Weekly Highlights
Highlight from this weeks articles, conversation and creative inspirations from Rosie Lee and our community. Opening the lid on topics, news and inspirations that affect our thinking and our work.
The year isn’t giving up on us yet! As our TVs flip into Christmas commercial heaven (or hell) it’s easy to be tricked into thinking the year is nearly done but it is actually quite a way off. We’re not stopping and have had a lot of conversations with people who might be joining us on our podcast soon.
We finished the edit of our Conversation with Linda Byrne and released it on Wednesday, and behind the scenes this week we’ve been mostly talking swimming, pigeons, women’s football, stock markets and budgets…amongst other things.
We’ve added a raft of Inspirations throughout the week and Mark’s article about Legacy has been popular with our readers. See below for more details on these and other things we’ve been up to this week.
Unorthodox Blend
Conversation: UBC023 - Linda Byrne
Linda Byrne is an independent editorial designer with a focus on the built environment and cultural sectors. Based at the Hithe building in Rotherhithe, she has been the art director of The RIBA Journal since 2016 and regularly collaborates on publications with RIBA Publishing.
A senior lecturer at Kingston School of Art, Linda’s research explores the evolution of publishing and book forms. She is a studio member of the London Centre for Books Arts where she is developing “Swimming Volumes” a self-published series using the architecture and aesthetics of swimming to explore book forms and print processes.
UBA071 - Building a Legacy
In this week’s article, Mark talks all about legacy, prompted by a question from Joseph last week “What does legacy mean to you?”. Are we talking assets, literal wealth? Or values, beliefs and life lessons?
Have a read of Mark’s thoughts on his personal and creative legacy, and a 5 point plan to build your own.
Rosie Lee News
SPX. Brand Strategy.
Against Time
After meeting with Chris Howell , the founder of SPX, we did a deep dive into the marketplace and agreed that the best place to start with SPX’s evolution would be to develop a strong brand strategy as a platform for everything else to spring from.
Our Brands With Soul framework encourages us to stay human-centric in everything we do, and to go really deep into beliefs and philosophy of the brand and its founders.
Using AI tools in our brand strategy meant we were able to go further with our investigations and brand development than we would otherwise have done, without overspending the budget.
Natural Edge. Unleashing the Power of Elite Football Boots.
Against Time
In all our creative projects, we strive to weave narratives that connect our concepts with the audience on a deeper level. In our latest series, we blend the distinctive qualities of various animals with iconic football boots, creating a powerful metaphor for the attributes of top players who wear them.
Inspirations
Billion Dollar Arcade
As a long-time fan of video games and interactive installations, the Billion Dollar Arcade Series by BREAKFAST caught my attention for its clever fusion of physical and digital worlds. These large-scale, kinetic displays celebrate the cultural and economic impact of gaming, turning beloved franchises into mesmerising physical experiences.
Bistro des Lettres
At Bistro des Lettres, guests are invited to write a letter to themselves, which will be posted to them in a year’s time. This simple concept of handwritten letters adds a beautifully timeless dimension to the dining experience, creating a tactile, emotional connection that lingers long after the meal.
Lake Como Air
Forget ordinary souvenirs Lake Como Air is something else entirely. Sealed in a sleek 400ml tin, it’s not just a keepsake; it’s a piece of tranquility, beauty, and elegance from one of the world’s most iconic lakes. Open it whenever you need a moment of escape, a breath of serenity, or a reminder of the stillness found along the shores of Lake Como.
If you have any inspirations that you’d like featured on UB, then please share them with us.
Work with Mark
Mark is the co-founder and owner of Rosie Lee Group (the organisation behind Unorthodox Blend). With over 30 years of experience, he has led impactful projects for leading brands like Activision, Beats, National Geographic, Google, Marvel, Nike, Saucony, Timberland and UNiDAYS, blending design, creative strategy, digital innovation and consultancy.
Through Rosie Lee Group, alongside Russell, he mentors business leaders and entrepreneurs, helping them progress their business in a multitude of ways, through Thought Partnership.
Mark has launched a series of opportunities to work with him - workshops, consultancy, coaching and portfolio reviews. Please check out his website to find out more, and book yourself a 45 minute phone call with him to discuss ways in which you can work together.