Client Stories
Here are a few short stories to give you a sense of how I help my clients – and how I could help you.
Morris+Company
I love the energy that comes from a good ‘awayday’. Everyone puts their out-of-office on, gets plucked from their usual environment, and is filled with a sense of purpose – something that emerges so much more clearly when you leave the minutiae of working life behind.
In the case of Morris+Company, they really were in need of a good dose of togetherness and a proper conversation. They’d been dispersed since the early days of Covid and were waiting for their lovely new space at Mare Street to be ready. And Mare Street wasn’t going to be just a physical move. It was a chance for a fresh narrative and a whole new chapter.
Our morning together was, from my point of view, a joy. No PowerPoint, a lovely venue (the depot_ ), ideas coming from all quarters, and a real sense of conviviality. We all put our heads together, got into the ‘Mare Street mindset’, and started – right there and then – to shape the future. I can’t wait to see where it takes them.
“A thoroughly helpful and enjoyable morning”
Miranda MacLaren, Morris + Company
Office S&M
When Catrina and Hugh at Office S&M got in touch, they were very clear they didn’t want help with tone of voice. What they wanted was help with the mechanics of writing. And, for me, that’s a clarion call to action.
Writing really shouldn’t be so difficult, and I’m always happy to be given the chance to prove it. So six of us spent three hours around a little table. We banished the blank page, put into practice different frameworks for different purposes, and found quick fixes to turn something dry into something powerful.
At the start they said writing was slow and difficult. By the end they had plenty of tricks, tips and strategies up their sleeves for when they’re back at their desks and in need of inspiration. That was a good result all round: I’d proved my point, and they had what they needed.
“Super, super helpful”
Catrina Stewart, Office S&M
George & James Architects
Simon and Darren (who don’t actually go by the names George & James – you’ll find the full story here) had been ticking along just fine before the pandemic, but now the lockdowns had put a few spanners in a few projects, made them a little self-reflective, and given them a bit of unexpected spare time.
So together – but of course on Zoom – we dug deep, did lots of thinking, talking and writing, and mapped out the content for the new site. Then I left them to it, confident I’d given them all they needed to start writing. But life (and the world slowly opening up) got in the way. So, a few months later I was back on board, with pen in hand, a story ready to tell, and a determination to get them to the finish line.
But this isn’t just about a shiny new website which got a special mention at the Archiboo Awards. It’s about a small practice finding their voice and then making the most of the energy, confidence and new possibilities that follow. Simon and Darren – and the small team who have now joined them – have been on a roll ever since.
PS Of course you should really be hearing about all this from them rather from me, so have a listen to this podcast and read their blog post on the subject.
IID Architects
I was on board – in spirit, at least – from the moment Carole, the Practice Manager at IID, got in touch. She told me they’d been discussing their website endlessly, had done enough tinkering to know tinkering wasn’t the answer, and finally had to admit that getting 15 architects to agree just wasn’t working.
I knew the feeling. Or at least I’ve known plenty of other architects who have felt the same. The point now was to help them get them to a different place. So we put a plan in place: three workshops spread over several months, a fresh way of talking about the practice, and – to give their new words the platform they deserved – a brand new website.
And now, at last, they know where they’re going. The website is still, as they say, under construction, but their minds are opened, the words are flowing, and the whole practice is preparing for a clearer, more purposeful future.
“I have loved the whole process”
Carole Tupper, IID Architects
ETSI Architects
Sparkling seas, bright blue skies, a rugged, ancient landscape… Some architects – in this case Eleni Tsigarida of ETSI Architects in Greece – have all the luck when it comes to the perfect backdrop and great stories waiting to be told.
But what if the stories still won’t write themselves? Then you need another way of coming at it.
Sometimes it’s about looking beyond the beauty, seeking out the human moments, and giving those a chance to shine. So that’s exactly what we did – and we shaped them into stories too.
And sometimes, if you have too much else to do, it’s also about bringing a brilliant writer on board to get you to the next stage. Which is why we’d invited Sophie Lacey to join us at our virtual table. She was now very ready – and very inspired – to do her bit.
Sophie’s first task, helping Eleni with the Dezeen Awards entry for a stunning restoration project, has already brought good news. ‘Teloneio’ is one of 322 architecture projects shortlisted out of 5,400 entries from 90 countries. That’s the power of a great project – and the power of a great story.
And, lastly, a very short story about my toolkits…
I want my workshops to change minds and mindsets, not just in the heat of a eureka moment but properly and permanently.
So one of the things I leave you with is a real, tangible object – a fold-out card that comes to the rescue just when you need it. I want to set you up for when you’re back at your desk, trying to articulate the things that matter, daunted by a writing task, or simply in need of inspiration.
Everyone I work with gets at least one. The Writing Toolkit has been called ‘a bright orange nudge’ – which I rather like – and, whether you need that one or the blue one (on thinking about the bigger picture) or the green one (on storytelling), it’s there beside you, pushing you to be a better thinker, writer and storyteller. Because if you can think and write well – and tell great stories – you’ll be an even better architect.
