Design Matters – Ed. 12 July 24
Hello there!
We can hardly believe that we’re halfway through the year already. While we’re sure you’d prefer some consistent sunshine, we do have some positive news, work from the agency and upcoming events to give you something to brighten up your week.
At the start of July, the whole team got together in our new Shoreditch office for two days of strategy meetings and creative collaborations. With more plants than people, the urban jungle (aka Second Home) was the perfect backdrop to discuss ideas, reflect on Q1 and plan for the future. We are all feeling excited for what’s to come, and you can be sure that we will keep you up to date with any on-going developments.
For this month’s edition of Design Matters we’re going to keep thing’s personal – showcasing organisations we truly believe in, some of our favourite creative work, sharing all our ‘personal branding’ advice, and insights into some of the projects and resources that inspire us. We hope as you read this you get a greater sense of who we are as a people, as well as creatives.
Good luck with everything you’re working on and please reach out if there’s something you’d like to share.
Ed, Issy, Miya and The Discourse team
Our latest blog:
In a world full of brands competing for our attention, why should we make it personal?
Like it or not, we all have a brand out there in the world. ‘Personal branding’ is just another marketing buzzword that really means how you present yourself and create a reputation that highlights your strengths and personality. These days, the world of personal branding is amplified online. While we may not always agree with everything Jeff Bezos’ does, he aptly says: “It’s what you want people to say about you when you’re not in the room”. Read more here.
The DIY Designer
If you’re looking to develop your own personal brand, which we highly recommend, here are some essential resources to get you started…
In particular the episode – Personal Branding: Overrated or Essential. The Girls in Marketing deep dive into their experiences and opinions on personal branding. It showcases four different stories and discussions which share some really useful industry advice.
‘I am my brand‘ is a toolkit for personal brand success. Featuring dynamic female brand builders from around the world, the book is a woven tapestry of personal brand advice with storytelling and support that offers a practical guide for female entrepreneurs, freelancers and executives.
Well, we couldn’t very well talk about personal branding without plugging the personal branding worksheet and quiz we’ve developed. We promise it’s a great place to start or continue your journey whether you’re a founder, marketing manager or seasoned industry expert.
“Don’t be afraid to be authentic. Sometimes, it means being vulnerable, but it’s the only way to create a connection.” – Michelle Obama
Work from the Agency
We worked with WECIL to promote Personal Assistant jobs in Bristol and South Gloucestershire. The campaign is about highlighting how PA’s can help Disabled people to live the life they choose, strengthen community bonds, and create meaningful relationships. Through passionate messaging and a captivating video, it showcased the truly rewarding impact this job has on people’s lives and the community. Check out the job site below.
One of the oldest manufacturers of cellulose fibre insulation in the world, Termex and has operated uninterruptedly as a family company for over 30 years. We collaborated on their poster campaign for the Future Leap Festival of Sustainable Business last year – the brief was to create a set of designs that were eye catching and infused with Bristol spirit to help their area of the festival stand out.
Here are the results and what one their UK Directors had to say…
“We asked The Discourse to help us in developing the Termex Fibre campaign. Building a genuine and warm relationship, marked by insight and professionalism, the team produced a unique set of illustrated posters, appealing to eco-conscious homeowners seeking an indisputably eco-friendly insulation. They just blew the competition away!” – Damian O’Donovan, UK Director
Think global...
With nearly half of parents admitting that their kids are tired of new toys after just one week, and 1 in 3 parents saying they have thrown away toys in perfect working order, it’s clear we should be doing more to reduce our toy waste.
Animazing Toys are trying to solve just this, developing a circular interactive toy service that integrates animal toys, environmental education, and storytelling into the experience. They are looking for families in Bristol and Bath with children aged 4 to 8 to trial their pilot program. To find out more about their Animazing service and the opportunity mentioned, check out the link here.
Act Local...
Since 2008, the Centre for Sustainable Healthcare has engaged healthcare professionals, patients and wider community to understand the connections between health and environment, and to reduce healthcare’s resource footprint.
The centre is hosting introductions to Sustainable Healthcare courses and the NHS Forest conference in October, which will be held both online and in person at Glenfield Hospital, Leicester. This year’s theme is ‘Healthy Spaces: Integrating Trees and Green Space into the NHS’ and links to their fully funded tree planting programme for healthcare sites. More information and booking details to both events can be found here.
Solutions for the planet:
We are already seeing the impacts of water scarcity on people, the environment and the economy, right across the UK. Climate change and population growth are increasing pressure on water resources in the UK – research (Water UK, 2016). Waterwise helps communities, businesses and governments to understand the value of water and use it wisely so that we have enough now and in the future. Here is what their CEO Nicci Russo had to say…
“We are already running out of water in the UK – there’s less freshwater available, more of us using it, and each of us is using way more on average than 50 years ago (double)! So it was fantastic to be invited to discuss this with the new water Minister Emma Hardy on only her 2nd day in post. A new government is always a brilliant opportunity, and it was really encouraging to hear the Minister’s concern about water scarcity and her commitment to ambitious water efficiency.”
“We gave her a few ideas of new things she could take forward, as well as asking on behalf of the water efficiency community that some commitments from the previous government, such as on a water efficiency label, and water-efficient homes and buildings, remain. Please do contact us on [email protected] if you’d like to join the Waterwise family – it’s great for getting ahead of the position on water scarcity, and influencing what we do about it, as well as brand affiliation. And please support our summer campaign, Come Rain or Shine, coming up in August on social media! Our annual Water Saving Week campaign regularly reaches 4 million people!”
In our spare time...
This month the Arnolfini is hosting the kaleidoscopic and multidisciplinary world of Adébayo Bolaji, whose solo exhibition In Praise of Beauty takes over the first-floor galleries, exploring and questioning notions of beauty through painting, sculpture, film and writing. The exhibition is ‘a scrap-book, exploring ideas on what it can mean to have a voice, to use it, or to have it used…’
Her work is incredibly unique and inspiring. Tickets are free and the exhibition is on till the end of September.
