FOR THE LOVE OF CLIENTS!
We’re super fortunate to collaborate with some of the most groundbreaking brands out there. As a multi-talented team, we share one common goal: creating work that we are proud of!
Every brand is unique, which is why we never take the predictable route. Instead, we explore new pathways, by embracing media-neutral thinking to ensure our work is truly relevant - discovering your way, not someone else’s.
We specialise in delivering award-winning creative solutions that drive brand success - whether it’s strategic brand development, standout packaging, or cutting-edge digital and experiential design, we do it all!
Our approach? We venture beyond, stepping outside the comfort zone to achieve, because that’s where the magic really happens.
If you thrive on pushing boundaries and have a desire to work fearlessly to create stand out … we should definitely talk.
AS SEEN ON DRAGONS’ DEN! “Rule breakers; Risk takers; Coffee makers.” the amazing Little’s Coffee have only gone and landed an investment from Steven Bartlett of BBC’s Dragon’s Den!!!
Team Mad River are so proud to be the agency behind its bold brand and disruptive attitude. We crafted a bold, playful world for Little’s, ensuring the products disrupt convention with every sip. From punchy, memorable brand language to a packaging overhaul that cuts through the noise, the design has reinvigorated a category that has been long overdue a shake-up.
With a fresh design philosophy built on Commitment, Care, Disruption, and Enjoyment, we have given Little’s the platform to revolutionise coffee consumption by ending instant coffee shame. Stripping away outdated norms and proudly giving coffee back to the people, rather than the coffee snobs, Little’s embodies a new era of choice and personality. The brand’s mantra, “Little’s: Bigger than Coffee,” sums it up best. It’s way more than a product; it’s a movement.
The revolution doesn’t stop here. Both Little’s Coffee and us here at Mad River are just getting started, pushing boundaries and redefining what coffee and branding can do.
If you missed the show last night, catch it on BBC iPlayer now!!
#MadRiverDesign #VentureBeyond #DragonsDen #LittlesCoffee
Introducing The Herbalistas: Redefining Herbal Infusions
Typhoo presented us with a challenge to revitalize herbal teas for a new generation. With both teams bringing extensive herbal infusion expertise to the table, we dared to question the status quo. No more vague claims or tired designs. We wanted something fresh, yet approachable, and above all, something real. We did our homework, delving into the true efficacy of herbal blends and the needs of today's consumers. What we found drove us: a commitment to scientific accuracy and a refusal to take ourselves too seriously.
So, what sets The Herbalistas apart? It starts with the name, a nod to expertise with a playful twist. And the product range? Five flavours, each delivering specific benefits. No more vague promises - just straightforward functionality.
Packaging had to reflect the rebellion against the tired norms of the industry. Gone are the pastel colors and delicate illustrations. In their place are bold, hand-drawn illustrations and a minimalist aesthetic that demands attention on shelf. Even our typeface is deliberately unique, mirroring the personal touch of a skilled herbalist.
The reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. Consumers love the modern, calming vibe of our packaging. They appreciate the straightforward language and the sense of energy and positivity it conveys.
The Herbalistas is available online now and hitting major retailers soon. Join us in embracing this new chapter for herbal teas. The Herbalistas: it really is good stuff that does good stuff!
Finding new customers is not just about being seen. It is about being understood quickly.
For @fieldfarefoods that meant defining a consumer messaging toolkit that could work across POS and digital advertising, helping new audiences recognise the brand, understand the moment it serves and feel compelled to buy.
This is where strategic brand language earns its keep.
Built from brand positioning and consumer insight, the toolkit gave Fieldfare a sharper way to speak to different shopping occasions, with messaging that stayed true to the brand while landing clearly with the people it needed to reach.
Because when you are expanding into new markets, the right words matter.
Need to simplify what your brand says, sharpen how it shows up and give your audience a clearer reason to act? We should talk!
A new chapter for Quebec House
Nestled in the heart of Westerham, Kent, @nationaltrust Quebec House is now home to The Story of the Westerham Foundlings, a moving exhibition exploring the lives of 469 orphan children who passed through the local branch of London’s Foundling Hospital between 1760 and 1769.
Mad River created a style guide and interpretation panels that honour Quebec House’s Georgian character, while remaining flexible enough to support future exhibitions within the Coach House.
Inspired by the richness of 18th century interiors, we developed a palette of heritage greens with subtle gold accents, layered with soft parchment tones. Architectural details informed the toolkit, from decorative mouldings to framed forms, balanced with clean, contemporary layouts. A play of light and dark. Ornament and restraint. The result is a refined yet adaptable toolkit, designed to strongly support the stories it holds.
The project forms part of a growing body of work Mad River is delivering for the National Trust across the country, helping bring important places, stories and histories to life through thoughtful, crafted interpretation.
The Story of the Westerham Foundlings exhibition is now live and open throughout 2026. Go visit!
25 YEARS OF MAD RIVER!
25 years of ideas, graft, late nights, bright sparks, bold clients, brave briefs and brilliant people.
Our river began to flow in 2001 and since then, we’ve built brands, shaped stories, launched campaigns, created activations, opened spaces, filled rooms, stopped people in their tracks and helped brands show up in ways that feel real, memorable and meaningful.
We’ve learned a heck of a lot along the way.
* Great work needs proper commitment behind it.
* Trust matters more than almost anything, especially when clients are brave enough to follow you into new creative territory.
* It’s the small details that make the big ideas land.
* And the best work usually happens when you step back, push beyond the first answer and go the extra mile.
This is what’s shaped where we go next. Because brands can’t rely on simply being seen anymore. They need to show up properly. In the places their audiences are. In the moments that matter. In culture, in conversation, online, offline and in real life.
They really need to ‘Be There’.
That’s the thinking behind our purpose moving forwards. To help brands move beyond awareness and into experiences people can feel, remember and respond to.
To mark this monumental 25th year, over the coming weeks and months we’ll be sharing 25 moments from 25 years, a look back at some of the work, people, partnerships and stories that have shaped Mad River so far.
And to everyone who has been part of the journey … a huge THANK YOU!
We’re proud of where we’ve been. We’re excited by what comes next. And we continue to do what we’ve always done best.
Venture beyond.
A window display should be more than a visual moment. It should invite customers into the brand story.
For our project with @wearegoodphats , we designed the display as a gateway to a wider experience. From point-of-sale moments to in-store activations and sampling opportunities that encouraged customers to engage with the product.
At Mad River, we think about how every touchpoint works together to build connection. Because when customers can taste, touch and experience a product, curiosity turns into loyalty.
Click the link in our bio to read our insider guide to creating window displays that build brand love.
From store cupboard staple to full-blown cultural icon.
Shaping the world of Perelló has been a dream for us here at Mad River. Building on its unmistakable character we created a brand and packaging identity that doesn’t just sit on shelf, it shows up in culture.
From collaborations with Anya Hindmarch and street-wear brand Picante, to a wave of foodie partnerships, fan-made art and even reusable products created from the packs themselves, Perelló has become something bigger than packaging. It’s proof that the most distinctive brands don’t just get noticed, they become part of how people live.
This is what happens when design truly connects. It becomes part of culture. And that’s what we’re all about here at Mad River, creating brands people don’t just buy, but love.
Want to build that kind of brand? Let’s talk.
HELLO SUNSHINE. HELLO ICED COFFEE.
This week’s weather delivered blue skies, proper warmth and summer feels like it’s finally on its way.
So here’s something we’ve been working on with the brilliant team at Little’s Coffee. The perfect gifting set built for the season consisting of flavour-packed Little’s Coffee paired with reusable iced coffee cups, all brought together with packaging designed by little old us at Mad River.
Bold, vibrant and built to stand out on shelf and in the sunshine, because when the coffee’s this good, the design should match the energy.
Longer days. Colder brews. Perfect weather for a Little’s iced coffee.
We opened the doors to something special.
Introducing the Barista Studio for Argos! A one-day, fully immersive space designed to show just how good coffee at home can get.
Working alongside our friends at @hopeandglorypr we sourced the venue, designed the space, and transformed it within 24 hours into a fully branded, sensory-led experience. Every surface, every touchpoint, every detail was carefully considered, produced and installed by our team.
From concept through to creation. All creative, operations and logistics handled end-to-end by Mad River.
Barista-level coffee. No café required. @argos
A great window display should do more than stop people in their tracks. It should keep working long after installation night.
For our project with @gymkhanafinefoods we designed every element with longevity in mind. Reusable props, modular display components and installation-night content that extended the campaign online.
At Mad River, we think beyond the window. How displays evolve into assets that travel across stores, campaigns and social content.
Because the best retail displays don’t just capture attention. They multiply brand impact. Click the link in our bio to read our insider guide to creating window displays that build brand love.
Corfe Castle. A ruin shaped by centuries of power, conflict and everyday life. Now with a new way for visitors to explore its stories.
Working with the National Trust, we designed and delivered a new outdoor interpretation pilot across the site. Seven touchpoints guide visitors through the landscape, from the welcome to a series of paddle holders dotted across the castle grounds.
Each stop invites curiosity. Pick up a paddle, uncover a story, then return it for the next explorer. Simple, tactile and deliberately accessible.
Designed to withstand the realities of an exposed hilltop site, the structures balance durability with mobility. Weathered steel bases, ballast foundations and silicone-edged paddles built to survive wind, rain and thousands of curious hands.
The ambition was simple; create moments that help people pause, look closer and connect with Corfe’s layered history.
@nationaltrust@nationaltrustsouthwest@ntcorfecastle
