From an observation to something worth making.
I work with organisations, studios, commissioners and research partners to investigate challenges and develop new opportunities.
Sometimes that means a focused piece of research or strategic advice. Sometimes it means building a project from the first observation through to creative development, prototyping and delivery. The starting point is the same: understand what's happening before deciding what to do.
Challenge-led research & R&D
Investigate the problem. Find the opportunity. Test the idea.
For organisations exploring new products, services, experiences or ways of working.
I combine observation, research, creative thinking and practical development to identify opportunities that might otherwise be overlooked. That can include understanding audience or customer behaviour, examining group interactions, reviewing existing experiences, framing research questions, developing concepts and testing early prototypes. The work can be delivered independently or with creative and technical partners.
Typical outputs: Research findings, opportunity maps, creative concepts, experiment plans, demonstrators, tested propositions and recommendations for further development.
Creative development & project leadership
Turn an idea into a project that can be delivered.
Some ideas need more than advice. They need someone who can develop the proposition, shape the experience, assemble the right partners and take responsibility for moving the work forward.
I work across creative, strategic and technical disciplines to develop products, immersive experiences, interactive formats and cross-sector projects.
This can include concept development, scoping, partner selection, funding and commissioning preparation, production planning, and creative or project leadership.
Typical outputs: Creative treatments, product propositions, defined project scopes, technical and creative development plans, partner structures, budgets and commissioned work.
Studio collaboration & senior support
An independent senior collaborator who helps expand what your studio can do.
I work with creative businesses to investigate new opportunities, develop original propositions and provide experienced creative, strategic and production capacity.
That might involve joint R&D around a client challenge, ownership of a development workstream, or an ongoing relationship with a studio leadership team.
The aim isn't to stand outside the business and offer occasional opinions. It's to make a useful contribution to what the studio is trying to achieve.
Typical outputs: Joint R&D proposals, new service and product propositions, strategic development, scoped projects and senior ownership of agreed work.
Funder, university & programme support
Bringing creative industry experience into programmes and research.
I work with funders, universities and sector bodies as an advisor, mentor, assessor, facilitator and programme contributor.
My experience includes supporting digital innovation, creative technology development, early-stage project scoping, creative businesses and funded R&D. I bring both an external strategic perspective and direct experience of developing and delivering creative projects.
Typical outputs: Assessments, mentoring, programme development, facilitated research, innovation workshops and practical recommendations.
Audience Behaviours Review
Understand what people are really doing, not just what the analytics say.
For cultural organisations, venues, programmes and audience-facing businesses I investigate the behaviours, expectations and barriers that shape participation and engagement. The review can consider your audiences as a whole or focus on a particular experience, digital product or programme.
It produces a practical picture of who you are reaching, what may be preventing participation and where your strongest opportunities sit.
Typical outputs: Audience behaviour map, priority opportunities and practical recommendations.
Where do we start?
You don't need a finished brief. Tell me the challenge, what you've already tried, and what you hope might be possible. I'll suggest a sensible starting point, whether that's a focused review, a defined R&D project or an ongoing collaboration.