Neat Narrative Design

21/08/2026

AI or Ai?

Believe me, the market can really tell the difference.

Bit of a controversial on for a Friday afternoon but I've been having this conversation a lot lately and wanted to put it out to debate.

AI (Artificial Intelligence): Fast, cheap, and (when unrefined) pixelated and blurry.

Ai (Adobe Illustrator): Vector precision, craft, and an investment in a real human being.

For me, posting low-res, raw AI images sends a clear message to prospective clients:

"We cut corners on ourselves, and we’ll cut corners on you."

I don't think you can claim to offer premium services while dressing your brand in low-budget shortcut visuals. Yes, AI is a powerful assistant and has it's place but using raw, pixelated imagery as finished brand assets isn't "efficiency" it’s a public display of low standards.

If you aren't willing to invest in skills, real people, and real quality for your own business, why should a client invest in you?

So, honest question to business owners, designers, and marketers:

Is "good enough" good enough?

Let me know your thoughts...

19/08/2026

Striving to be invisible?

That is exactly what was on my mind this morning whilst working my latest monthly publications.

It is a strange paradox, isn't it?

As designers, we are always trying to make our brands and visuals stand out. But once the audience is inside, the system itself needs to completely disappear?

I was thinking about the thousands of people who will read through this issue. They won't praise the layout grid. They won't analize the typography. They won't consciously notice the narrative flow. And that is my absolute ' 'win'.

When design is done right, friction vanishes. We stand out by making everything entirely seamless. The user doesn't see the gears turning, they just get immersed in the content.

To every designer sweating over the details of their regular deadlines, Keep building the invisible!

Fellow designers, how do you balance making your work stand out while keeping the user experience invisible? Drop a comment below!

05/08/2026

✨We are looking for a Part Time Programme Manager✨ (3 days per week) to join our small and dynamic team at People Express to bridge the gap between community groups, artists and partners, co-managing and co-curating creative projects.
Application deadline is Fri 28th Aug 2026.
For full details and to apply, follow link here👇🏻
https://www.people-express.org.uk/programme-manager-vacancy/

05/08/2026

I'm available...

No, I've not been kicked out! (Well, not that I know of anyway...)

I've just wrapped up a project earlier than expected so I've got some time on my hands.

So who needs me? And no, I don't just do Rebrands, I design Business Cards, Leaflets, Brochures, Publications, Banners, Signage, Icons, Social Media Graphics, LinkedIn Banners and a lot more.

Drop me a DM or email me at [email protected]

Have a great week guys!

31/07/2026

It's a very rare occasion when we get a chance to do Culture together these days 🤣 So it was great to be invited to attend the opening of 'The Secret Sculpture Garden' last night.

Amazing work in a really amazing space, with amazing people and the weather to go with it.

AMAZING!!! 😀

A huge congratulations to CREATIVE MELBOURNE for a great event and roll on the Melbourne Festival in September 😀

14/07/2026

Very excited to be part of the SwadStyle team 😃

Introducing the brand new SWADStyle team!

After Adam recently took ownership of the much-loved magazine, he took the opportunity to embrace local skills and expertise.

Now working alongside Adam as editor, we have:

Keelie Briggs Marketing - South Derbyshire - Keelie will be looking after the marketing going forward, bringing life, creativity and engaging content to our digital platforms.

Plus, Matt from Neat Narrative Design - offering businesses stunning, fresh artwork to help their advert stand out and sell their brand.

This is the team looking forward to giving Swadlincote's homeowners an engaging read every single month, as well as giving businesses the platform to showcase their brand to 19,500 homes 🙌🏼

22/06/2026

I'LL BE BACK...

At my desk from tomorrow after a much needed break.

Thanks so much for all the birthday love, it was very much appreciated! And I look forward to catching up with you all soon! 😀

Matt

22/05/2026

It's the tiny details that matter.

Thanks so much to Sarah from Perfect!

Have a great Bank Holiday weekend guys!

05/05/2026

One candle. One year. One big pivot.

If I’m honest, neither I nor Neat Narrative Design are anywhere near where I want them to be yet. We are and always will be very much be a work in progress. Brands can't stay still!!!

But this year has been about an evolution: Moving from "Graphic Designer" to "Strategic Brand Partner". Waiting until you’ve "arrived" to celebrate is a trap. This cake represents the late nights, the steep learning curves, and the win of finally finding the right path.

Success isn't an empire yet, it's the fact that we're here, we’re focused, and I’m enjoying the build.

To everyone who’s been part of Chapter One: A HUGE thank you. Now, it's time to eat the cake and get to work on Year Two.

17/04/2026

Branding: It's NOT just a logo...

I call it my 4D Narrative Method.

DISCOVERY: We find your Strategic North Star. No guesswork, just deep-dive stakeholder audits to find your "Why."

DESIGN: We build your Visual Authority. Translating strategy into a high-performance system that commands attention.

DELIVERY: The Launch Kit. No messy handovers, just a precision-engineered toolkit ready for immediate market impact.

DEVELOPMENT: Brand Guardianship. I stay embedded for up 6 months to ensure the story stays consistent as you scale.

Every book needs a cover, yes. But if you want a great story, you need a strong narrative. So let's build YOURS!

Thanks so much to Joe and Steve at for absolutely nailing this!!!