Insights, opinions and news from the studio

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A simple illustration of a round, yellow character with dark hair, smiling and holding an open newspaper or book, set against a solid yellow background.

What your brand guidelines are missing

Traditional brand guidelines were designed to solve problems brands faced in a predominantly print world. What they're not doing is addressing the challenges brands face today,
Article
A large audience faces a brightly lit stage with vivid, abstract graphics in red, blue, and black patterns displayed on towering screens at a convention or event.

Adobe MAX

Adobe has rolled out the biggest Photoshop & Illustrator glow-up in years, so naturally the design team here are super excited! The powerful new AI-driven tools help with instant clean-ups and smarter vector editing. We likey!
From the studio
Four illustrated CVs with blue sidebars and profile icons are arranged in a scattered stack on a light peach background. Each CV features text lines and section headers, representing job application documents.

How to build personas that actually work

Personas are often built on assumptions, created in conference rooms by people who haven’t spoken to a customer in months. This means you're documenting what you think your audience want, not what they actually want.
Article
A classroom filled with people seated and facing a speaker at the front near a screen displaying the Nike logo. The room has decorations, wall photos, and a bright, engaged atmosphere.

Thanks for having us NCC Redbridge!

Our Creative Lead, Alice, spent the day with students at New City College, exploring how to sell and communicate ideas. The energy and creativity in the room were seriously inspiring. Thanks to all for having us, we loved it!
From the studio
A simple smiley face on a light purple background, with the letter B for each eye and a blue curved line forming a large smile and a zig-zagged nose.

The hidden driver of B2B strategy: why emotion outperforms logic (and always has)

Emotion isn’t the opposite of logic, it’s what gives logic meaning.
Article
Green text on a black background reads idea with a hand-drawn arrow pointing right to the word identity, illustrating the concept of an idea transforming into an identity.

From idea to identity: inside a B2P brand transformation

Many brands claim to be people-first. I’ve seen only a few that actually are…
Article
Three large pink question marks are displayed side by side on a dark background.

When is the right time to rebrand?

If you’re debating whether it’s the right time for a strategic rebrand, you may already be behind. More than ever, we need leaders who don’t react, but anticipate.
Article
A person holds an open book. One page reads, WHAT WOULD THEY LIKE TO HEAR, NOT WHAT ARE THEY USED TO HEARING. Several black-covered books titled B2B IS DEAD. are spread out on the table nearby.

What is B2P and why it’s replacing B2B

We’re living in an age of radical personalisation. So why are brands still communicating like they’re talking to departments, not individuals?
Article
A simple seesaw illustration with Brand Strategy on the left and Business Strategy on the right, both balancing on a black triangle, mirrors how you brand a balance sheet—all set against a green background.

Is brand a balance sheet asset?

Why B2B finance leaders should care deeply about brand…
Article
Illustration of a person with long hair and crossed arms looking at screens displaying the words WE ARE HUMAN, against a solid yellow background.

How to build a B2B brand that works across channels

The senior team breathe a sigh of relief. You’ve completed a rebrand, and it’s been well received, you might think job done… but one of the biggest nightmares for leaders who have invested in brand is just around the corner.
Article

Is brand the critical driver of M&A success?

In today’s fast-moving market, the success of M&A brand integration comes down to one thing: human connection.
Resource
White text “B2B” on a solid purple background. The last “B” is partially handwritten in a light, sketchy style overlapping the bold, blocky font of the other characters.

What successful B2B brands do differently

…and why a people-first strategy is the new commercial advantage!
Article
Illustration of laced shoe standing on black box with X on it

Five signals your brand is losing relevance

Your brand doesn’t lose relevance overnight. It shows up as small frictions that compound until sales fall, engagement drops and your message blends into the background.
Article
White text saying “[insert brand name here]” is centred on a blue background, with a hand-drawn white underline beneath the text.

Why most B2B brands are forgettable (and how to fix yours)

Right now, most B2B brands are losing a battle for memory. If your target clients can’t remember you, they won’t choose you.
Article
Abstract geometric art featuring a bold black vertical stripe intersected by sharp, angular blue shapes on a smooth gradient purple background.

When tech isn’t the problem: why SaaS deals slip through the cracks

Your SaaS platform is robust, scalable, and backed by real users. The product is solid, but why are you still losing to competitors with clunkier tech?
Article
Illustration of paper checklist with pencil on yellow bbackground

Brand performance checklist

What do the most successful brands and organisations do differently? This free tool gives you insights and strategies to quickly assess how your brand is performing.
Resource

Nalla take silver at the Symbol Creative Awards

Pop the champers! We won silver at the Symbol Creative Awards for our recent rebrand with our client Growth Partner. With over 450 entries, we are super proud of this achievement. Thanks and congratulations to everyone at Nalla and, of course, the Growth Partner team for trusting us with their rebrand.
Award
A person wearing goggles and a coat rides a large paper aeroplane, flying to the right. Three arrows around the plane suggest forward movement. The background is a solid green colour.

What is… brand activation?

Brand activation is all about creating powerful, engaging brand stories, activations and campaigns that will keep your audience engaged (or widen your reach).
From the studio Resource
Illustration of a person analysing a line graph with data points and tick marks on a board, using both hands to point at specific spots. The background is a solid peach colour.

What is… brand strategy?

Brand strategy is all about creating a meaningful, robust bridge between insight and impact – translating research into a creative direction that defines what your brand and business stands for.
From the studio Resource