Show Notes
In this episode of The Creative Boom Podcast, Katy Cowan chats with Emily Penny – brand strategist, writer and founder of Be Colourful – about why so many design studios blend into the crowd, and the secrets to finally breaking free.
Emily shares findings from her new report, Fully Saturated, which analysed over 150 UK branding agencies. The results reveal a sector drowning in sameness – studios echoing the same promises, paralysed by fear, and too often hiding behind portfolio thinking. But Emily also uncovers the brave outliers: agencies daring to own their difference, lean into what makes them unique, and turn it into a powerful advantage.
Their conversation digs into why creatives find it so hard to position themselves, the emotional blocks that keep agencies stuck, and how her 'Brandstrand framework' – with 18 distinct strategies – can help any studio discover what it truly wants to be famous for.
Emily also speaks openly about her own journey, from launching Be Colourful in 2013 to embracing her voice as a "quiet" strategist in a loud industry, and why confidence starts with honesty.
It's a sharp, inspiring episode full of practical takeaways... the kind that will help you ditch the copycat mentality and start standing out for the right reasons.
More from The Creative Boom Podcast
In this bonus episode, Katy Cowan and Rob Draper swap the big career questions for something a lot more daft – a quickfire ramble through nostalgia, confessions and very questionable claims to greatness.
Lettering artist, designer and University of Worcester fellow Rob Draper joins Katy Cowan to close out the season with a warm, philosophical conversation about starting over and the art of creating something from nothing.
In the second, faster, slightly more feral half of the recording this week, Katy Ennis-Hargreaves of BOLDISM stays in the chair for The Spark – the rapid-fire round where the questions get cheekier and the answers get more honest.
Katy Ennis-Hargreaves of design studio BOLDISM joins Katy Cowan for an honest conversation about what happens when you stop watering yourself down and start living as your full self.
It's time for the Spark – our weekly bonus episode where we step away from the work and get to know our guest a little better through a round of quick, fun questions. No prep, no warning, no idea what's coming.