our clients and their use cases, and the demand for this is enormous.
With this philosophy, we are helping German SMEs with digitalization, making their marketing processes permanently measurable and thus maximally efficient.
Business is all about overcoming obstacles and creating opportunities for growth. What do you see as THE real challenge right now?
Alexander Savarino: For us, as a creative and design agency, the challenge lies in dealing with AI. On the one hand, we need to integrate these new technologies into our workflow—on the other hand, we must generate an appreciation for genuine craftsmanship among our clients. I often compare it to the craft of baking. I can buy bread and baked goods from a discount store, mass-produced by machines. They serve the purpose of satisfying hunger and sometimes even taste quite okay. But I can also buy products made by hand from a traditional artisan bakery. In terms of quality, sustainability, and exclusivity, mass-produced goods can’t compete. It all depends on what the customer expects and what it’s worth to them. And it’s this understanding of value that we need to cultivate.
In your experience, what tends to be the most underestimated part of running a company? Can you share an example?
Alexander Savarino: I believe it’s the fact that you often have to give up much of what you love doing—the very reason you chose the profession in the first place. Instead, other responsibilities take over, such as company management, executive duties, team leadership, sales, and sometimes having to be a “jack of all trades.”
In my opinion, however, the most underestimated aspect of running a business is the HR function, team building, and maintaining team motivation.
On a lighter note, if you had the ability to pick any business superpower, what would it be and how would you put it into practice?
Alexander Savarino: I would love to have the ability to teleport. Then, I would regularly teleport our team to various major cities across Germany and other countries, so we could absorb the creative vibes and current trends of these metropolises and incorporate them into our work.
Or perhaps luck as a superpower. Luck is always useful, at any time, and in everything you do. Luck would be fantastic.
What does “success” in 2024 mean to you? It could be on a personal or business level, please share your vision
Alexander Savarino: Success in 2024, I would say, is if we continue to prepare for and adapt to all market needs and demands as well as we have so far. True success for the future would then be guaranteed.
For me, success is being able to do what excites me every single day. When that happens, personal success in my job naturally follows. This also applies to the health and well-being of my family, without whose support and love I wouldn’t be able to do my job at all.
