Blog
Thoughts on design.
On running a creative business, building brands, and working better.

6 June 2026
Business9 min readThe Business Case for Design: Why Good Design Is an Investment, Not a Cost
Design still gets treated as a cost to be minimised in a lot of businesses. Here's why that thinking is wrong, and what the numbers actually say.
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22 May 2026
Brand strategy10 min readWhat Are Brand Guidelines and Does Your Business Actually Need Them?
Brand guidelines aren't just for big corporates. Here's what they are, what they should include, and when your business genuinely needs them.
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12 May 2026
Brand strategy6 min readColour Psychology in Brand Design: A 2026 Designer's Guide
Red means urgency. Blue means trust. Green means eco. We've been told this for years, but colour psychology in branding is far more nuanced than a cheat sheet.
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25 April 2026
Design subscriptions10 min readWhy a Design Subscription Is the Smartest Move a Startup Can Make
Startups don't know what they'll need next month, let alone next quarter. A design subscription for startups is built for exactly that kind of uncertainty.
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17 April 2026
Brand strategy3 min readThe Sonos Logo: A Designer's Typography Breakdown
Why the Sonos logo is one of the smartest wordmarks of the last decade, and what every brand can learn from the typography choices most people miss.
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16 April 2026
Brand strategy6 min readThe 7 Building Blocks of a Brand That Actually Works
Most startups rush straight to the logo. But a strong brand is built in a specific order, and getting that order wrong costs you. Here are the seven foundations every brand needs, and why strategy always comes before design.
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12 April 2026
Brand strategy5 min readThe 5 Most Common Branding Mistakes Made by Startups
You're building something real. Here's what most founders get wrong before the market even gets to judge them.
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9 April 2026
Design subscriptions4 min readWhy "Just a Quick Logo Tweak" Is Costing You More Than You Think
Piecemeal design feels cheaper. But when you add up the time, the admin, and the inconsistency, it rarely is. Here's what it's actually costing you.
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22 March 2026
Design subscriptions4 min readWhy Small Businesses Need a Designer on Tap, Not a Designer on Staff
Running a small business means wearing every hat. Here's why adding a great designer to the mix doesn't have to mean adding a salary.
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17 March 2026
Design subscriptions11 min readWhat Is Unlimited Graphic Design? A 2026 Guide for UK Businesses
Unlimited graphic design subscriptions have quietly become the cheapest reliable way for small UK businesses to get steady design work done. Here's how the model actually works, what it costs, and whether it's right for you.
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16 March 2025
Design subscriptions10 min readDesign Subscription vs Agency: Why Subscriptions Win in 2026
Agencies cost more, take longer, and aren't built for the ongoing design work most small businesses actually need. Here's how a design subscription compares on cost, speed and quality.
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