ABOUT US

We are brand storytellers who transform design-led businesses into purpose-driven brands of the future. We believe that all brands should be customer-focused and sustainability-centred.

How we became storytellers

Before launching the STUDIO, we ran a few small businesses in the design industries. As many businesses do, we put a heavy emphasis on placing our products before the story. Our marketing strategy and communication lacked the emotional connection our customers were craving. So we changed things up; story first, products second. Our first story campaign was launched in 2006 generating more sales than we ever achieved before. Since then, we’ve never looked back.

Who we are

Now we want you to experience the same; to build loyal customer base who are your ambassadors and cheerleaders, and who understand your purpose and want to be part of your mission and vision.

We are a small team of strategic thinkers, storytellers, photographers, web developers, designers and artists who learnt through experience and a lot of trial and error scenarios. We are educators who stand by your side.

How we can help

We love helping brands in creative and lifestyle industries. Among our clients we have a range of independent fashion, homeware and furniture brands, interior designers, building specialists, architects and artists.

Whoever we work with, for us it’s all about collaboration. We like to take our clients on a journey of storytelling possibilities. Consider us as your external team for creative, transformative and effective ideas. With us you know where you stand, we say it as we see it. We push the boundaries and push for innovative and emotive ideas which your competitors are most likely overlooking. We help you to build trust and grow your connections at every touchpoint.

Our team

STUDIO/ESTILA team is led by husband and wife Paul and Karolina Barnes. While Paul’s background is in IT and technology, Karolina’s background is in retail, design and hospitality. They ran a couple of businesses together before Karolina’s life changing diagnosis led her to retraining as an interior designer and later starting ESTILA design & lifestyle magazine with a mission to share and highlight inspiring stories of British design, sustainability, craftsmanship and innovation within creative industries.

Through interviewing brand founders and working with marketing teams she has developed a storytelling formula which helps to shape the way brands communicate their stories. She regularly delivers workshops and speaks on the subject of storytelling in marketing, PR and sales at design-led trade shows and business events.

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When design is executed well, it is a great vehicle to connect on human level. It taps in the psychology of human being that no other discipline does.

OUR APPROACH

Your brand. Stories. Results

Connecting emotionally through stories is nothing new. What’s new, however, is the increasing importance and urgent need for the way your brand communicates verbally and visually with customers that are right for you. It’s about sharing stories that your customers love and align themselves to. Stories that connect on emotion levels. Stories that convert fans into loyal customers.  

Unlike other design studios, we understand that each brand story is different and so our design solutions are tailored to your business, its needs and goals.  Each project we undertake we approach by using our proven brand storytelling methods and processes that guarantee results you’d like to achieve.

OUR BELIEF

Creativity. Ideas. Innovation

We know you have an exceptional product that no one else has. We want help you bring that in front of your customer and audience who will understand who you are and what you are trying to achieve long term. We believe that for a business to become a successful brand it needs to have a solid strategic plan and focus. It also needs to communicate and engage with customers consistently. Our approach is therefore customer focused. Working with us, you explore your brand story possibilities.

RECENT WORK

Some of our work, especially selected for you

WORDS OF REASSURANCE