Unfold are a design and development agency based in the heart of Bristol. We work with the founders, marketing or technical leads of SMEs, startups and innovative corporates to help them increase revenue and profitability or save them time (or ideally both!).
Over the past five years Unfold has seen a lot of change. We’ve grown as a team, embraced new challenges and opportunities, and welcomed many new clients along the way.
We felt it was time to take a moment to properly reflect on our journey and how we’ve evolved as a business; to understand who we are, why we love doing what we do and how we make a difference to our clients’ businesses.
Today, we are thrilled to share our newly revamped website with you, showcasing our full range of services, the impact we create for our clients, and ultimately the Unfold way of doing.
Unfold started five years ago with the objective of building beautiful, user-centred websites and web apps, which provide exceptional experiences for end-customers and fantastic results for businesses. This mission remains at the heart of what we do, but has evolved significantly as we’ve expanded our expertise, knowledge, team and client base.
As a result our service offering has grown to encompass five key areas:
Our method for analysing and refining concepts, using the latest insights and trends, will show you where the big opportunities lie, reduce risk and produce real results.
Together we define, develop and deliver different design solutions by putting the customers’ needs at the centre of your website.
Our expert team of engineers are experts in dealing with complex requirements and creating intelligent, flexible solutions to match.
We’re serious about growing your business by providing the CRO tools you need to engage and convert higher-quality leads.
We don’t shy away from taking over existing projects and fixing difficult bugs, in fact it has become a core speciality of our team.
Day to day that means we work with the founders, marketing or technical leads of SMEs, startups and innovative corporates to help them increase revenue and profitability or save them time (or ideally both!).
At Unfold we take a user-centred approach to our clients’ work. Meaning that we seek to put the end-customer at the heart of everything we do, from design, right through to development. This approach enables us to produce outstanding and technically complex websites and platforms that have a real impact for customers.
We push boundaries and challenge thinking to transform our clients’ vision into reality. We’re focused on building close, transparent partnerships that drive innovation and achieve shared goals.
We’d love to hear what you think of the new site! Please feel free to get in touch and share your thoughts with us.
Do you have a project in mind or would you like some expert advice? Perhaps you know a friend or colleague that might benefit from working with us? If so get in touch and see how we can help you achieve your goals.
We’re also in the process of expanding our team. If you’re interested in working with us we’d love to hear from you!
And finally, stay updated on the latest news events and valuable resources from our team by following us on LinkedIn and Instagram.
Whether you’re an employer looking to attract and retain the best talent, or a job seeker looking to negotiate a competitive salary, you’re in the right place.
How do the salaries in your workplace compare with industry averages? Take a look into the average pay packets for jobs across Events, Marketing, CRM, Digital, PR and Sales – download the Henry Nicholas’ 2023 salary guide here.
It’s an urban myth that the modern attention span has shortened to less than that of a goldfish – let’s clear that up first*.
However, the fact that we’re living in a world of content, content, content coming at us from all angles is certainly not fake news. When there’s so much easy distraction out there, how do you hold someone’s attention?
This becomes an even greater challenge when that message is a bit complex, dense or tricky to understand. Here’s where traditional communication methods can fall short.
It’s time to deploy some interactivity 
Why, though? Well first up, here are some statistics to mull over…
Only 10% of people remember what they hear
This increases to 20% of people who remember what they read
But a whopping 80% of people remember what they see and do.**
That makes a pretty great case for communicators to give people something to both look at and take part in at the same time. The people we’re trying to reach are no longer passive onlookers. Instead, they become active participants, influencing and being influenced by the content they’re engaging with.
Let’s explore the awesome potential interactivity holds in fostering meaningful understanding…
Capturing attention & boosting comprehension
Humans are nosey creatures and we’re naturally drawn to interactive experiences. Engaging our natural curiosity and prompting us to explore and participate means that complex topics become instantly more approachable, relatable and enjoyable.
The Luna 9 studio often employs this what’s-coming-next, storytelling style technique for creating explainers. It’s often attached to a topic that’s either very detailed and tricky to grasp, or – let’s face it – kind of dry.
To combat this we have to put the power in the user’s hands and make them want to learn, instead of just hoping that they pick it up. Scrolling explainer pages are a light version of interactivity that enables hands-on exploration. You’re encouraged to keep going (and learning) to uncover the next cool thing – while still giving you the power to explore at your own pace.
Check this out in action for the explainer page we created for Pepper Bio…
Personalised learning
True, it’s not school and there’s no exam (promise!), but everyone learns at their own pace and has different preferences when it comes to uncovering and digesting information.
Leaning into this fact with interactivity lets your audience embrace this individual nature and delivers your message with more accuracy.
It’s refreshing to be able decide what’s most relevant to you and choose what you read, click or watch – which enhances the retention of what you’re reading as it’s putting your needs front and centre. Everyone loves that!
We’ve used this tactic in interactive infographics and games for projects that have a vast amount of information to communicate, and the audience spans across lots of sectors and disciplines. Instead of shovelling absolutely all the info onto people, which is guaranteed to cause overwhelm, we structured the interactive journeys so that users can quickly recognise themselves in the opening screens.
From here they’re able to select their own paths, variables and options as they move through the graphics, so that they’re always in control. Fun!
This means they can track down tailored content that’s useful and most importantly – valuable – to them. Message delivered.
We employed this approach in creating the SME Net Zero challenge for BSI – check it out here.
Focusing all-important context
To avoid hitting snoozeville early, hard-to-understand topics are always going to need a little bit of context to convince your audience to stop and take note.
If you can’t relate stuff to real-world scenarios, then it’s usually asking too much of your audience to think in the abstract… Which means they’re unlikely to keep caring about your message. Bummer.
Interactivity can bridge this gap though, by providing examples and simulations that can really helps the people you’re trying to reach to join those dots between theory and practice.
We explored this element of interactivity with our Energy Landscape Map. We began with with a simple, visual grounding of the content, drawn as an easy-to-understand map for how everything works together as a network.
From here, the information is then layered on top, letting you whizz around at your leisure and uncover different levels of detail depending on what interests you, but all the while grounded with the knowledge of how it all interlinks back on the map.
Check our our interactive Energy Landscape Map here…
So – what’s the all-round benefit of interactivity?
Simple! It boils down to the seeing and the doing. Combining the two with an element of storytelling can make even the most complex of subjects easier and enjoyable to explore.
Get in touch at info@luna9design.com or sign up to our newsletter for news, updates and morsels of inspiration from the Luna 9 studio.
At JMP, are delighted to welcome Matt Joy to our growing team, joining as Managing Partner.
Matt has a wealth of industry experience, having spent more than 10 years in the sports industry, and most recently four years at a strategic brand agency.
His previous roles have included five years as Marketing Manager at Stoke City during their Premier League golden years, before moving south and helping create the Marketing team at Bristol Sport during the rebuild of Ashton Gate. Following that, he spent four years at Mr B & Friends in Bristol.
In regards to his responsibility at JMP, Matt will be a crucial cog in our ability to excel as an agency, offering additional strategic insights and creative campaigns to our clients.
Managing Director Joe Meredith expanded on this.
“It’s a significant role, the biggest addition we’ve ever made to the business,” he said.
“It’s something that I feel we’ve both wanted to happen for a long time. Everything just needed to align. Matt is in a position to elevate the offerings of JMP and I’m really excited to work with him to take JMP to the next level ”
Matt expressed his excitement about what lies ahead, for both himself and JMP.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” he said. “I’ve known Joe since I initially moved to Bristol and how he has grown the agency in that time has been great to see. It’s an exciting time to now get involved and add to the recent successes.
“My role is going to be quite broad but ultimately I will have a real focus on the growth of the agency. First of all to define who we are, our offerings and identify where we can add real value to our clients, both current and new.”
Matt joins our newly-formed Senior Leadership Team, alongside MD Joe and Operations Director Vicki Theobald.
The good, the bad and the ugly. 1+ Year in Bristol.
Every now and then we get itchy feet. Want to move, see new places, new people, new scenarios. Because things are never perfect, at least not long term. When the idea of perfection fades away, we leave, we run, we chase it. In new places, new people.
Just over a year ago I made a bold move to move back to England but to a new City; Vibrant Bristol. But why leave Sunny Cyprus after building a good network? Well, I felt stuck in a comfort zone.
There was a lack of healthy competition and opportunities to collaborate and learn. Sure, it’s comfortable being a big fish in a small pond, but my dreams were bigger than that.
This lesson I didn’t know I needed..
Success is not all about big clients and shiny projects. Instead, it is found in the unbounded exploration of self change and growth. It has been a wild and often lonely ride. A beautiful chaos which through I’ve discovered the excitement of stepping into the unknown, the growth that comes from new unexpected challenges.
I had become overly fixated on achieving success in a business context, forgetting that at my core, I am an artist, a designer, and a curious soul. I’m on a journey to reconnect with my inner child—the one filled with boundless curiosity and a hunger for exploration. I am embracing my individuality and breaking free from the stereotypical definition of success in the creative industry. Now, I am pursuing work that I genuinely love and attracting clients who appreciate my unique style and vision.
It hasn’t been easy. Building a new client base, making connections, and stepping into the unknown—it often felt like navigating without a map. But there’s beauty in being lost and embracing the journey. I realised we create our own opportunities.
Being in Bristol has had a ripple effect, immersing in a vibrant design community, meeting amazing people who shaped my journey. Bagging local clients and a recent London collaboration opened new doors.
To keep it real.. I haven’t figured it all out. Life still throws curveballs, and self-doubt can creep in from time to time. But after all it’s all about the unknown, in being open to new adventures and experiences, rather than having all the answers.
Looking forward to seeing where life takes me next. Focusing less on success and more on the most unique and creative version of me.
Today at 6pm I’ll be giving a talk on Creative Confidence by Right Aligned. Where I will talk about my journey, challenges and ways to overcome them.
Get your tickets at https://lnkd.in/eVrAbDPE
Istoria Group, the Bristol-based collective of creative agencies, has announced two new Group-level appointments. Silka Mitchell is the new Group Creative Director, whilst Bryn Isaac has been named Group Financial Director.
Istoria Group, which became a B Corp last autumn, is comprised of exhibition and events specialists Ignition, known for being sustainable pioneers and as recipients of The Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development 2020-25; hospitality and retail designers Phoenix Wharf, known for their work for regional operators such as Yeo Valley, The Bristol Loaf, Better Food and Spicer + Cole, as well as for national retailer SpaceNK and Apprentice winner Harpreet Kaur – and purposeful digital transformation experts Tiny Spark, whose virtual exhibit expertise during the pandemic helped Istoria Group survive the period’s challenging business conditions.
Silka Mitchell
‘Creative Director at Group level was an important role to fill and it was proving difficult to find the right candidate’, Sam Rowe, Istoria Group’s CEO commented. ‘We were delighted therefore to be introduced to Silka Mitchell, who brings not only top London agency experience as a former Director of both Brinkworth and Neu Architects, but also broad international experience, delivering projects in the commercial and public realms across Europe, Western Asia and China. Silka is German-born and has lived and worked in both Germany and in the UK. Her languages and multi-disciplinary, cross-sector experience will bring fresh energy and a new level of design sophistication to our studio.’
‘My ambition is to help Istoria Group grow and develop an even stronger 3D identity’ Silka Mitchell commented, ‘becoming known for creative originality and excellence. I look forward to unlocking further potential from the talented studio and to bringing in the next generation of talent to complement my vision. I further hope to instil creative leadership, inspiration and motivation and improve processes and the working environment through creative intervention and dialogue. I’m really excited to be working with a business with such a wealth of knowledge, strong ethics and a truly sustainable ethos.’
Bryn Isaac
New Group Financial Director Bryn Isaac is Bristol-born and bred and brings great expertise in and knowledge of regional markets and business to his role. Bryn joins Istoria Group after 8 years as Financial Director of We Are Fearless, an integrated marketing agency specialising in sports, culture and music sponsorship and partnerships. He has also worked with both start-up and group-owned agencies previously, including TBWA/Worldhealth, Momentum Worldwide and Given London. For Istoria Group, Bryn will provide the financial lead within the business across all the agencies in the Group and will manage financial planning covering both opportunity and risk.
‘I aim to use my experience of young and dynamic businesses to update processes and modernise systems at Istoria Group to help all parts of the business become more efficient and productive’ Bryn Isaac commented. ‘I’m looking forward to working alongside the leadership team to plan future strategic business growth, both operationally within the internal team and externally as the business grows in size.’
‘I am delighted that Bryn has joined us as Finance Director’ Sam Rowe added. ‘Bryn’s relevant knowledge and experience are vital as we continue our ambitious plans to grow and develop sustainable creative solutions for clients. As a B Corp, our ambition is to grow in the right way – with the right clients and the right team in place. These two new senior appointments are a huge leap in the right direction.’
Widely considered the most effective marketing medium, videos bring life to the brands that were once dependent on static and print. And whilst it has been hugely popular for the best part of a century, it has only grown more prevalent in recent years with the widespread uptake in smartphone and social media usage. For marketers, educators, and storytellers alike, video helps to engage with audiences in a far more immersive and memorable way. It can be formatted and stylised to specific guidelines, and most importantly, can simplify complicated messages comprehensively.
Cut forward to 2023, and we simply can’t get enough of it. We’re averaging a lengthy 95 minutes a day on TikTok, using YouTube to answer 1 in every 4 search queries, and collectively uploading 82 years of video content to YouTube daily. So, if you’re not doing everything in your power to make video work for your brand, you’re missing out on a sizeable opportunity.
Video can be used to suit a wide range of different formats and styles, from short-form social media content to long-form documentaries, making it a highly versatile medium that can be tailored to specific brand objectives. But with video being so widely consumed, we’ve grown to become connoisseurs of the moving image. Consumers have no time for slow starts, are becoming easily distracted, and can sniff out branded content a mile off. This shift in behaviour directly factors into the way that leading brands now develop their video content and should also factor into how you develop your own.
We’ve delivered short and long form video for high calibre clients across a variety of global markets. If you’re looking to leverage great video content for your brand, drop us a line today and let’s talk. No strings.
Discover more industry insights and opinions at saintnicks.uk.com/insights
Spaceworks is a platform for makers, creators and businesses of all shapes and sizes. They have been on a mission to bring community driven work spaces to Bristol since 1985 and needed a rebrand and website to match.
Accountants, artists, engineers and more, Spaceworks has been housing, helping and supporting some of Bristol’s brightest brands. They know that when it comes to office rental, businesses need affordable spaces with the right support in place to help them grow.
The new identity by Rhombus nods to the past while looking forward, inspired by the diverse community of businesses who call Spaceworks their home.
The brand balances play with trust and accessibility, uniting makers, creators and businesses across Bristol.
The visual identity was built around the new logo, evolved from their geographical footprint in Bristol. The wider identity system uses more abstract evolutions of the logo to portray the businesses of all shapes and sizes that make up Spaceworks.
The colourway is an evolution of the green they launched with in 1985, as a nod to their rock-solid history. The typeface (aptly titled Founders Grotesk from Klim Type Foundry) is a sans serif with plenty of character, inspired by some of the buildings they have transformed over the years – grade 2, big hangars, small nooks and stained-glass windows.
Rhombus developed a verbal identity underpinned by three core pillars to express the brand: Supportive, Passionate and Dynamic. The output included a set of key messages to announce the new brand to Bristol and beyond, as well as writing tips to help the Spaceworks team communicate with consistency and flair.
In order to bring Spaceworks into the digital world, Rhombus developed a motion language that encapsulated the brand’s warmth, approachability and character, inspired by collaboration. Bounce. Grow. Support!
Spaceworks are the same today as they were when they started – committed to providing affordable, supportive spaces for diverse businesses in local communities: Easton, Barton Hill, St Phillips, Stokes Croft, St Jude’s and Bishopston.
Their new custom website is testament to this commitment, delivered in partnership with Papaya Studio – making it easier than ever to access workspaces and business support.
“Rhombus Studio created our new branding and website and we are delighted with the results. It was a thorough and carefully planned process and aside from creating some amazing visual assets, they took the time to understand our business and aspirations and created something that represents us very well.” – Spaceworks
Take a look at the website here and keep your eyes peeled for new signage rolling out across Bristol!
Siri Thomas is a project manager at Armadillo. Previously, Siri’s focus was TV journalism where she produced, wrote and reported for ITV News. She then pivoted to a marketing career at ethical travel company Canopy & Stars before moving to Armadillo to work on the McDonald’s account. Siri now manages some of our biggest campaigns, including the recent launch of Winning Sips – a new Monopoly-style promotion.
In her spare time, Siri enjoys all things second hand and thrifting. At weekends you’ll find her searching out the newest charity shops, vintage pop ups and coffee shops, or at a car boot sale somewhere in the South West. She loves clothes, interiors, music, the sea, and visiting European cities.
o Place of birth: Cornwall
o Hometown: A little fishing village on the South Coast of Cornwall
o Staycation: Camping in Cornwall or Glamping in Wales
o Vacation: I’m a sucker for a European city break – Bordeaux or Berlin are up there. Or snowboarding in the Alps
o Pet: Kooper the Tortoise
o Place of work: Armadillo in Bristol
o Place of workout: Jiu Jitsu in Bristol
o Side project: Reselling vintage homeware
o Mode of transport: (much to my dismay and despite having a car) Bus
o Bonus travel essential: SPF everyday
o Artist: Studio Lenca
o Musician: Current: Little Simz. OG: Prince. Always: Aretha Franklin
o Film director: Richard Curtis
o Photographer: My aunty – Sarah Falugo
o Film: About Time
o Series: Peaky Blinders
o Commercial: One that will always stand out is the Skoda Fabia cake advert – the concept and music are perfect
o Music video: Prince – Kiss
o Board game: I’m more of a tabletop gamer than video gamer – my current fave board game is Wingspan but I’m also a sucker for Monopoly Deal (iykyk)
o Book: SO HARD to answer – I’m a bit of a bibliophile so I have to list my top 5: A Little Life (still recovering) – Educated (wow) – Seven Husbands of Evelyn Huge (so fun) – The Nightingale (so emotional and powerful) – Time Travellers Wife (love it)
o Podcast: You’re Wrong About
o Newspaper (off or online): The Washington Post
o Magazine: The World of Interiors
o Bonus culture essential: I’ve actually presented my own podcast episode for ‘A Life More Wild’ where I chat to George Clarke about utopian towns and secret projects
o Breakfast: Eggs, avo and comte on toast
o Restaurant: Bulrush in Bristol
o Cheap bite: McDonald’s
o Working lunch: Usually leftovers or if not – a burrito from St Nicks Markets
o Favourite dish: Sushi
o Signature dish: Goats cheese and sweet potato lasagne
o Snack: Hot cross buns
o Bar: Cotto in Bristol – great 0% options and my best friend is often working so I get a good chin wag
o Booze: I’m a sober gal so no booze
o Not booze: Clear Head 0% beer or a 0% Aperol Spritz
o Bonus food: Pain au chocolat
o Bonus beverage: Elderflower cordial and fizzy water
o Phone: iPhone
o Computer: Macbook
o TV: No idea but it’s just a big one that my boyfriend had
o Headphones: Sony over the ears or Airpods
o Camera: iPhone or a 35mm Pentax from my photographer aunt
o Soundsystem: My boyfriend is an avid vinyl DJ so I’m spoilt for choice in this department
o Pen / pencil: Not fussy
o Where you document an idea: I write down everything and have kept a diary since I was eight
o Casual clothing: Every day is a day to dress up in my view – I am an avid second-hand shopper so all of my outfits are pre loved
o Smart clothing: I’m a sucker for a good pink suit
o Footwear: Either my Salomons, Wallabees or velvet Mary Janes
o Watch: Some £8 charity shop one
o Collection: I collect jugs – ideally vintage and am obsessed with car boot sales
o App: Vinted and Duolingo
o Website: eBay
o Favourite social media feed: TikTok
o Work programme: Google everything
o Digital work tool: Smartsheet
o Analogue work tool: My Project Management notepad
o Morning grooming / makeup essential: Le Labo perfume and SPF
o Bonus kit essential: I am never more than a metre away from a lip balm and hand cream
Article originally published on Little Black Book on 21/04/23
Istoria Group has today revealed the winner of its inaugural Micro Business Incubator Hub Competition – Self Agency, which was founded by Devon Lowndes with the aim of improving the lives of neurodivergent people in the Bristol area.
The idea behind the competition, launched in March 2023 on International Women’s Day, was to find a women-led micro business in the Bristol region to support by offering free office space over a six-month period at Istoria Group’s Paintworks offices; mentoring from the creative business group’s leadership team in business, financial management, PR and marketing, along with a raft of creative services, including a brand review by the group’s design agency Phoenix Wharf and a website build by its digital transformation experts Tiny Spark.
The competition was also supported by local organisations Babbasa and Black South West Network, ensuring news of the competition would reach groups who have traditionally been under-represented in business, whether because of class, gender, ethnicity, age or a participation-limiting condition.
‘We received a fantastic set of entries’, Sam Rowe, CEO of Istoria Group commented ‘and were inspired by the number of amazing women out there fighting for social progress and to diminish inequality. We picked four finalists, all of whom were highly deserving, but in the end it was Devon Lowndes who stood out because of the clarity of her vision, her commitment and ambition. I am quite sure that as well as helping Devon move forward, we will also learn a great deal ourselves in the process, with that knowledge also going on to benefit our agencies and our work across the board.’
‘I’m absolutely thrilled to have won’ Devon Lowndes commented, ‘especially having met the other great finalists at the announcement ceremony! For me, one of the best things about Istoria Group’s Incubator Hub programme is how accessible it was to apply for as a person with ADHD. I could tell at once it was a friendly and accessible organisation with a really open outlook. I know it’ll be an environment that offers trust and flexibility, as well as creative and business expertise. I can’t wait to be part of it!’
The competition was judged by:
Cecilia Thirlway, Senior Lecturer in Entrepreneurship at the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Bristol
Matt Rogers, Head of Development at Babbasa
Istoria Group CEO Sam Rowe and Istoria Group Chief Marketing Officer Lindie Kramers.
The four finalist companies and initiatives were:
Better Together’s Founder Angela Loveridge helps parents keep children safe online by signposting them towards practical tools, techniques and resources, facilitating safe spaces for those awkward safety conversations and coaching parents so they are empowered to respond, not react, in a way that will keep channels of communication open and permit constructive conversations. Angela’s innovation is to recognise that people have very different parenting styles, meaning safety guidelines need to be approached without judgment and aligned with the unique needs of their child or children.
https://btogether.org.uk/
Bristol Achieve, founded by Hetty Brown, recognises that one of the biggest problems facing British schools is the gap between rich and poor and its subsequent effects on educational attainment and social mobility. This action-based business aims to increase the educational attainment and life opportunities of young adults with academic potential, so that they thrive in whichever life path they choose. Hetty and her team’s innovation is to promote peer mentoring and focus on essential life skills, as well as encouraging reading for pleasure, proven to improve academic achievement.
https://bristolachieve.com/
Nicoleta Moldovan and Begumhan Girgin of Sassy Sisters Studio have founded a new creative agency offering graphic design services, advertising and marketing, motion graphics, packaging design, publications and typographic design. They are two hardworking women/mothers with diverse creative backgrounds, who switched careers, went back to university, and completed their education in order to follow their vision. At their studio, they produce meaningful designs for businesses, charities, and non-profits while prioritising sustainability and women’s empowerment.
http://www.sassysistersstudio.com/
Self Agency was founded by Devon Lowndes to improve the lives of neurodivergent people in the Bristol area. The CIC-registered (Community Interest Company) agency offers organisational neurodiversity cultural development and neurodivergent community building. Devon is on a mission to educate people about neurodiversity and to further her vision of everyone embracing every mind equally and realising the positive impact an all-inclusive environment can have on individuals, communities and businesses. Devon advises organisations on best practice and is working with Bristol City Council as their sole neurodiversity champion. Her vision is to make Bristol THE neurodiversity city in the UK.
https://www.self-agency.org/
You need to load content from reCAPTCHA to submit the form. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationNotifications