sustainability – Brand Strategist | MarComms

Ban Beige! Reflections & Creative Inspirations

October 21, 2025October 21, 2025by Emma PotterLeave a Comment

I love this time of year. There’s a crispness in the air, the trees turn a magical array of mellow yellow, fiery orange, golden brown and rustic red, and I find myself craving a hot chocolate and a good book. (I’m still reading Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us, it’s a wonderfully insightful read.)

Like many of you, I can’t quite believe how fast the year is moving; we’re hurtling towards Halloween and cruising into Christmas. But before stepping into those magical moments, I wanted to pause, look in the rear-view mirror, and celebrate a few personal highlights, it’s truly been a time of conscious creativity. Here’s my top three:

Colour as Your Brand’s Emotional Driver

In September, for BIMA, I hosted an interactive masterclass which provided brands and marketers with an immersive journey into the world of colour and behavioural colour psychology. Together, we explored how brands can use colour to stand out, connect, and communicate meaningfully with their ideal customers.

I welcomed a wonderfully diverse mix of attendees to the masterclass, from agency founders and heads of marketing to creative directors, designers, and content leads, representing brands as varied as Pernod Ricard and NHS Trusts.

We reflected on how technology and AI are powerful enablers of efficiency and scale, but they don’t feel, they’re not intuitive. AI can make colour theory digestible, but it can’t imagine. We also talked about how do we use the time gifted back to us by technology to dial up our authentic intelligence (AI) and emotional intelligence (EI)? How do we nurture our creative instincts, build empathy, and strengthen human-to-human connections?

The Q&A sparked fascinating conversations, especially around the colour grey, a tone I like to call “the one that hides in plain sight”. Think of grey battleships blending into the sea or field-grey army uniforms designed not to be visible at a distance.

When showcasing the influence of colour, I shone a spotlight on the ‘Fiat – Operation no more Grey campaign’, and the surprising creative and influential use of pink on-set for the ‘Barbie’ movie.

I’ll be hosting future sessions that dig deeper into the language of colour and how it can powerfully connect brands with their audiences. If you’d like to learn more, I’d love to hear from you.

Colour & Creativity Workshops; hosting Designers and Architects

What a joy it was to collaborate with such brilliant minds in the interior design and architectural community to deliver my Colour and Creativity workshop. Thanks to Nordic Design House and Magda for inviting me and Cesca.

At its heart is a shared belief that creativity is more than just making something beautiful, it goes beyond the aesthetic, it could be considered mindfulness in motion. It’s a moment to pause, to ground ourselves, and to reconnect with colour, with others, and with our own imagination.

We explored creativity as wellbeing, and giving yourself permission to slow down, explore, and express, whilst building calm, confidence, and resilience through simple creative acts. Then we talked about our personal connection with colour, and how we can use the language of colour to communicate, connect and tell human stories.

This workshop is for everyone, not just “creatives.” I always invite attendees to come as you are, and leave with a renewed sense of joy and possibility.

Behind the Canvas: Exhibition & Private Commissions

In September, I was honoured to exhibit alongside fellow artists from across the UK at Brighton Art Space, organised by The Paint Club. I created two pieces, one titled ‘Sunny Surrey Hills’ and the second ‘Nefyn Beach, Wales’. If you missed it, don’t worry, more exhibitions are on the way!

I’ve also been commissioned to create a very special piece for a client in Surrey, designed to capture the feeling and emotion of her late father. It’s a process built on trust, beginning with a 90-minute creative conversation to uncover the story behind the intuitive art.

As Pierre-Auguste Renoir said:

“Art is about emotion; if art needs to be explained, it is no longer art.”

Please do get in touch if you’d like me to create a bespoke, unique piece of art for you.

You can follow me on Instagram here.

Podcasts to Ponder

I love reading, but I also adore the feeling of being part of a conversation, which is why I’m a podcast devotee. If you’re feeling curious and are looking to immerse yourself in the language of colour, here are two I highly recommend:

Stories in Colour – The National Gallery

A vibrant series uncovering the hidden stories behind colour, from history to modern day, this podcast features curators, scientists, historians, and artists. You’ll never look at colour the same way again.

Let’s talk colour

Hosted by the wonderfully colourful founder of The Colour Authority, Judith van Vliet, this podcast features global colour specialists exploring design, psychology, trends, and the transformative power of colour across numerous brands and industries. Every episode inspires me to bring more colour into life and work. Discover more here.

Closing thoughts

Colour is more than what we see, it’s how we feel, connect, and create. The hues we choose can shift our mood, spark imagination, and shape the stories we share.

In a world that’s grown a little too beige, maybe it’s time to bring back the bold. Reintroduce colour, intentionally, thoughtfully, and with heart, into your life, your brand, and your work.

“Colour is one of the most important and powerful universal languages we have.”

Source: Alina Schartner, Design, Colour + Trend | Consultant + Strategist

Break free from beige. Let’s bring the colour back.

Header image: Colour and Creativity Workshop, September 2025.

Growth, Imagination

Creativity and Colour in Motion

August 28, 2025August 28, 2025by Emma PotterLeave a Comment

In business, as in life, everything is cyclical. We move within natural rhythms and patterns of energy, time, and opportunity. Just as day turns to night and seasons shift from one to the next, our organisations, teams, and creative endeavours follow cycles of growth, reflection, and renewal.

As August draws to a close and summer begins its transition, I’m reminded of the value of pausing at these inflection points. Seasonal change offers us a chance to take stock, to reflect on what has been achieved, acknowledging progress, and preparing for what’s next.

For me, this is where creativity and business truly intersect. Both demand a balance between looking back and moving forward, celebrating achievements while welcoming new ideas, fresh collaborations, and innovative ways to build meaningful connections.

Discover Colour & Creativity with Nordic Design House

I’m delighted to share an upcoming immersive evening of colour, craft, and connection, collaborating with fellow artist and colour enthusiast Cesca Molly Thorne, set within the inspiring Nordic Design House showroom in Clerkenwell, London.

At the heart of colour and creativity is a shared passion for helping people to reconnect with themselves, and with each other, through colour and creativity. For myself and Cesca, creativity is more than making something beautiful, it’s a form of mindfulness, a moment of meditation, and a way to ground ourselves in the present moment. As artists, we believe colour and creativity can transform lives in small yet meaningful and impactful ways.

What to expect

The workshop is designed for everyone. No experience is needed, only curiosity and an open mind. You’ll leave with renewed energy, fresh perspective, and a unique creation of your own.

Together, we will explore:

Creativity as Wellbeing – Give yourself permission to slow down, express freely, and build calm, confidence, and resilience through simple creative acts.
Connection with Colour – Experience colour as a language for communication and connection, focusing on the process as well as the outcome.
Self-Expression – Use colour as a medium for storytelling and self-discovery, while learning to create a beautiful crepe paper flower and exploring the principles of colour psychology.

The evening provides a perfect opportunity to connect with like-minded people, expand your network, and share meaningful conversations in a welcoming, inspiring setting.

Delicious refreshments and drinks will be provided, courtesy of our hosts, Nordic Design House, who represent a curated selection of Swedish brands, offering furniture and lighting rooted in Scandinavian design for workplaces and public interiors across the UK.

Event details

📅 Date: Wednesday 24th September
🕕 Time: 6:00 – 9:30pm
📍 Venue: Nordic Design House, 104–110 Goswell Road, London, EC1V 7DH
🔑 RSVP: Places are limited. Please contact Magdalena Tym, Sales Director, to secure your spot.
We would love for you to join us for this special evening of colour, craft, and connection.

Let’s work together

With over 20 years of experience working with innovative and disruptive businesses across HR-tech, digital, creative agencies, and interior design, I bring a unique blend of commercial acumen and creative vision to everything I do.

I’m a strategic yet hands-on leader with a passion for collaboration, and I believe the most impactful results come when we balance the analytical precision of the left brain with the intuitive creativity of the right brain. Facts and figures matter, but so does imagination and storytelling, for true magic happens when the two meet.

Get in touch – I’d love to continue the conversation.

Images: Colour and Creativity Workshop, June 2025.

Growth, Imagination

Nature as your strategist

June 30, 2025by Emma PotterLeave a Comment

There’s a long-standing belief that nature is our greatest teacher – personally, professionally, in coaching, and in business. Why? Because in nature, everything exists in balance. It understands its interconnectedness, plus the need for resilience and adaptability. There’s no resistance to change: trees don’t cling to their leaves in autumn, they simply let go. Nature flows, following its innate, intuitive path of growth and transformation. It adapts and evolves. Vibrant colours attract pollinators or ward off predators, while underground root systems quietly nourish and support growth. Nature honours its natural rhythms, its seasons, lunar cycles, the literal tides of change. So why, then, do we find it so difficult to care for and cherish Mother Nature and the environment she provides for us?

Climate Cocktail Club – ‘Reimagined Radicals’

On Friday 27th June, I attended the Climate Cocktail Club relaunch event – ‘Reimagined Radicals’ in London, County Hall, a thought-provoking space where art, science, and community intersected to explore how we tackle the climate crisis through hope, creativity and culture.

The keynote speaker was former Irish President and climate justice champion Mary Robinson and she reminded us of a powerful truth: real change starts with hope. She spoke about hope not as a vague ideal, but as a pragmatic first step toward action. It begins with a desire to do things differently, to see a better future and take even the smallest steps to get there. In the face of global climate disruption, she shared how women-led solar initiatives in vulnerable communities are not only reducing carbon emissions but transforming lives.

Mary told the story of salt farmers in the Surendranagar desert in western India who are now using solar energy to power their work, a project that has already impacted 3.2 million women. Some of these women have trained as solar engineers, and through the savings they’ve made, they’re now sending their children to school, buying essentials, climbing out of debt, and most importantly, building a future for themselves and their communities. It’s a model of community empowerment, economic resilience, and climate action, all rooted in the belief that hope is the spark that lights the fire of progress. The determination of these ladies and leadership are inspiring.

If you have 2 minutes, do watch this short clip as it provides real insight into their lives:

Connection, conversation & community

Following Mary Robinson, the stage was set with more superb innovative and inspiring speakers including Lisa Merrick-lawless, Co-founder, Purpose Disruptors; Siobhan Clarke, fellow, Sustainable Ventures and portfolio NED, Julian Valissieres, CEO & co-founder Batchworks; Edward Van Der Wyck, CEO & co-founder Sheep Inc.; John Elkington, CEO & Chief Pollinator, Volans; Matthew Smith, SEO, Hometree; and Louis VI, zoologist, musician, presenter, who all believe in a climate conscious approach to business.

Here’s what resonated with me…

Hope is the catalyst for action

We heard about women-led solar initiatives impacting 3.2 million lives, lifting people out of debt, educating children, and building futures. When community and clean energy meet, transformation follows.

Community is how we evolve

The shift isn’t just technological, it’s cultural. We must create belonging, build trust, and foster collaborative communities. That means making space for conversation and connection.

We are nature – we are all connected

From Octopus intelligence (yes, we talked about Octopus which reminded me of a film I love called My Octopus Teacher) to frogs nicknamed “mountain chickens”, this event was a celebration of listening, learning, and letting nature lead.

“We take all our inspiration from nature to make art”

Louis VI (Rapper, Musician, Zoologist). His album Carbon uses sounds from the natural world to make music, reminding us that sound is a primal communicator. From birdsong to silence, it influences how we feel and connect.

Science matters

Scientists spend years researching and learning, we need to hear their voices more. Perhaps there’s an opportunity to communicate through weekly climate briefings, to showcase truth over trends, embracing inconvenient facts with creativity as all are essential to cultural and business change.

A BIG thank you to strategic communications consultant Nick Nuttall for facilitating an insightful and sometimes challenging conversation, and to everyone involved with organising and supporting the event Aisling McCaffrey, Louise French, Sustainable Ventures, Project Dandelion, Diageo, Be Impactful, Thinkhouse and everyone behind the scenes who I’ve not been able to mention – it was a memorable, fun and engaging night!

Let’s talk

I felt inspired by the idea that hope isn’t naïve, it’s strategic. It leads to action and action changes everything.

There are many insights and pearls of wisdom from nature to be integrated into how we do business. Let’s design business and campaigns that work in harmony with nature and the natural world, not in conflict with it. Innovation can solve big problems if we put people and planet at the heart of it.

If you’re working on purpose-driven innovation, I’d love to connect. I’m actively looking to connect with purpose-driven disruptors to build on the conversation.

Where does nature sit in your business model?

Get in touch – I’d love to talk.

Images: Captured on the night by Emma Potter.