The Art of Visual Brand Storytelling With Photographer Ellen Christina Hancock

An interview with visual storyteller and photographer Ellen Christina Hancock. If you’re familiar with the wonderful paint company Atelier Ellis you’ll be familiar with Ellen’s distinctive work.

Her images, characterised by their striking simplicity and stillness, not only capture the feeling of a space or moment, but also evoke an emotional connection.

Read our conversation about the art of visual brand storytelling exploring Ellen's story about how she discovered her style, her approach to capturing each still or moving image and how she balances the creative and the commercial in her brand photography work.

Brand Storytelling, MarketingGeorgina Lee-Jones1 October 2024Creativity, Photography

The Art of Brand Storytelling with WAX Atelier

In this month’s ‘Art of Brand Storytelling’ Q&A, we talk to WAX Atelier co-founder Lola Lely about the warm and fragrant world of wax.

From the importance of fostering connections and collaboration to why everything begins with imagining the story, read on to discover the creative joy of exploring one material, the challenges of scaling an intentionally slow business and the importance of nurturing young talent through ancient craft.

The Art Of Creative Brand Storytelling With Potter Jacques Monneraud

Stories Sculpted in Clay: Jacques Monneraud's Viral Ceramics

Ex-advertiser Jacques Monneraud's pottery videos are a hit on Instagram, with millions of views. To create them, he asks himself, 'What would make me fall in love with ceramics although I don't care about it?'

Read our Q&A with the talented Frenchman and discover how he turns pottery into brand storytelling that captivates even non-ceramic fans.

Brand Storytelling, Marketing, Small BusinessGeorgina Lee-Jones27 June 2024Creativity, Crafts

Brilliant Brand Stories of Creativity

As part of our ongoing Brilliant Brand Stories series, this month we’re celebrating stories of creativity. From the heartfelt paintings of Cat Spilman, to the heritage textiles of the London Cloth Company, the meticulous styling of Camilla Wordie, and the craftsmanship of Rosa Harradine's brushes and brooms.

These brands beautifully showcase the essence of creative passion in both the items they produce and the stories they share. We hope they inspire you to bring a touch of artistry to your own brand narrative.

Brilliant Brands Sharing Seasonal Stories

As the days lengthen and stretch into early summer, we're highlighting brilliant brands that master the art of seasonal storytelling. Discover the enchanting sculptures of Jess Wheeler, taste the true flavours of the seasons with Natoora, experience the simple joys of outdoor living at Fforest and embrace the seasonal colours crafted by The Natural Dyeworks.

These four brands beautifully capture the essence of the seasonal year and we hope they will inspire you to use the seasons in your brand storytelling.

Brand Storytelling, Small BusinessGeorgina Lee-Jones16 May 2024Seasonal, Design, Food, Crafts, Travel

Brilliant Brands Sharing Stories of Sustainability

In April, for Earth Day we’re highlighting brilliant brands who are taking real steps to find better ways to do business. From different industries and with a variety of styles, they all share their work with passion, authenticity and captivating storytelling, including a paint company, restaurant, textile designer, and transport company. We hope you’re as inspired by their work and ideas as much as we are.

Brand Storytelling, Small BusinessGeorgina Lee-Jones18 April 2024Design, Food

The Art Of Brand Storytelling With The Seasons By Superfolk

“To know, to love, to protect is a guiding principle in all that we do. We use our skills as designers to share the beauty and cleverness of our natural world. We do this in a bid to push others to get outdoors and ultimately to be moved to protect our natural environment.”

Superfolk is a lifestyle brand created by Jo Anne Butler, an artist and architect and her husband Gearoid Muldowney - a designer and maker. Their lives are rooted in the wildly beautiful landscape of the west coast of Ireland. The rich, raw colours, textures and patterns of each season are woven into everything they do and create. This connection and respect for the environment inspires and informs how they live, raise their family and work. Everything is created slowly and thoughtfully with an understanding that we are nature, not separate from it.

We’re delighted to bring you our conversation with Jo Anne as she shares the ways she and Gearoid are working to inspire us all to connect more deeply with ourselves and the natural world we’re part of.

Brand Storytelling, Small BusinessGeorgina Lee-Jones8 April 2024Design

The Art Of Brand Storytelling With 'We Are Makers'

“Everyone has a story to tell and each story is unique”

‘We Are Makers’ is a quarterly printed magazine celebrating the stories of creatives from across the globe.

The makers featured are all people who are mastering their crafts, valuing process as much as the final products and taking a stand against mass manufacturing.

Usually, the ones telling the stories of others, we asked founders Kate and Jack to share their own; it’s one of immense dedication towards their shared mission…

Brand Storytelling, Small BusinessGeorgina Lee-Jones21 March 2024Magazine, Artist, Crafts

Five Brilliant Brands Created And Run By Women

A beekeeper, seaweed seller, artist, designer and publisher.

We’re marking International Women’s Day by celebrating five brilliant brands created and run by women. From different industries and with a variety of styles, they all share their work with captivating storytelling while providing opportunities and support for other women.

With a report finding that eight out of ten young people are unable to name a female entrepreneur we want to share the work of these female business owners.

Brand Storytelling, Small Business, Female EntrepreneursGeorgina Lee-Jones7 March 2024

Five Brilliant Brands With Love Stories At Their Heart

For February, we're celebrating brilliant brands created with love, passion and a desire to do business better. From different industries and with a variety of styles, they all share their work with captivating storytelling, including a bookshop, furniture maker and ceramics company. We hope you love them as much as we do.

Brand Storytelling, Small BusinessGeorgina Lee-Jones9 February 2024Bookshop, Design, Fashion

The Art Of Brand Storytelling With Imogene + Willie

We’re delighted to be able to share the story of one of our favourite brands - American denim company ‘Imogene + Willie’.

Co-founders Carrie and Matt Eddmenson are master jean makers and natural storytellers.

Their story starts with an email sent out at 3 am telling a few hundred people about their dream; ‘We simply want to sew in the back of the store a good jean for both men and women that fits perfectly.’

Fifteen years later, it’s a story of success with two shops, a team of 75 and I+W jeans sold around the world to a loyal community of customers and fans.

But theirs is also a story of struggle, heartbreak and refusing to lose hope…

Brand Storytelling, MarketingGeorgina Lee-Jones8 February 2024Design, Fashion, Denim, Manufacturing, Jeans

Five Brilliant Wellbeing Brands Using Storytelling To Sell

At the start of the new year we’re showcasing five independent brands with a focus on physical and mental wellbeing. From different industries and with a variety of styles, they all share their work with captivating storytelling, a connection with the natural world and a sense of community. We hope you’ll find inspiration for your work and life.

Brand Storytelling, Small BusinessGeorgina Lee-Jones18 January 2024wellbeing

The Art Of Brand Storytelling With Design Studio 'Joyce Of All Trades'

‘like a potter moulding clay…shaping a brand from its raw potential, transforming it into a beautiful and sustainable expression of what they do.’

Good design is more than a pretty logo, tasteful colours and trendy fonts. It’s about bringing the story and purpose of a business to life, capturing the feeling and heart of what a brand does. In this blog conversation, we talk to graphic designer Joyce Vacca about her approach to crafting brand identities that, as well as looking beautiful, work to communicate a story and feeling.

She also shares insights into running her own successful business and how she’s set up her work in a way that wins clients but also supports her well-being.

Brand Storytelling, Small BusinessGeorgina Lee-Jones15 January 2024Design

The Art Of Brand Storytelling At Christmas With Stylist Alice Walker

With the need for brands to create striking festive imagery that has impact yet remains true to their brand story, we talk to stylist Alice Walker to get her tips and advice for successful styling at Christmas. From digging through old archives and vintage books from charity shops, Alice shares her process for creating visual storytelling that feels unique to each brand. Her creativity and skill for simple, natural styling shows beautiful and meaningful imagery doesn’t have to require a big budget.

Brand Storytelling, Small BusinessGeorgina Lee-Jones7 December 2023Christmas

Five Brilliant Brands Using Storytelling To Sell At Christmas

With the festive season crucial for many small businesses, we share five brilliant brands using storytelling to sell and market their products and services. Get inspiration for your own marketing content and strategy with these examples, from magical content full of wonder to crafting irresistible product descriptions and celebrating the personal moments and connections that make Christmas special. Discover ideas and inspiration to help your business thrive into the New Year and beyond.

Brand Storytelling, Small BusinessGeorgina Lee-Jones20 November 2023Christmas