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The Discourse

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The Discourse

Design matters... Independent Design Studio and Artist Collective based in Bristol

09/10/2024

3 ways to improve your personal brand🌟... Creating a personal brand is not about putting on a persona; rather, it’s about finding the most genuine and authentic aspects of yourself and presenting them to the world in a likeable and relatable way.

To help you on this journey, we’ve wrote a blog and created worksheet about personal branding to help you identify some of the content you need to get your started. To access the tools check out the link in our bio.

10/09/2024

The Team in London🏡... Last week some of the team got together at our Second Home in London (also called Second Home). It was a busy week packed with meetings, catching up with both familiar faces and some new ones. Here are some of the photos we captured from the week and the story behind them...

1. We had a great meeting with Sophie Azam from Skills for Startups to discuss the upcoming roadshow and Ed's speaking opportunity in October. It was an insightful session, full of fresh ideas for the event. If you haven’t grabbed your ticket for October 24th yet, be sure to do so!

2. Of course, no London visit would be complete without a trip to Brick Lane Bagels—a familiar favourite for our London team. Located just 10 minutes from the office, it’s a go-to lunch spot whenever the Bristol crew is in town. You’ll often spot us queuing up for our bagel fix during lunchtime! A working lunch with our UX and Graphic designer Justine and and Co-Founder Ed.

3. We caught up with Jon from BubbleLife over some lunch to discuss ongoing projects. It was fantastic to hear about the strides they’re making with sustainable packaging, and we shared some thoughts on personal branding to enhance their social media presence.

That's all for now, make sure to follow our newsletter in our bio to hear more from the team and our recent antics.

06/09/2024

We've been collaborating with BubbleLife🛁 to keep their social media presence strong and engaging since their website launch. Here are some of the recent posts we've shared that showcase their expertise, highlight their products, and communicate their mission.

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

https://thediscourse.design/work/bubblelife/

03/09/2024

Why should you care about touchpoints? There is more noise online than ever before, and consumers increasingly need more experiences (touchpoints) before they trust you enough to do business. Google released a study looking into the variety of modern consumer journeys. Its findings show that the average consumer journey now involves anywhere between 20 and 500+ touchpoints.

This all depends on the sector you work in, but regardless, it’s still a lot! Your future customers need an increasing amount of interactions, and having a voice through your personal brand will undoubtedly support this.

Check out our personal branding blog to find out more about touchpoints and your online presence.

28/08/2024

Our Big Announcement 👍! According to research by Fundsquire, 20% of small businesses fail in their first year and around 60% in the first 3 years. Skills 4 Startups want to change this figure and are already making a significant impact. By supporting and empowering startups with the right business know-how, traits, principles and practical skills, they are enabling more founders to successfully grow their companies.

They host affordable Festival Roadshow Events across the UK, with their next one on the 24th October in London. The sessions are led by business and industry experts, who want to impart the knowledge on how to survive and be successful as a start-up in the current UK Economy.

We’re delighted to share that on top of all this Ed has been invited to speak at their event this September. He will be sharing his own experience as a founder, the challenges and lessons learned which have culminated in where The Discourse is today. We’d love for you to be there, check out their website.

15/08/2024

We worked with Termex over a year ago on their campaign for the Future Leap festival of sustainable business. We really enjoyed collaborating with the team and loved the outcome. Here is what their UK Director 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, Termex UK Director

If you want to find out more about our work with Green Tech companies check out our expertise page using the link in our bio.

09/08/2024

With all the brands that already exist, do we really need to be branding ourselves 👀? At The Discourse, we support the idea of emphasising the individuals within a company.
Not only does it champion the hardworking people behind a brand, it also ensures your leaders are visible, providing greater lines of communication and accountability. Studies suggest that just 20 firms are behind a third of all carbon emissions, taking a look at the list, many of their CEO’s and investors are invisible. The anonymity of these major corporations, conceals responsibility and allows people and decisions to hide behind a corporate brand.

Personal branding promotes a culture of openness and responsibility, enhancing corporate governance, which on a smaller scale holds us all accountable to the public discourse. Thus, while personal branding might seem like a modern trend, it can take a more important role in the future, driving accountability and fostering a transparent business environment.

This is our overarching perspective on personal branding, which we ultimately believe is good for individuals, organisations and society. In our recent blog 'Building your personal brand' we share more insights into why it matters and how to start, check it out using the link in our bio...

https://thediscourse.design/building-your-personal-brand/

08/08/2024

How to do well on the Linkedin Algorithm📈... When we’re talking about social media, we can’t not bring up algorithms. Whilst we know company social media profiles are important, in our experience, and according to Linkedin Blogs, personal profiles tend to see better organic growth and engagement than company profiles. LinkedIn’s algorithm is designed to maintain the quality of its platform and the phrase ‘people buy from people’ holds true in a digital sense. Ultimately, opinions coming from a person are by nature more likely to gain traction, and so the algorithm likes to push this type of personal content so it reaches a wider audience.

You can use personal profiles to amplify the content on your business or charity page, by commenting and resharing. Not only is it a chance to add your voice to the conversation, it’s ultimately helping to push your company’s content further. Have a think about how you and your team can integrate your personal brands into your overall brand and marketing strategy - by sharing content through personal profiles you leverage the social side of social media, which boosts an organisation’s posts ratings on the algorithm.

We've written a blog about how to shape your personal brand to your advantage, and integrate it into your wider businesses marketing efforts. Check it out using the link in our bio.

07/08/2024

How do you connect with your customers📞? In this digital age, authentic human experiences hold more power than ever. Prospective customers want to build a relationship with you, in order to know, trust, and like you, before they do business. By putting yourself out there, you offer transparency, allowing people to understand who you are and why you do what you do – helping them decide if they want to work with you or not.

This personal connection is arguably one of your most important assets. When customers can see and connect with a real person, it builds resonance for the products and services you offer. They see the people that are behind a business or a charity, which helps to cultivate trust.

We've shared all our advice on personal branding in our most recent blog, check out the link in our bio.

02/08/2024

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 experience. In times gone by, this may have manifested in what your friends and work colleagues thought about you. These days, the world of personal branding is also digital. While we may not always agree with everything Jeff Bezos' does, he aptly puts it: "It’s what you want people to say about you when you're not in the room."

So, what do you want that to be?

We've just published a Blog all about personal branding, what it is and why it's important. Check it out using the link below...

https://thediscourse.design/building-your-personal-brand/

17/07/2024

Our work with Termex ⚡ 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 their UK Director 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

Find out more about our work and expertise in Green Tech through the link in our bio...

https://thediscourse.design/expertise/green-tech/

11/07/2024

Different approaches to naming 🚀 Naming is a critical aspect of building a successful brand, or launching a new product or service line. A well-chosen name can define your organisation, differentiate you from competitors, and create lasting connections with your target audience.

There are various approaches to naming, each with its own benefits. Here are three common methods to consider...

📝 Descriptive Naming
🎨 Abstract Naming
💭 Evocative Naming

We spoke to Jon Gibbins, from the digital accessibility and sustainability consultancy “As It Should Be,” who shared his journey of naming his business. He explained, “In the middle of 2021, I stumbled across the phrase ‘as it should be’ while reading a book one evening before bed. I’d been reading a lot of books about business and sustainability during pandemic lockdowns while considering a career change. The phrase just jumped out at me.

Another creative example comes from Paul Kelly of PANDEK Group, a B2B consultancy specialising in facilitation, training and coaching. The name “PANDEK” was playfully formed when building an island out of sand with his son Elliott, combining their initials to craft a unique and memorable brand name.

Our creative director has written our latest blog which shares more of her experience and advice for brand naming. Find out more about the different approaches to naming using the link below/in our bio.

https://thediscourse.design/how-to-name-a-brand

10/07/2024

There’s a reason why you score points for the best name at a pub quiz – coming up with a name is really hard! Is it original and unique? Does it reflect who you are and what you want to be known for? Will people relate to it? 🤷🏻‍♂️

It's challenging naming in a saturated market 🤯 With over 900,000 new businesses created in the UK last year, 359 million domains registered, and the last four-letter domain name registered in 2013, it’s crowded out there to say the least!

With this in mind, establishing a unique identity for a brand, product or service through naming is crucial. It is one of the first experiences your audience has of your organisation, setting the tone for the rest of your identity. Words are a powerful tool; clear language will help you to communicate your thoughts and messages, evoking emotions and even actions. Creating a name is your first opportunity to harness this power.

Rin from RH&Co., a strategic brand copywriting agency, emphasises the complexity of naming: “There are many things to consider when naming a brand, a lot of which are purely practical. If it’s a common word, will it be hard for people to find in a Google search? If it’s unusual, will people be able to spell or pronounce it? Is it unintentionally a rude word in a different language? There’s a lot to think about and the process shouldn’t be rushed.” This highlights the importance of considering various factors that could impact the effectiveness of a brand name.

If you are in the process of trying to come up with a name, consider the following questions...

🎯 Does your name align with your brand strategy?
🔮 Is it future proof?
🔍 Does it resonate with your target audience?

Our creative director has written a blog about how to name a brand, product or service, which goes into more detail all of the aspects of naming. Check out the full blog using the link in our bio.

https://thediscourse.design/how-to-name-a-brand

05/07/2024

The Discourse Takes London🇬🇧... At the start of the week the whole team got together in Shoreditch for two days of meeting, strategy and collaborations. With more plants than people, the urban jungle (aka second home Shoreditch), was the perfect backdrop to discuss ideas, reflect on Q1 and plan for the future. Whilst we are all a big fan of hybrid working, we can't deny that having everyone around the same table was special, and so many more trips back and forth between London and Bristol to come!

We were blessed to be in arguably the food hub of London, and so albeit it wasn't all work. Our Second Home office is right off of Brick Lane and a stones throw away from Spitalfields market, so we were certainly spoilt for choice when it came it lunch. Of course on one of the days we had to go to the iconic Brick Lane Bagels and we can thoroughly confirm that it lives up to the hype!

Make sure to sign up to our newsletter using the link in our bio, to hear more from the team each month.

25/06/2024

Did you know we publish DIY design tips and resources in our 'Design Matters' newsletter? 🤷🏻‍♂️ The DIY Designer is a monthly feature, where one of the creative team here at The Discourse will share their knowledge and some user friendly resources for anyone who is working in-house to elevate their own organisation's brand, website and content game.

In our most recent edition, our talented Website & UX Designer Justine, shared some of her insights and favourite UX resources. In case you missed it, here are her recommendations...

Don Norman’s “The Design of Everyday Things” - First published in 1988, is today more relevant than ever. In this book, Norman thoroughly explains this concept with numerous examples of both successful and flawed designs. As a renowned UX designer and researcher, his extensive insights on User-centred Design since the 1960s are crucial for understanding the field's evolution and importance.

Interaction-design.org - With 173,846 graduates, the Interaction Design Foundation is the world’s largest online design school specialised in UX design. They lead online design education with content created by top experts, covering UX design from beginner to advanced. Trusted by industry giants like Adobe, their courses are also used by MIT and Cambridge. They offer a vast library of UX Design literature and facilitate learning in 107 countries.

- Created by Design Educator Brandon Groce, this Instagram account fosters a vibrant web design community, offering daily tips on UX/UI best practices while also staying at the top of industry news and trends. Covering productivity, colour theory, and the "laws" of UX/UI design, to name a few, it serves as a valuable resource for designers of all levels, from beginners to advanced professionals.

Our monthly newsletter celebrates design, sustainability and good people doing good things. Check out the 10th Edition (May 24) through the link in our bio. Make sure to sign up there, so you don't miss out on our June edition which is on it's way to inboxes this week! 🎨

20/06/2024

Calling all green tech leaders and entrepreneurs... If you work in a green technology start-up or scale-up we are keen to hear your voice! 📣

The Discourse is conducting market research into the challenges that businesses are facing where it comes to growth and the wider adoption of green technology. We have a short questionnaire, which should take no more than 5 minutes to complete, and we would really appreciate a couple of insights from you or a member of your team. Any contributions, comments or quotes that we use when we publish our research will be credited.

Follow the link to the online questionnaire in our bio.

Thanks in advance for your input, we look forward to hearing from you 🙏🏼

19/06/2024

Our work with the a gentle Craftivist... We had the pleasure of working with Sarah P Corbett on the 2022/23 edition of her Craftivist Collective annual chronicle. Sarah has pioneered the concept of 'gentle protest', a thoughtful, inclusive approach to activism, where people create beautiful crafted works to create positive change in the world.

Sarah's pioneering concept of ‘gentle protest’ offers a thoughtful and inclusive approach to activism, where beautifully crafted works become catalysts for change. Gentle protest empowers people by giving them agency and a framework for thoughtful, strategetic and kind activism . It allows individuals and groups a process to be mindful and think critically about how they can be effective protesters to express their values and advocate for causes they care about in a peaceful, yet impactful way. This pioneering concept also creates a sense of community - a collective effort to make a difference no matter how big or small.

We worked with Sarah to ensure that the publication for her patrons (who give £10 a month or more to support her work) felt special, intimate and handmade whilst like a labour of love and celebrating her achievements from 2022/23. The application of various textures such as paper, fabric and tape created a tactile nature, evoking a sense of touch and thoughtful exploration, highlighting the collective’s commitment to hands-on methods of gentle protest and positive impact.

Check out the link in our bio to see our work with Craftivist and find out more about 'gentle protest'.

"I'm really glad to be working with The Discourse on my annual chronicle for my patrons. I wanted it to be less like a formal annual report and more like an intimate 'thank-you' gift from my hands to my patrons to celebrate what we have achieved together. I couldn't do my gentle craftivism work without their support."

Link: https://www.craftivist-collective.com

13/06/2024

Our Work with Frank Water 💧 For the last three years we have collaborated with Frank Water on their annual Big Give challenge. The team needed impactful marketing material to support their match funded Appeal and raise funds to provide more communities across India and Nepal with access to water, sanitation and hygiene.

The 2023 campaign focused on women as leaders in climate action within their communities. Bold typography and powerful photography captured the essence of grassroots movements, fostering solidarity and activism among Frank Water’s audience. Our aim was to inspire action and empower individuals to be part of a larger cause, ultimately contributing to the fight for clean water access worldwide.

We're proud to say that the campaign surpassed expectations and the team smashed their 7-day fundraising target of £50k. "We had our most successful Big Give Christmas Appeal last year raising an incredible £50,000 and I have to thank The Discourse for their strong creative design - it looked great across our communication channels and helped us engage with our supporters - Sally Hearn, Fundraising and Communications Manager."

Find out more about the campaign and our previous work with Frank Water using the link in our bio.

Address

Future Leap, 1-3 Gloucester Road, Bishopston
Bristol
BS78AA

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

https://thediscourse.design/, http://linktr.ee/thediscourse.design

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Our 2023 Wrapped! 🥳 December is the perfect time to pause, reflect and appreciate the highlights of the year gone by. It's safe to say that 2023 has given us a lot to be grateful for, there wouldn’t be a carousel long enough to cover everything we want to mention, so here are some of the stand out moments from the team... 1: Launching The Discourse The highlight of the year was, without a doubt, unveiling our new brand and website in October. Since our journey started, we've undertaken various design projects for other people and witnessed first hand the transformational impact it has. Therefore, getting to share and witness the positive response to our rebrand, is hands down the best moment we've had this year! 2: Design for Good In January we launched our 2023 Design for Good grant, and were overwhelmed with the number of incredible applicants we got. After a challenging decision making process the grant was awarded to Hawkspring, a Bristol based charity who provide support to families experiencing drug and alcohol addiction. We’ve also took part in the RUH Walk of Life and recently supported Frank Water with the Big Give campaign. 3: ChangeNOW Back in the summer, Ed attended the ChangeNOW summit in Paris, and to say it was epic is an understatement! It was the first time for us attending the event, meeting so many people and businesses committed to positive social and environmental change was encouraging to say the least. Grab your tickets now for 2024! https://www.changenow.world 4: Future Leap Festival of Sustainable Business An incredible event in Bristol hosted by the Future Leap team. The venue was abuzz with exhibitors and enthusiastic individuals, making it an empowering celebration and the perfect platform to connect with a whole host of inspiring sustainable businesses. 5: Learning about AI It was our very own Issy Cheung and Hannah Smith from the Green Web Foundation that has inspired a lot of our thinking on the subject this year.