Some creative work and collaborations struggle for one reason: There’s no real skin in the game.

People are briefed, dropped in, expected to deliver… then moved on. That’s not an easy role — and to be fair, experienced people can still deliver.

Ad-hoc support gets things done. But it doesn’t always make things as strong as they could be. Because there’s often no real context, ownership, continuity or deeper understanding. Without that, the work might land… but it doesn’t always build momentum – something busy marketing managers feel constantly and want help to change.

Busyness isn’t always progress. And saying 'yes' to everything usually means having to say 'no' to the right things. A these things could take you where you want to be, and importantly need to be.The shift is key, and it isn’t doing more, it’s choosing better. Do the thinking. Put in the boundaries. And we avoid being busy rundown fools.

> A brief that didn’t quite make sense.> Too many internal voices.> No clear direction.I asked the questions, stepped back, did the strategy, and helped bring external-level thinking to an internal problem — and everything clicked into place.> No politics.> No overcomplication.> Just calm thinking and a clear way forward. Often the value isn’t more execution — it’s making sense of the problem first. Sometimes we can be simply too close to the issue.If getting clarity internally is unfocussed, DM me. Happy to help offer a fresh perspective. #CreativeDirection #BrandStrategy #MarketingManagers #InHouseMarketing #CreativeThinking #MarketingLeadership

R.I.P – Ozzy Osbourne. Metal hero and Brummie legend

Some of my best thinking and brief cracking is done in places like this pictured. Also some of that big life thinking. I'm sure you know the stuff. Away from the chair, the noise of the junk socials, and on foot. Sometimes in silence. Often with music. More so with something inspiring.

The reason most people don’t do anything about the problem, is often because there’s no such thing as a simple change that solves or fixes. All change has a price or comes at a cost. And we're certainly not just talking about financial here, but in time, effort, feelings, emotion or stability for instance.

Sometimes what’s being asked is just too much. However, sometimes what we stand to gain if it does come off far outweighs the investment or risk. We can learn the most from our biggest mistakes. Ain't that truth!

Here’s the cover and a few selected screens from a Kaspersky report I designed for the team at SAPIO Research, London — early 2022.

It’s been out in the wild for a while now. A fascinating project to work on — tackling the issue of digital stalking in relationships for one of the world’s best-known cybersecurity brands.

We adapted the report into 7 languages, making sure all that set-up time went the distance globally.

Poetry and writing down where I am and how I feel have been salvation through some tough times and also to accompany the joy of feeling for the good. I’ve kind of seen this take over my art works in some ways over the past 10 years as found the words often flowed easier in the mind when the heart was connected, and they almost needed to be set free or choke me at times. But I know my best pieces of work either Art or poem go together and combine to be a great deal more, as if they need each other to really see a full picture, even if that’s in an abstract way.

Just a thought...I met a really sound guy called *Jez Collins of Birmingham Music Archive on a trip around old and historically infamous music venues in Birmingham last year. Did you know... Where The Sex Pistols played? Also where Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin practised small gigs in our city? And even where The Police played by the back of Grand Central Station...and magically the Police turned up as he told the story! It was a fascinating insight and a trip down memory lane – we have so many untold and beautiful stories around us. Especially where music takes centre stage in our city. Music is kind of the backing track to our own lives.Anyways. I had this idea for his brand. You know me – I'm rarely not thinking. Creatives are creatives right!

I'm a great believer that the modern creative needs to be versatile, but life has taught me through experience that it's essential to have a few strings to our bow. To allow the thinking to be proved.

DESIGN and CREATIVE BOOKS

This will be the first for sale A1 giclée I've produced of my personal art.

It was a real moment to finally see it at the scale I'd always intended, other than a small jpeg on a website trying to show the concept to someone who might see the value in it. It cost me, but I backed myself! And I haven't done that quite as much as I should have at times.

R.I.P 🐕 Lola Price 2012-2025 🖤 My best, most loyal shadow. Gone, but always with me. But wish you were here.

Bravery comes in many forms.

I say... It's time we changed this as people. Take the power back and embrace genuine – and it starts with us! I work for a better age than the current, where the world embraces authenticity. And that should go for all individuals, brands and organisations too. We are all heavily responsible for our output. Real – It's the only way to do this if a brand genuinely wants to communicate and be understood by their audiences. Operating with truth in everything we do is winning and it cuts through the bulls*it. Be anything – but be yourself.
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creative. design. thinking.