Frame of Mind

The latest thinking from our insatiably curious Frameworkers.

  • A five-box empty word puzzle row on an orange background, with the clue below reading: Game innovation primarily transformed brand reputation (5).

    Why it pays to play in B2B

    Games aren’t just for fun – they can shape a serious engagement strategy.

    By Rose Stewart | | Strategy

  • A bright orange sticky note on a white background with the handwritten text "think Big" in black marker.

    Imagination: the missing metric in your business strategy

    Imagine an alternative world where humans were incapable of conceptual thought.

    By Ben Bush | | Strategy

  • Solid red arrow pointing to the right

    What’s next? The answer is already in the room

    There's a moment in every project when you've done all the research you can possibly do. The market analysis is thorough, the customer insights are rich, the competitive landscape is mapped with precision.

    By Don Hoyt Gorman | | Strategy

  • Abstract white chalk-textured lines, loops, dots, and geometric shapes drawn on a solid black background.

    Storytelling and imagination in the age of AI

    One upon a time, there was a creative strategist…

    By Sophie Meadows | | Strategy

  • A grid of twelve abstract, minimalist line-drawn faces in black ink arranged in three rows on a solid bright orange background.

    Investigating imagination: our research proves it drives business success

    In our 35 years as a business, we’ve come to know first-hand the value of imagination. We’ve seen how it can drive real success, not only for our clients – for us, too.

    By Ellie Hennessey | | Strategy

  • Two playing cards side-by-side. The black card on the left reads, "Don’t let fancy analysis or a fear of failure stifle _______." The white card on the right reads, "Your creative thinking."

    Great barrier relief: how uniting data and imagination can supercharge business success

    In the UK at least, there’s an artificial – and frankly unhealthy – societal divide between the arts and the sciences. Apparently, you’re either in one camp or the other. But when it comes to business strategy, bringing creative thinking and scientific rigour together turns out to be a winning formula.

    By Ben Bush | | Strategy

  • A game plan for success: how B2B brands can tap into the spirit of sport

    It's been an incredible summer of sport, from the Euros to the Olympics. For B2B brands, this offers a unique opportunity to explore human stories – and capture hearts and minds.

    By Ellie Hennessey | | Strategy

  • A webpage mockup for Frame of Mind featuring a central stylized letter F logo and a search bar with the query "Strategy is" displaying a list of autocomplete definitions.

    Strategy is complex, but winning brands keep it simple

    Brand strategy can seem daunting and complex – and bringing the right stakeholders and insights together can certainly be an involved process. But keeping the final output simple and direct is rarely going to be a bad choice.

    By Ben Bush | | Strategy

  • Minimalist line drawing of a ruler with the text PERFECTIONISM PARALYSIS on the left and PERFECTIONISM PERFECTION on the right.

    How to avoid perfectionism paralysis (and make it your greatest strength)

    Can our work ever really be “perfect” – and does it matter? Sophie navigates the doubts, debates, tricks and triumphs that make up a standard day in the life of a creative strategist.

    By Sophie Meadows | | Strategy

  • Black and white portrait of a smiling man holding a pen toward the viewer against a black background.

    Introducing: Small AI for brands

    AI might seem overwhelming, but we’ve found ways to make it work for our clients and their customers in small-scale creative implementations.

    By Don Hoyt Gorman | | Strategy

  • Text reading Challenge accepted in black font on a white rectangular block with a long light gray shadow against a dark gray background.

    Ready to reinvent? Challenge accepted.

    You probably won’t hear this from your typical management consultant but strategy is fundamentally a creative exercise. Our new B2B reinvention model will help you reframe business challenges and consider strategic choices you never knew you had.

    By Ben Bush | | Strategy

  • Abstract illustration of a stylized black figure holding a yellow circle above a stacked pile of colorful geometric shapes against a red background.

    The inside story: why your people shouldn't be just passengers on your brand journey.

    The secret to creating a successful brand is right in front of you: your employees hold all the answers.

    By Ellie Hennessey | | Strategy

  • Illustration on a light blue background featuring two white cartoon bears along an ascending black line chart, accompanied by the text: "Don't tell us your plans. Show us your results."

    Credibility in ESG means showing your work

    We’ve seen enough greenwashing. It’s time for the companies that are genuinely working hard to improve their sustainability to take centre stage by using more truthful storytelling in their sustainability reports.

    By Don Hoyt Gorman | | Strategy

  • Three tilted, stacked cubes in red, yellow, and blue, each labeled with the words What, Why, and How in white text.

    How to be the dumbest person in the room

    How do Strategists find simple solutions to complex problems? We focus on the “what”, the “why” and the “how”.

    By Sophie Meadows | | Strategy

  • A grid of gray line art hats on a black background, with one glowing yellow upside-down magician's top hat emitting sparkles in the bottom row.

    Where logic meets magic: why strategy underpins every great idea

    While the strategist’s primary role is to lay solid creative foundations on which creative ideas can build, it’s not the whole picture. Strategists must also know when to sell and when to step in, step back and step up.

    By Ben Bush | | Strategy

  • Illustration of light yellow over-ear headphones centered on a beige background, surrounded by dotted lines and sound wave graphics.

    Research is how we ask questions, listen and learn

    Our Think/Frame/Make/Work process always starts with Think: Research. We ask questions to validate a brief, and then we ask questions to get to the answers. But what we do most is listen, and look for opportunities to learn more than we expected.

    By Don Hoyt Gorman | | Strategy

  • Digital illustration of a retro computer monitor against a purple background, receiving streams of data lines and binary code from the left, while displaying a modern graphic design software interface on its screen.

    How to turn insights into great creative

    Good strategy with bad creative and bad strategy with good creative both lead to the same thing: a missed opportunity.

    By Sakiko Suga | | Strategy

  • Abstract geometric heart shape in coral red and black, constructed from flat angular polygons.

    Humanising B2B and leading with empathy

    The sweet spot for deep engagement lies between education (knowing your stuff), and inspiration (thinking beyond it)

    By Ben Bush | | Strategy

  • Minimalist blueprint-style illustration on a blue background showing a white maze path with a Pac-Man figure moving past three connected white circles.

    How to succeed at digital transformation: Influence many different people

    Changes in human behaviour are at least as important to the success of digital transformation as the change in technology. And you can’t expect anyone to change – or become champions for change – without effective and empathetic communication.

    By Ben Bush | | Strategy

  • Minimalist black silhouette of a hand pressing a circular button inside a rectangular frame against a bright red background.

    Reactive marketing: why timing is everything

    What do Sainsbury’s and Beyoncé have in common? Until recently, not very much. But, thanks to a stroke of reactive marketing genius, this unlikely association brought Sainsbury’s a surge of engagement on social media. What can marketers learn from it in order to capitalise on other brands’ publicity, turn a PR disaster into a PR triumph or score serious engagement from a single post? One thing is clear: when it comes to reactive marketing, fortune favours the fast.

    By David Alexander | | Strategy