Studio Notes

A lot of small businesses treat Feed posts and Stories as if they're simply two different sizes for the same content. But they actually have very different jobs. Your feed is your lasting visual presence. It's where parents may first get a feel for your swim school. It's also where important information lives: bookings, programmes, testimonials, water-safety information, teacher introductions, benefits, term dates and practical updates. Because that content stays visible, con

A real client story from Cult of Africa, showing how moving to a retainer model transformed workflow, trust, and long-term collaboration. For two years, I worked with Elena from Cult of Africa Club on a project-by-project basis. She would come to me when something was needed... a brochure, an update, a new piece of collateral. Sometimes I had the capacity immediately, and sometimes I was deeply engaged in other work. That unpredictability created stress on both sides. The wor

Your website was designed a couple of years ago. Someone creates your social media graphics. Another designer worked on the latest brochure. Your team makes presentations in-house. And every now and then, you find yourself opening Canva to fix something because it’s quicker than briefing someone else. Individually, everything might be perfectly fine. But somehow, it no longer feels like one brand. This doesn’t necessarily mean you need a rebrand. It may simply mean yo

Most businesses don’t struggle because they lack ideas. They struggle because their brand is handled in pieces. Design gets done: when something breaks when a launch is rushed when a new platform appears when the website feels “outdated again” Each piece might be well executed, but without continuity, the overall effect is fragmented. Over time, this creates friction — not just visually, but operationally too. Design fatigue is real As businesses grow, design decisions multip

An honest look at what businesses truly need from design support. clarity, consistency, and a partner who understands their brand over time. Most clients don’t need “more design”. They need clarity . They need someone who already understands their brand, so decisions don’t feel heavy. Someone who can say, “Yes, this fits” or “No, that doesn’t” without long explanations. In my experience, what clients value most isn’t endless creativity or fast turnarounds at any cost. Its rel

A reflection on why moving from project-based work to monthly retainers created calmer workflows, stronger relationships, and better outcomes for both clients and designers. For a long time, my work came in waves. A project would land, we’d design intensely, deliver something beautiful... and then there would be silence. A few weeks or months later, another request would arrive, often urgent, often disconnected from the last piece of work. It wasn’t inefficient, but it wasn’t