There's nothing better than when a client lets you run wild with an idea!
What started as a conversation about all the great houses in Coorparoo and the ways to renovate them soon became 'The Suburbs' series from @kin_architects .
Cue what possibly was THE HOTTEST day to film content, and off we went... 🥵🫣 Don't be fooled by those smiling faces! 😆
Huge thanks to Leah for being the star of the show and to the many people who came together to make this day a success. If you haven't seen the series yet 👉 jump over to @kin_architects 's page to check it out!
When you combine a lot of ideas with a perfectionist streak, the result is indecision - and more often than not, marketing paralysis.
The continual cycle of 'what if we did this...?' to 'what if we did that...?' not only means you are unclear, but your potential clients are, too.
Indecision is one of the biggest hurdles for design studios when they want to make progress with their marketing.
What ends up happening is they tend to:
😬 Remain busy running on the spot
😬 Have enquiries come through for projects they don't want
😬 Attract clients who are misaligned
For the studios that get clear on their strategy and direction, the marketing becomes so much easier. They know where to focus their time and energy, and in doing so, gain more enquiries for the right types of projects and clients.
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Need help figuring out where to start with your marketing? Tap the link in bio to book a call.
We're proud to share the new website for DC8 Studio! After a recent brand refresh, they wanted to create a site that not only featured their new brand identity, but also elevated their presence in the market - with a particular focus on their three key pillars: people, practice and projects.
It was also important that the site emphasise their longevity in the market, showcasing their best work in a dynamic portfolio. The result is a site that tells the full story of a project from concept to completion, with a journey of discovery that allows users to move easily from one section to the next. It's simple and impactful, with soft transitions between content that feels like an unfolding of their story across the site.
Big thanks to the team at @dc8studio for taking on the mammoth task of creating a new website - it's come together beautifully. And a shoutout to @alannajaynemctiernan for the new studio shots that capture the team across Brisbane and Sydney so well.
There's a huge amount of fear when it comes to posting consistently to Instagram. Honestly, it's the number one thing that architects and designers talk to me about.
They say, "I have all of these great ideas, but I overthink it, or I look at what everyone else is doing, then I talk myself out of it".
There's a genuine fear that:
😥 You're selling yourself
😥 The content isn't as good as what others are putting out there
😥 Colleagues will judge you for what you're doing (particularly if it's a bit different!)
😥 The words aren't architectural enough
😥 And if the words are too client-focused, then it dumbs down your design
Feel familiar?
What I'd like for you to understand is that EVERYONE has a fear of posting, particularly when they're trying to get consistent at it. Does it feel a bit scary to put yourself out there? Absolutely! But thinking about posting - and then not actually posting anything - isn't going to win you work.
If you can push past the fear and take small steps towards doing it consistently, you will build the confidence to keep going 🤜💥
This has to be one of my all-time favourite quotes from Grace on our team (she always has words of wisdom!). What started as an answer to one of our clients' content problems has become the answer to nearly all content problems over the years.
We'd hear:
😕 "Clients don't value design"
😕 "They don't understand how much work goes into it"
😕 "People don't see the impact of changes late in the piece"
😕 "If only clients knew how much thinking went into solving that issue"
What we realised is that while you can TELL people to value design, or say how much work goes into it, or get frustrated at the impact of late changes, or the brainpower it takes to solve issues... nothing beats SHOWING them.
If we break down these issues into more digestible, bite-sized pieces of content, we find audiences are better able to understand your value.
So if you hear yourself saying any of the statements above, ask yourself:
🤔 How can I SHOW the value of this design?
🤔 How can I SHOW how much work goes into it?
🤔 How can I SHOW the impact of late changes?
🤔 How can I SHOW the thinking behind the problem-solving?
And if you've got any questions about how to show these things, pop them in the comments or send me a DM. Happy to help!
Come behind the scenes with us on a photo shoot with the @kin_architects crew and @alannajaynemctiernan
What's that saying about never working with children or animals?? Never a dull moment 🤣 Marnie kept the energy levels HIGH for this shoot ⚡️
There is a real difference between content that connects with your audience vs 'content for the sake of content'.
The latter is where people tend to tune out. It may feel harsh, but it's true. You've probably had the exact type of content come across your feed!
What makes content more memorable (particularly in the avalanche of content out there in the world! 👀) is when you use storytelling to engage with the reader.
Now, I don't mean you have to write a novel! But what's important here is to write something relatable and valuable to your audience. They want to understand how what you're showing or saying directly relates to them and their situation.
That's what creates connection and builds trust.
If you do this, you'll gain more of the type of leads you want this year 🤜💥
Holy moly — we’ve been back in the office for two days and it’s already clear: we need to hire.
2026 is shaping up to be a big year at Markedly, and to support the growth ahead we’re opening up Expressions of Interest for two roles we’re planning to bring on in Q1 2026.
One small request (and a very genuine one): I’d love to avoid the employment websites this time around. The last round brought in 500+ applications and became a job in itself 😅
So I’m leaning on my network here to help spread the word — we’re looking for experienced, genuinely good people who love content and design, and feel ready to take the next step in their career and grow with us.
Roles we’re opening EOIs for:
Content Marketing Manager
– Full-time (4 days considered for the right person)
– 3+ years experience
– Strong content leadership across writing, visuals and video
– Confident shifting tone of voice across clients and audiences
– Brisbane-based
Senior Graphic Designer
– Part-time, 3 days per week (with the option to grow)
– Senior, hands-on design role
– Experience across brand, digital and visual systems
– Comfortable leading design work and client conversations
– Brisbane-based
💥 Full position descriptions are available on our website - tap the link in bio.
If you (or someone you know) might be a great fit, send me a DM with a short intro. CVs are welcome, but not essential — I’m very happy to start with a conversation.
Please feel free to share 🙏
For many of us, it's our first official week back at work. Nothing like opening your inbox to feel like you never even had a holiday 🫠
And while it's easy to get stuck into the reactive nature of replying to emails and catching up on all the things you left on the drawing board back in December, it's also the exact moment to pause and get reinvigorated for the year ahead.
Now, before you think you need to create a perfect, highly detailed 132 page business and marketing plan (I'm looking at you, architects + designers!), I want you to take the pressure off. There are some quick and easy ways to understand where you're at, the direction you want to head in, and begin making plans to get you there - without the overwhelm.
*Grab a pen + paper, or open up the notes app on your phone*
Start by asking yourself 3 questions:
1. What am I proud of in the last year?
2. What lessons did I learn?
3. What do I want to move towards or away from?
The trick is not to overthink it. Write down what comes to mind for each question, without judgment or editing. I often find question 3 is the most powerful - particularly what you want to move AWAY from.
✍️ If you want to take it one step further and dive a bit deeper, tap the link in bio to read the questions and follow-up prompts on our website. It'll help you set yourself up for a successful year ahead!
And that’s a wrap for 2025! We had a morning of pottery and a long lunch to celebrate what has been a big year at Markedly. There may have been some cocktails, too🍸💁♀️
I want to say a huge thank you to everyone we’ve worked with this year and a special shoutout to our team. We spend a lot of time at work and to be surrounded with good people really does make it all worthwhile. To Grace, Laura, and Natalie - thanks for being absolute gems. You give your all to creating thoughtful, fun and often brilliant content for our clients, day in, day out. I couldn’t do this without you! And I can’t forget our collaborators including Jing, Ben, Michael and Lannie who help us bring our creative vision to life for our clients - it’s been a pleasure to work alongside you!
It has been a heavy week for everyone in Australia. In particular, our clients in Sydney, their families and the Jewish community who have been impacted by the horrors of the terrorist attack. I know there has been a lot of content about it this week, and I haven’t felt like I’ve had the right words to say. All I know is that it’s been an emotional time for everyone and it probably will be for some time yet. Please know that while we’re a distance from it here in Brisbane, we’re very much sending our love and support to you all.
Our team will be taking a break and we’ll reopen the office from Monday 5 January. We hope you enjoy a restful time surrounded by loved ones and we will see you in the New Year!
Amy x
Photo left to right: Laura, Amy + Grace (missing beautiful Natalie in the US!)
Who knew captions could be so controversial 🫣
It's actually one of the main questions we have from architects and designers when we bring them on board to do their content.
There's a real concern that if they speak in an approachable way to their audience, it will dumb down the design (and the value of the industry as a whole).
But in fact, when you talk to potential clients in this way, it ends up building trust. Because let's be honest, most people (particularly residential clients) have never worked with someone like you before, and there is a lot of uncertainty. Not to mention it's often the biggest personal investment they'll ever make (no pressure).
If you can take out some of the unknowns and give them the information they're craving, you'll win them over.
Don't be afraid to use your captions - I promise you won't regret it.
