Blog

Brave Thinking | Issue #006

The Drop is your monthly fast track to the best of MadeBrave - fresh work, bold ideas, exciting events and more—all rolled into one.

This time we're diving into what happens when bold ideas meet brave clients—from a national integrated campaign with First Bus, to insight-led strategy, and a fresh perspective on the power of belief from our Founder & CEO.

Making the Unseen Unmissable for World IBD Day

Festivals are a summer staple. But for the 500,000 people in the UK living with IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), they can feel completely off-limits.

When access to a toilet is a necessity—not a luxury—something as simple as a music festival becomes a stressful, sometimes impossible experience.

That’s why we teamed up once again with The Catherine McEwan Foundation to shine a spotlight on the unseen realities of IBD.

Brave Thinking | Issue #005

This issue kicks off with a focus on business transformation, and why it’s time to elevate brand and marketing back into the boardroom.

We also put a spotlight on our bold work for the Catherine McEwan Foundation, not to mention a fresh take on bravery from our strategy team, and how to get it right from the start.

Creativity: Your Competitive Advantage, Engineered

We’ve all seen it—that moment where a creative idea stops people in their tracks. And to the outside world, it can look effortless. It might even seem like magic. But as all of us marketers already know, the best creative isn’t plucked from thin air—it's driven by insight and is painstakingly engineered.

Brave Thinking | Issue #004

This issue takes you inside our standout brand activation for First Bus, a bold team kick-off for DXC, and a fresh perspective on brand consistency from our Founder / CEO, Andrew Dobbie. Not to mention seven awards nominations!

We’re also diving into culture (spoiler - free garlic bread can’t fix it), ego-free leadership, and whether AI can really build a brand.

Plenty to get stuck into—this one’s all about inside-out brand strategy and campaigns that move people.

Bland Building: How to AI-Optimise Your Brand to Death

This isn’t an anti-AI post. Generative AI tools are brilliant for the short-term, performance-driven stuff—think targeting, testing, and refining creative.

But what about brand building?

Can it? Kind of. But should it?

Our Brand Manager, Keenan Erwin, lays out what brands stand to lose if they’re not careful.

LINKEDINburgh Castle: Where Heritage Meets Hustle

We’re so proud to announce this landmark sponsorship between LinkedIn and the City of Edinburgh—brought to life by yours truly.

Blending Scotland’s rich history with the future of professional connection, LinkedIn will soon open the doors to their premiere physical networking and business hub, the newly reimagined LINKEDINburgh Castle.

Brave Thinking | Issue #003

This issue covers humanising FNZ's brand culture from the inside out, two all-new brands for KPMG in record time, and top insights from MAD//UpNorth—courtesy of our Head of PR, Claire Morrison.

We also tuned into the egg Community’s ‘Women on Top’ event, where our Head of Comms Planning, Emma Houston, shared her take on the future of AI, strategy, and brand.

But that’s just the start—this one’s all about big, brave ideas with impact.

The Lost Art of Unexpected Collisions: Reflections on MAD//UpNorth

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of a big event ‘first’ and react in the moment. But the real value comes later when the noise has settled, and you’re left with what actually stuck out.

Our Head of PR, Claire Morrison, took a beat after MAD//UpNorth to reflect on the real-world insights brands can use right now to cut through the noise and drive meaningful results.

What LEGO Got Right in 1974 That Most Brands Still Get Wrong

In 1974, LEGO knew they weren't just selling little plastic bricks—they were selling imagination. With this short note to parents, they championed creativity over convention and built trust and emotional connection with their audience at the same time.

Decades later, most brands are still missing the mark. So, what can we learn from LEGO’s genius?

Brave Thinking | Issue #002

This issue covers insights from our Cultural Round Table from our People & Culture Lead, Melissa Curtis, our Head of Strategy’s BBC debut on the $10 billion refillable waterbottle industry, our bold rebrand for finance brand atomos, a Super Bowl ad showdown, a lesson from LEGO in 1974, and how we helped VELUX customers see the light.

Creating Harmony with Hybrid Work

We’ve all heard the debate. Hybrid work is the future—until it’s not.

So why is hybrid working still a battleground? And what’s the best way forward?

Our People & Culture Lead, Melissa Curtis, shows how to turn hybrid working from a headache into a competitive advantage.