Notes From the Island: Paradigms 2026
2 minute read…
I've not written on here much this year. In truth, I've been focusing on the work. But I thought it was a good time to jot down some notes I captured on the flight back from Croatia last week.
I was very lucky to find myself with an invite to Paradigms by Frontify. I wasn't familiar with it to be honest, and now that I am it's kinda hard to put into words exactly what it is, but i’ll give it a go… 😅
Think brand conference, seminars and what-not, but only 200 people, all senior brand leaders at that, on a private island in Croatia, all food, drink (and parties) included. It was legit as good as it sounds.
The presentations were so good, the food incredible, the parties even better. But the conversations I had with like minded design folk in-between the schedule were the real highlight.
The big summary is that the creative industry is super generous with its time and insight - and that we have each other's backs. It's tough out here, and running your own business is an extra nuance beyond the endless pursuit of great work. This week I stood one to one, sipping a tequila orange (my new favourite), with the founders of agencies I benchmark weekly, studios I respect hugely, individuals at the top of their game - and they gave me advice. Crazy.
This year's been crazy for us, for many reasons, but this week was a real moment to acknowledge that we are doing the right things, but there's so much more we could do. I had my eyes opened to pricing structures, messaging approaches, team building and more. It's humbling to be in the company of some of these creatives who are literally defining our space.
I have to shoutout Dan, who invited me along to Paradigms, and continually and selflessly brings me into rooms.
But on the talks, a few personal highlights from an all-star line up here:
/01: Laurence, Former Global Head of Creative Studio at On
Laurence talked about her experience leading creative at On Running and her next chapter. Her framework for how nerdy obsessions are often the strongest foundation for a successful brand has got me thinking. I’ll be borrowing some of this thinking for sure.
/02: Max, Co-Founder at Ragged Edge
Max's rallying cry for the industry to control its own narrative was so good. The commercialisation of creativity has lead us unconfident in the concept of being creative and he let us know we must claim it back. This talk kept getting bought up in my conversations over the 3-days.
/03 Chris & Connie, Studio Drama
Meeting the guys as Studio Drama was a highlight, they are killing it. Chris & Connie's talk captured the history of type, delivered by the authors of its future. The next brand assets to really own. Im gonna need to hang with them lot more.
So many more highlights I could mention, from JKR and Collins to NASA - but for now, back to work.
More from Unfound:
Watch: Unfound Shorts: You’ll find us working
Interview: The Brand Identity
