The Simple Joy of a Good Idea…
In a world where almost anything can be generated at the click of a button, it’s easy to forget the quiet satisfaction of an idea that begins in your own head.
We see it less often than we used to. A lot of design concepts can arrive fully formed from digital tools - polished, efficient, and technically impressive, but can often lack that human touch or lateral thought. But sometimes something far more interesting turns up.
Recently a client came to us with an idea they’d been working on themselves. It wasn’t a slick presentation or a digital mock-up. It was a folded piece they’d sketched in coloured pencil, cut out by hand and taped together to show how it might work.
It was simple, clever and completely original. The best part was that it worked.
Because behind the rough edges and “excuse my drawing” self awareness was a genuine understanding of their audience and a clear intention about how the message should unfold as the piece was opened. Our role was simply to take that spark and translate it into something that could be printed, mailed and delivered at scale. We worked around the unusual fold as we like a challenge.
There’s something deeply satisfying about the whole process.
Not just for the designers and production teams who help bring it to life, but for the person who first imagined it. Seeing an idea that began at a kitchen table reach thousands of people - informing supporters, raising awareness, and delivering a return on investment - is a rare kind of reward.
In marketing we often talk about innovation as if it only happens through technology. But some of the best ideas still begin the old-fashioned way: with curiosity, a pencil, and a willingness to try something. Years ago in the infancy of graphic design many of our brief interpretations began with a visual on a layout pad in magic markers.
The digital world is brilliant at helping ideas travel further and faster. But the ideas themselves still have to come from somewhere.
And often, the most powerful ones come from people who simply allow themselves the time to think and doodle.
Like any skill, creative thinking gets stronger the more you use it. If you’re looking for ways to keep that part of your brain engaged, there are plenty of places that encourage curiosity, experimentation and new ways of seeing familiar problems.
A few we like include:
Brain Pickings (The Marginalian) – Essays exploring creativity, literature, science and philosophy. A wonderful place to wander when you need your mind stretching a little. Beautiful stories that paint pictures in your mind. Please support if you can. The Sunday newsletter, is great which founder Maria Popova describes as an “act of resistance to the tyranny of algorithms.”
Creative Review – One of the UK’s best publications covering visual culture, design and advertising ideas.
It’s Nice That – Showcases inspiring work from designers, illustrators and creative studios across the world.
99U – Practical thinking around creativity, productivity and turning ideas into real work.
But the most powerful tool for generating ideas is still surprisingly simple: time to think.
A sketchbook, a scrap of paper, or even a rough model cut out and taped together can sometimes spark something no digital tool ever will. Don’t be put off by ideas that don’t look polished - we appreciate the time you put into a concept.
And as we were reminded recently, one thoughtful idea - even one drawn in coloured pencil - can still travel all the way from someone’s desk to thousands of supporters’ hands.
We love good design and aesthetics and don't feel it should cost the earth either. Across all areas of business and the charity sector Wodehouse have delighted our clients with graphic design, high quality print and direct mail solutions since 2003.