Glasgow ⋮ A series of unfortunate events — and why it matters

Scotland, the land of castles, kilts, and, as luck would have it, lessons on branding.

Who knew? Before setting foot in this mystical land, my knowledge of Scotland was as vast as my hometown’s variety of exotic cuisine—nonexistent. It seemed as distant and irrelevant as the prospect of a calm day on Twitter.

Now, you might think, "Scotland, really? Not Paris or Milan?!”. But as the modern philosopher Kelly Clarkson prophetically mumbled, it was time to ‘Breakaway’. So, off I went, leaving the sun-bathed shores of Rio for a place where 16 degrees is not a winter’s day but a warm summer afternoon. Brrrr.

Armed with optimism and woefully inadequate winter wear, I discovered that Scotland is cold—and not just the "Oh, it’s a bit nippy" kind of cold. No, the kind of cold that has you questioning life choices and missing the warmth of your rendering 3D packaging. But as I trudged through cold and navigated cultural intricacies, I gathered pearls—not literally, the budget didn’t allow for that—of wisdom* on how to handle branding projects:

01 / Change of Plans Isn’t a Crisis, It’s Tuesday

Scotland was as planned as my change from WordPress to Shopify. Never intended, but here we are. It’s all about evolution, and hey, if a country can make a national dish out of a sheep's stomach, my website can adapt too. Similarly, branding projects can evolve.

You think you need a logo but suddenly realise you want a full rebrand, including emotional support. This is where we strut in, not just to soothe the panic or offer an umbrella, but to guide you through this existential crisis with a calm only found in people who have too many browser tabs open.

Our process isn’t just a straight line—it’s a scribble, an artistic one, made by a toddler. We adapt, tweak, and sometimes start over because, in the grand scheme of things, your ‘light bulb’ moment at 3 AM might actually be brilliant. Or it might be sleep deprivation, but we’re here to figure that out with you.

02 / Knowing Where You’re Going

Having lived in Rio, I thought I knew what a dodgy street looked like, but Glasgow's High Street decided to give me a literal run for my money. Just me and my MacBook, sprinting like it’s an Olympic event. Thankfully, I prefer my adventures sans theft.

It’s all fun and games until someone pulls a knife, which is a brilliant metaphor for brand planning. Know your market unless you want your brand to end up in a dark alley with no escape route.

Research is your friend, and understanding your market is crucial. It's like knowing that walking into a pub, you want to blend in but also stand out—yes, it’s complicated, like explaining TikTok to your grandmother. But we gotta make sure your offer is common enough to be understood and different enough to be chosen.

03 / It’s Not Personal, It’s Just Business (Really)

In the small Scottish village of Milngavie, my days were spent battling the elements to practise my watercolours at the local Costa, much to the amusement of the locals. I quickly learned that not every raised eyebrow is a critique. Sometimes, people are just curious, or they think you’re the new village spectacle. It’s not personal.

Similarly, when we poke and prod into your business during a branding project, it’s not because we love bureaucracy—it’s because we care. We’re like that aunt who asks uncomfortable questions at family gatherings but welcomes you to live with her when you come out of the closet.

Asking for feedback or nudging you for content isn’t us being needy, it’s us being thorough. We're on this process together and the results matter for both parties. So, strap in, it’s going to be a bumpy ride, but at least it’s scenic.

Final Thoughts (Yes, There’s a Conclusion)

So, there you have it. My Scottish adventure wasn't just about learning the hard way that a 'wee stroll' involves mountains. It was a crash course in expectations, unpredictability, and human nature—wrapped in a tartan blanket of confusion and enlightenment. As we tackle your business needs, let's channel our inner Braveheart and maybe, just maybe, avoid any metaphoric knife-wielding surprises along the way.

Remember, happiness lies in the journey. Sometimes the path is inhospitable, occasionally misguided, but always worth taking.