Sticky Notes with CJ Cawley and Jack Chitty

This week, we’re continuing the case study series with a look behind the scenes of Jack’s latest brand identity project for Verdex - a premium all-wheel-drive robotic mower.Rather than leaning into the same overly technical, futuristic visual language used by much of the industry, Jack took a completely different approach: retrofuturism.We get into:👉 How retrofuturism became the central creative direction for Verdex👉 How Jack developed a logo around slopes, freshly mown grass and the letter V👉 The small optical adjustments that make simple logo marks actually work👉 How tone of voice can make highly technical products feel more human👉 Why one strong creative lens makes every design decision easier👉 How finding the right client can lead to some of your best creative work

This week, we’re doing something a little different and taking you properly behind the scenes of a real brand identity project.CJ breaks down the identity he created for Anti-Boring Content Club, a Berlin-based influencer marketing agency built around one very simple belief: most branded content is boring, predictable and completely forgettable.We get into:👉 How CJ approached designing for a brand with an extremely long name👉 Why the logo was deliberately designed to feel boring at first👉 How the idea of hijacking and hostile takeover shaped the entire visual identity👉 How to know when a creative concept is being pushed too far👉 Why clarity should always win over cleverness👉 Why even something as small as a business card can become part of the brand story

Using the recent Allan Peters and A$AP Rocky situation as a case study, we're taking a look at social media, self-promotion, and what it actually takes to market yourself as a designer in 2026.We get into the fine line between creating content that gets attention and creating content that actually builds the kind of reputation, audience and client base you want long term.We also talk honestly about our own relationship with social media, why millions of views don’t necessarily equal better clients, and why both of us are starting to rethink what successful creative marketing actually looks like.We get into:👉 What creatives can learn from the Allan Peters and A$AP Rocky situation👉 Why controversial and divisive content performs so well online👉 The difference between getting attention and building trust👉 Whether “fixing” other designers’ work is good marketing or damaging to the industry👉 Why millions of views don’t automatically lead to the right clients👉 How to build a social media strategy that actually reflects the creative career you want

This week, we’re talking about the projects that never saw the light of day. We're talking rejected ideas and identities that were maybe signed off but never launched. We share the stories behind some of our biggest creative disappointments, including Jack’s rejected Six Nations identity and the moment CJ decided to walk away from one of the largest and most meaningful projects of his career.

We get into:👉 Why even your best design work might never make it into the world👉 How too many stakeholders can derail an otherwise brilliant creative project👉 Why a rejected idea doesn’t automatically mean the work was bad👉 What happens when the brief and creative direction suddenly change👉 How to recognise when you’re no longer the right designer for a client👉 What to do with unused, rejected or unfinished creative work

This week, we’re talking about how to protect yourself as a freelance designer.We're talking contracts, payment terms, scope creep, unlimited revisions and difficult clients. We get into the business side of creativity that most designers are never taught.We also share some of the biggest mistakes we made early in our careers, including the project that grew into nearly a year of work for just £4,000, and the systems and boundaries we now use to protect our time, money and creative energy.We get into:👉 Why every designer needs a proper contract👉 What should be included in your scope of work👉 How to stop clients adding “just one more thing” to a project👉 Why you should never begin work before receiving a deposit👉 How to avoid chasing unpaid invoices👉 How to handle clients who ask for discounts👉 The red flags that can reveal a nightmare clients👉 Why saying yes to everything can cost you time, money and better opportunities