Design Matters – Ed.14 September 24

Decisions, decisions… Coffee or tea? Team day in London or Bristol? Raving or behaving? We’re all making between 33,000 and 35,000 decisions each day.

Since becoming a B-Corp, we’re far more aware of how our choices as individuals and an agency ripple through different environmental, social, and business areas. For our young(ish) business, it’s provided a benchmark across all areas, to which we can hold ourselves accountable and ensure that our business truly is a force for good, both internally and externally.

In just a few days, we’ll mark one year since our agency, formerly Garrett Creative, transformed and rebranded as The Discourse. The process took around a year and a half, months of spirited debate and roughly two hundred hours of design and development work. Whilst it was a massive decision, one year later, we couldn’t be happier with the choice we made.

As a design agency, we’re constantly navigating decisions that involve both personal preferences and experience – from selecting the right platform to publish content, recruiting new team members to choosing the right software platforms. The freedom of choice is great in business and design, but it doesn’t always make life simpler.

As we prepare for the Autumn, we’re met with a new wave of choices. Bristol and London are filled with events and opportunities, and we’re here to help you sort through a few of them. In this edition we’ll offer guidance on decisions ranging from design platforms, commuting options, fundraising choices and local events.

Thanks for your continued support and enjoy reading.

The Discourse Team

Blog archive:

Renaming and rebranding is an immense decision, and not one ever to be taken lightly. Our own rebrand took multiple naming concepts, designs and URLs that will never see the light of day, before we arrived at a brand identity that everyone was on board with.

To give you an insight into how we navigated the process and the elements to consider if you are walking this path yourself, we compiled some of the thinking and key takeaways from our experience. If you’re thinking about renaming or rebranding, please reach out.

The DIY Designer

Coming to decisions in design and business can be tricky, but the right answers are there to be found and it’s what makes it challenging but also fun. As a team, we don’t always agree at first, but ultimately we find the right solutions. Here are some tools and resources that we use to help us make the right decisions. For us and our clients.

Design Kit is IDEO.org’s platform to learn human-centred design, a creative approach to solving the world’s most difficult problems. Putting people at the centre of design helps decide the right outcome. Explore Design Kit now and start creating solutions that matter.

Miro is a digital collaboration platform designed to facilitate team communication. As an online workspace for ideas, it’s great to compare different design concepts, before deciding on the right one. Try Miro today and streamline your team’s creative process.

In this episode (How to Make a Decision You Won’t Regret Later) Mel is giving the playbook to make decisions without guilt. If you’ve ever felt stuck between your own life and other people’s obligations, it’s one for you.

“Truly successful decision-making relies on a balance between deliberate and instinctive thinking” – Malcolm Gladwell

Work from the Agency

We’ve been collaborating with BubbleLife to keep their social media presence strong and engaging since their website launch. Having an online presence in the digital age really isn’t a decision at this point, more of a necessity to give your organisation and brand the credibility and community it needs to thrive. If you’re looking for some social media inspiration, here are some of the recent posts we’ve created that showcase Bubblelife’s expertise, promote their products, and champion their mission.

Take a look at our full case study with BubbleLife by clicking the link below…

Think global...

3ADAPT is a consultancy that has worked with some of the country’s largest land owners, including corporate organisations and environmental NGOs to deliver outcomes that are better for the people and planet. Now, they’re excited to introduce Landarna—an innovative technology that aims to support more sustainable outcomes in the UK. Whether a large land portfolio, a masterplan or a single building project, with Landarna, land opportunities can be assessed, insights gained, and reports generated in minutes, not months.

After years of development and hands-on collaboration with clients, they’re entering a new phase: scaling our positive impact with user-friendly software that delivers consultancy-level assessments at a fraction of the cost. The potential to optimise land use and sustainability is game-changing.

Landarna is currently in a limited-release trial—register your interest today to find out more about this exciting development here!

Act Local...

As people return to the office after summer and commuting becomes a staple within our lives, we want to share “The True Cost of Commuting” article by Innovate Energy Consultants. With rail fares rising by 4.9% in 2024, many are looking for more affordable transport options. In this article, the team explores the financial and environmental impacts of commuting in the UK and discuss how business owners can support more sustainable travel options for employees. Read the article here.

Solutions for the planet:

There are not enough services in the city to support people to develop food independence.’ – Caring in Bristol and in Hope

The MAZI Project is a youth-led charity empowering disadvantaged 16-25 year olds through food. They support care leavers, young asylum seekers, youth recovering from homelessness and fleeing domestic violence. It was founded in response to the Free School Meal Scandal in January 2021. Following the uproar against the food hampers provided by the government to families in need, the founder, Melanie channelled her anger and decided to take action.

With support from the John James Foundation they will be unveiling their new Community Kitchen this month, check out their website below, to find out more about their work.

Help tell a unique story about the power of relationships and the resilience of creative spirit.

The Alphabeticians is a new short documentary, by our filmmaker, friend and collaborator of The Discourse Ross Harrison, that follows the life of the Cardozo Kindersley Workshop, one of the most renowned places of letter carving in the world. As well as being a cinematic portrait of a unique craft, the film invites us to contemplate what legacies we pass to future generations, and how to make the most of our lives.

The filming is nearly finished, and Ross is looking for support to fulfil the creative vision ,trying to raise £10,000 to enable final creative shoots, plus professional post-production, which will help this project reach its full potential. Find out more about The Alphabeticians and rewards you can get below.

In our spare time...

You’re settled on the sofa, dinner on your lap, when the remote gets chucked your way – and a load of pressure with it. How do you decide what on earth to watch?

To help, our co-founder and creative director, Issy, has been watching Colin from AccountsThis Australian sitcom follows Ashley and Gordon, whose lives are unexpectedly intertwined after a car accident and an injured dog. As they navigate life together, they reveal their true selves, flaws and all. It’s a hilarious series full of laugh-out-loud moments, with touching scenes that might even bring a tear or two. Highly recommended by The Discourse Team for a fun and heartwarming watch!

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