Lucky Dip

Should you let your team freelance? We were part of a brilliant panel at yesterday's Agency Hackers event in Shoreditch, going up against the team at JonesMillbank about the pros and cons of your team freelancing. We are definitely pro. For a few reasons – 🖌️ Creativity doesn't stop at 6pm. Teams being able to flex their muscles, learn new skills, and explore the things they love is good for them, and in turn, good for the studio. 🤫 Secrecy breeds toxicity. Employees are probably freelancing anyway, but just not telling you about it. Contributing to a culture of dishonesty. 🏃 We cannot control what people do in their spare time (unless you're paying them to be on the clock 24 hours a day). You're just as likely to get burnt out training for a marathon, or taking care of your family, as you are working on side projects. 🔒 Boundaries are important. When freelance work crosses into the realm of studio work, issues occur. Openly setting expectations (rather than burying it deep in someones contract) means you're all on the same page. What do you think, are you team for or against? Thanks again Agency Hackers for having us, and to all the other great speakers. Callum Devine Helena Traill FRSA Adam Millbank Matthew Stanners Alex Wright

Why don’t I feel like I’m progressing? This week, this designer is looking for some forward momentum. 🕸️ This week’s question: “I’ve been a full-time designer since graduating in 2018. After about a year in the industry, Covid hit. I was lucky to have kept my job throughout the pandemic, but was laid off in 2022 after restructuring. I took a new business design role at an ad agency but quickly learned it wasn’t for me, and moved to an in-house design team at another agency. Unfortunately, I (and my entire team) were laid off, exactly two years to the day of the first. Now I’m back at in a new business design role at another agency. I feel stuck – like I’m treading water rather than moving forward in my career. I’m almost 30 and I feel like I have to go back to square one to start making any real progress. Do I have to? How do I move forward when I keep getting knocked back? How do I move forward when I’ve been laid off over and over again?” This week, Katie Cadwell, co-founder of branding studio Lucky Dip and The NDA podcast, talks about the benefits of a zig zag career path, and how to feel like you’re working towards your goals, which you can read over at the link below: Read the article now → https://lnkd.in/eaM6mx-Q Submit your own questions here → https://lnkd.in/eBG3uvRy Getting knocked down? Struggling to get up again? How did you bounce back? Let us know in the comments below! Creative Career Conundrums is our weekly advice column on It's Nice That where professionals answer your burning creative career and workplace questions.

Chatting to Rob Alderson on the newly revived Design Week today. With honourable mentions to Jamie Ellul's approach to people. Dylan Young's beautiful type design for Koto. My Grandad's love for stationery. Alan Dye's contribution to my studio wall, from NB Studio's exhibition. And Lucky Dip's BDE (big dipper energy) Read the article here 🗞️ https://lnkd.in/ePJj43K4

New year, new season 🔓 It's that time again, we're recording the next season of The NDA Podcast — and we've got a killer line-up of topics to discuss. As always, we're looking to hear from all walks of the creative industry about what's really going on out there. A chance to expose any shady secrets (or just share an opinion you've been dying to air) We're specifically looking for anyone with experience being a disabled or chronically ill creative, trouble negotiating contract T&Cs, becoming a new Dad, and if the 2024 economy was a hard year for your studio. Send your submissions in to us at https://lnkd.in/ejwfbeta 📢

I'm really enjoying the final episode of Creative Boom this morning — it's giving all the festive vibes and a glimpse into how people have found 2024. For me, personally and professionally, it's been a big one. Starting Lucky Dip, relocating to Devon, and putting another season of The NDA Podcast out. But more importantly, finding a really nice work life balance. It was so lush to reflect with one of my favourite industry legends Katy Cowan and chat about the best time of year. We're signing off tomorrow, but I'll take this opportunity to say a HUGE thank you for all the support this year. Anyone who messaged the podcast, all the well wishes for the studio launch, including some of the established agencies that have really championed us, and most importantly, the clients who have taken a leap of faith with us as a new studio. You've made two gals with some big plans feel empowered to kill it in 2025 Hatty Wytton 👯♀️ Listen to the episode here > https://lnkd.in/gyGWxsur (and huge kudos to the editor for managing to hide the fact my dog threw up in the background halfway through 💀)

Lucky Dip X If You Could Jobs X It's Nice That If you’re following our friends over at If You Could Jobs & It’s Nice That, you’ll have already seen their column, Creative Career Conundrums. Every week, they put a reader’s dilemma to a panel of industry agony aunts for advice. Design’s answer to Dear Diedre 👵 Here are some of the questions we’ve answered over the last few months, with plenty more juicy ones in the pipeline. Get submitting all your creative queries over at itsnicethat.com 📮

It’s been a whirlwind six months and we've been busy. From launching our site to working with brilliant clients and collaborators. Hosting a podcast season to celebrating in a few different countries. Not to mention the work 👀 But for now, some BTS — and a glimpse into what it’s like being a dipper.

Meet the Dippers 🎲 One of the best parts of running a small studio is being able to collaborate with brilliant talent, and luckily, we've met a lot of talented people over the years. We've been pulling in the best in the business to work with us, building teams to suit every project. And the one thing they all have in common, we're labelling 'Dipper Energy'. They're all a joy to work with, specialists in their craft and have a hunger for great creative. We can't wait to share what we've been up to. Shout out to Emily Ryder • Harry Bennett • Joana Fatela • Sherilyn Dykes • Ana Rudolph • Mike Harrison

It feels like time we introduce ourselves – we’re Katie & Hatty. 👋 We founded Lucky Dip on a set of shared beliefs, a passion for brilliant creative, over a decade of experience and 5 years of friendship. Together, we’re building great brands (and a new studio) and having a bloody good time while doing it. Having the budget and headspace to focus on building your brand usually represents a big milestone in your business. Securing a round of funding, hitting your sales targets, expanding your offer... It's exciting, and something that should be celebrated. Our process tries to reflect that. With meetings you look forward to, a collaboration that lasts well beyond the project end, and creativity that brings joy and distinction to your business. Because the process should be challenging, but it doesn't need to be stressful or daunting. We actually think it should be pretty fun. So that's what it feels like to work with Lucky Dip. 🍀 https://luckydip.studio/

Had such a great time with the amazing team at Lucky Dip, who ran a re-branding workshop for LOKI POKÉ. Hatty Wytton and Katie Cadwell made a slightly daunting process actually incredibly fun and insightful. Couldn't have asked for a better team (or larger pastries). Some exciting things planned for LOKI - more soon!