This week, we kicked things off at the inaugural Marketers Day by The Marketing Club. As sponsors, we were stoked to be part of a day built around big ideas and genuine human connection. No suits and slides, just a whole lot of community and creativity.
Here's what stood out: a packed room of 120+ people who started as strangers and left as friends. Panelists sharing not just what's working, but what it really means to do good work right now. And a collective exhale that maybe, just maybe, we haven't lost the plot entirely in our rush toward automation and AI.
You might be thinking: cool, but I'm a designer, not a marketer.
Fair. But stick with us, because the conversations that happened in that room are absolutely relevant if you're building or growing a design business. Here’s what we learned, and how it might spark ideas for your own creative work:
People still connect with people
The entire event went without the usual AI hysteria that's dominated many industry gatherings lately. Instead, the room was full of people who still believe craft matters. That fundamentals matter. That people connect with people, not with generic content pumped out at scale (down with AI slop!).
Your clients didn't hire you because you can prompt an AI. They hired you because you're you. Your story, your point of view, that's what makes them want to work with you.
*AI slop refers to low-quality content created with AI tools often with little regard for accuracy or quality.
The questions you're not asking
Here's something that came up repeatedly: talk to your customers (in your case it may be your clients' customers). Actually speak to them. Understand their perspective.
We work one step removed most of the time. Your client briefs you, you design, they approve. But what if you talked directly to the people who'll actually use what you're building? What they struggle with, what makes them trust a brand, what makes them bounce.
Next time you're working on a website or rebrand, ask if you can chat with a few of their customers. The insights you'll get will make your work sharper and infinitely more valuable.
“For me, a big takeaway from Marketers Day was just how much better the work gets when you actually talk to your audience. The best ideas come out of real conversations, not assumptions."
Paul Gray, Head of Marketing, Rocketspark
You're not supposed to do this alone
The energy in the room wasn't because of the panels (though they were amazing!). It was because people showed up. It reminded us that we’re certainly not alone, and there’s a whole community of people who want you to succeed.
“This was truly an authentic community coming together to support each other and that was where the magic was. An army of smiling volunteers made the day happen and I spoke to several people who’d stepped outside of their comfort zone to connect with others and they were glad they did”.
Grant Johnson, Co-founder and CEO, Rocketspark
It’s easy to feel like you’re on your own as a freelancer, but having others to share ideas and wins with really helps. Whether it's connecting with other designers, staying active in online communities (we've got one, by the way 👋), or just having peers to bounce ideas off—don't try to white-knuckle it alone.
Take the risk, pitch the brave thing
For you, this means having the courage to pitch the bold idea. The unconventional layout. The thing your client hasn't seen before. Playing it safe doesn't get you noticed. Present the safe option and the brave option. Let them choose, but give them the choice.
It’s something we see time and again in our Rocketspark Design Awards: the most memorable designs aren’t always the flashiest, they’re the ones where a designer took a smart risk to create something that truly fits their client.
AI came up (of course it did)
There were a few jeers when AI-generated video came up on the panel. But the consensus? Use AI as a collaborator, not a crutch. Keep your critical lens sharp. Stay creative. Stay authentic.
For designers, this matters. Your creativity, your understanding of what your client actually needs, your ability to inject soul into a project; that's still entirely you. Tools change. The work doesn't.
Don't forget to “engineer joy”
Another marketer, Fee from Blunt Umbrellas shared how they filter everything through one question: does this bring joy? Not just their products, everything. Their entire approach.
We get so focused on solving problems and meeting briefs that we forget to ask whether what we're creating brings joy. To us. To our clients' customers. But joy is magnetic. In a world of identical websites and predictable branding, it's what makes work stick.
A huge thank you
Before we wrap: massive thanks to Chanel and the team from The Marketing Club for the opportunity to be one of the sponsors of this event 💜 What Chanel and the team have built here matters. Bringing people together in a room, creating space for real connection, reminding us all why we do this work in the first place. We're grateful to be part of it.
Now what?
Pick one thing from this list. Do something with it this week.
Talk to one of your client's customers. Add more of yourself to your portfolio. Join a community. Pitch the brave option. Ask yourself if what you're making brings joy.
And if you want to connect with other designers? You know where to find us.
