Months in Motion – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Laurence Stoffel spent 10 years leading the creative team at On, helping turn the Swiss running brand from a challenger into a category-defining name. In this conversation she shares what that decade actually taught her about brand, culture, and craft.

We get into why she thinks brand guidelines are overrated, why brand culture can't be manufactured (the Liverpool story is a great one), and how the relationship between brands and agencies is changing.

A genuinely thoughtful conversation for anyone working in brand, design, or creative leadership.

Topics covered:

00:00 Why brand guidelines are overrated

00:25 Intro

02:00 Learning to think in systems

14:00 Operating without guidelines and what that unlocks

17:00 Why a great in-house team changes everything

23:00 The friction between in-house teams and agencies

26:00 The questions the best agencies actually ask

29:00 Why big brands are turning to smaller boutique studios

32:00 Brand culture can't be engineered: the Liverpool story

43:00 Making the case for creative work as a win-win

About Laurence Stoffel

Laurence Stoffel led the creative team at On for a decade, helping grow it into the largest in-house creative studio in Switzerland and shaping the brand's identity across product, motion, retail and events. She studied at ECAL in Lausanne and works across product design, brand identity and art direction. She now works as an independent brand consultant.

Subscribe for monthly conversations with creative directors, motion designers, brand strategists and studio leaders at the forefront of the industry.

Follow OK Social: https://www.instagram.com/oksocial_/

Months in Motion is produced by OK Social, a London-based motion design studio.

#BrandDesign #BrandStrategy #DesignPodcast

Kristian Shepherd (Sheps) was kicked out of school in Manchester, ended up at Turner Duckworth, his "Real Madrid of design," and is now a Senior Designer at Pearlfisher in New York.

Alongside the day job, he's hosted 65+ episodes of the What Does Your Mum Think podcast, training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu daily, and just been announced as a D&AD Shift mentor.

This is a different kind of conversation. We get into the journey, the moments of feeling completely lost, what mental health actually looks like inside the creative industry, and why he genuinely believes pressure is a privilege.

00:00 Intro: 17 years, three cities, one designer

03:18 Turner Duckworth: the dream agency and what really happens when you get there

08:37 Feeling lost after TD and the leap into freelance

12:32 Where the drive comes from: dad on the removals, kicked out of school

17:50 Pearlfisher: leaving a legacy and building community in New York

22:11 Three years of What Does Your Mum Think and how it has changed

29:00 Running a podcast alongside a full-time role: structured chaos

38:22 Delaying joy for success and learning to define it for yourself

45:48 Becoming a D&AD Shift mentor and giving back

53:26 Why vulnerability is the most underrated leadership skill

Kristian Shepherd, known in the industry as Sheps, is a Mancunian designer with 17 years of experience across Turner Duckworth, B&B Studio and a freelance chapter in London, before moving to New York in 2023 to join Pearlfisher as a Senior Designer. He's the founder and host of the What Does Your Mum Think? podcast, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blue belt, and a recently announced D&AD Shift mentor.

Subscribe for monthly conversations with creative directors, motion designers, brand strategists and studio leaders at the forefront of the industry.

Follow OK Social: https://www.instagram.com/oksocial_/

Follow WDYMT?: https://www.instagram.com/wdymt_official/

Subscribe to WDYMT?: www.youtube.com/@WDYMT_OFFICIAL

Months in Motion is produced by OK Social, a London-based motion design studio.

#BrandDesign #DesignPodcast #CreativeIndustry

How do you design a brand that moves with culture?In this episode of Months in Motion, Jimmy Gordon sits down with Stu Tallis, Creative Director at Taxi Studio, to unpack the motion strategy behind FlowFest - the world’s biggest reggaeton festival - and how motion design brings brands to life emotionally, rhythmically, and globally.Stu shares behind-the-scenes insights from work on Coca-Cola, YOLOH insurance, and his thoughts on what today’s brands are getting wrong about visual identity systems.🎥 Topics Covered:• FlowFest & reggaeton: building brands with rhythm• How motion shifts brand perception across cultures• Using characters & motion to demystify complexities in insurance (YOLOH)• What designers can learn from music, dance & street culture• Studio culture & their new Bristol home🔗 Explore Taxi Studio: https://taxistudio.co.uk00:00 – Intro: Motion, culture, and crafting identities that move 03:42 – FlowFest: Designing a motion-first identity for 200K+ reggaeton fans 07:10 – From masculinity to vibrancy: how reggaeton’s evolution shaped the brand 09:48 – Motion principles: rhythm, music, and expressive story systems 13:55 – YOLOH insurance: using a hand-animated mascot to simplify complex UX 18:02 – Why playful motion builds trust in stressful categories (like finance) 20:30 – What brands get wrong about motion in global markets 24:20 – Working with creative energy, not against it 27:40 – Letting motion lead: how Taxi builds brands from behaviour up 30:52 – Final thoughts: future culture, optimism, and play#branding #motiondesign #culturalbranding #monthsInMotion #taxistudio #visualidentity #flowfest #brandstrategy #motiongraphics

What happens when motion isn’t an afterthought, but a foundation?

In this edition of Months in Motion, Jimmy Gordon and Jack Last sit down with Jan Stein and Paul Watmough-Halim from Hyperfocus, a Hamburg-based brand studio turning heads with emotionally rich, behavior-led design systems.

The duo dive into how motion elevates storytelling, how studios can stand out in a sea of sameness, and why craft and imperfection may be branding’s next big rebellion.

🎥 Topics covered:

• Why motion should be baked into every brand system

• How to balance functional motion vs expressive storytelling

• The “DAYY” case and designing time with gradient systems

• Smart use of AI: enhancing stories, not replacing teams

• Why the design world needs to break away from mockup templates and sameness

• Favourite studios, tools (Cavalry, Rive), and upcoming projects

🔗 Visit Hyperfocus: https://hyperfocus.cc

📺 Subscribe to their channel: https://youtube.com/@the.brandreview

(00:00) – Intro: Motion-led branding and why Hyperfocus bakes it in

(04:01) – Why studios should never ask “Do you want motion?”

(07:52) – Motion as tone of voice & emotional storytelling

(09:57) – Character and cel animation: Tripadvisor, Mailchimp, Notion AI

(13:12) – Functional vs expressive motion — and why both can be beautiful

(16:45) – The DAYY case: using motion to visualize time and space

(21:32) – Tools of the trade: Rive, Cavalry, Figma & evolving workflows

(25:11) – Challenging sameness: mockup fatigue and brand bento backlash

(30:01) – Craft over trends: imperfection, AI, and the return to human touch

(35:40) – AI in practice: how Hyperfocus blends generated media into real work

(44:53) – What’s next: motion-heavy cases, YouTube growth, and brand talks

#branding #motiondesign #typography #monthsInMotion #creativeleadership #visualstorytelling

In this June edition of Months in Motion, Jimmy Gordon speaks with Cat How (CEO/ECD) and Eilidh (Senior Creative) from How&How - the branding studio behind award-winning projects like Wild Things and The Wombles.

🎥 Topics Covered:

• Motion design as mood + narrative

• Branding for environmental & social impact

• Behind-the-scenes on Wild Things, Chester Zoo & more

• Crafting future-forward identities rooted in character

• Gender equity, pay transparency & clean creative practices

👀 If you're into design systems, creative direction, or character animation in branding - this one's for you.

🔗 Explore the work: https://www.how.studio)

(0:00) - Welcome and Guest Introductions (1:29) - Wild Things Project: Vee's Moods and Personas (7:53) - Revitalising The Wombles: A Dream Project (17:53) - Purpose-Driven Design and Environmental Storytelling (22:23) - Digitising Nature: Chester Zoo Project (27:26) - Yango Maps: Playing with Visual Perspectives and Travel (30:57) - Advocating for Change in the Industry: Pay Transparency & Clean Creatives (34:02) - What's Next for How&How Studio (39:08) - A "Surreal Turn" and Final Thoughts

#branding #motiondesign #howandhow #monthsInMotion #creativeleadership #visualstorytelling #characterdesign

Lisa Smith (Global ECD at JKR) breaks down the branding strategy behind the D&AD 2025 identity - from motion design to storytelling.

In this conversation, we explore her creative process with Studio DRAMA and how world-class branding comes to life.

From deep strategy to bold creative execution, Lisa shares how collaboration, character, and craft converge in her projects - focusing on their latest venture with Studio DRAMA for D&AD Festival 2025.

👀 A must-watch for anyone working in branding, design, or creative direction.

🔗 Check out Jones Knowle Ritchie: https://www.jkrglobal.com/

🔗 Check out Studio DRAMA: https://studio-drama.com/

(00:00) – Welcome & Introduction

(03:01) – How Lisa connected with Studio DRAMA

(08:00) – D&AD Collaboration

(12:32) – Working with motion design

(15:01) – Humor, playfulness, and intentional storytelling

(18:01) – Cultural sensitivity and working globally

(19:19) – Imagery in motion design

(23:12) – Designing an event for creatives

(25:27) – How JKR and DRAMA left their unique mark on the project

(27:18) – How Dumbo inspired the motion films

(32:24) – The importance of sound design

(35:24) – What’s next?

#branding #motiondesign #jkr #jonesknowleritchie #lisasmith #monthsInMotion #creativeleadership #visualstorytelling

Motion is no longer an afterthought - it’s shaping the future of branding.

In this episode, Jimmy Gordon sits down with Santiago Avila, Motion Director at Koto, to unpack how motion design transforms brand systems, from Amazon’s overhaul to Deezer’s soundwave identity and Microsoft’s voxel nostalgia.

You’ll hear insights into the strategic role of motion, toolkit creation for global teams, and advice for young designers entering a hybrid creative world.

🎥 Key topics:

• Motion strategy in branding systems

• Case studies: Deezer, Amazon, Microsoft

• Static vs dynamic identity systems

• Designing scalable motion toolkits

• Advice for T-shaped creatives

🔗 Explore Koto: https://www.koto.studio📚

Get free resources from Seasoned: https://seasoned.koto.studio

(00:00) – Intro: From Argentina to Koto

(02:00) – Why motion branding matters more than ever

(04:30) – The rise of visual systems across screens

(08:00) – Why motion must be in brand strategy from day one

(13:10) – Case study: Deezer – Emotion through motion

(18:30) – Case study: Amazon – Balancing charm with UX clarity

(25:10) – Toolkits & onboarding in-house design teams

(30:30) – Case study: Microsoft’s 50th anniversary – Voxels, nostalgia & future vision

(34:40) – Advice for aspiring motion & brand designers

(37:50) – Free creative resources: Seasoned by Koto

(40:00) – What’s next for Koto? Closing thoughts

#motionbranding #koto #brandingstrategy #motiondesign #monthsInMotion #creativeleadership #designsystems #santiagoavila

Motion is no longer an afterthought - it’s now the language of branding.

In this kickoff episode of Months in Motion, Jimmy Gordon sits down with design legend Brian Collins (CCO & Co-Founder, COLLINS) to explore why motion design is becoming the craft of brand behavior - and how rhythm, story, and surprise make a brand move people.

🎥 In this episode:

• The shift from static design to motion-first identity

• San Francisco Symphony & Freeform case studies

• Chuck Jones, Wile E. Coyote & design timing

• Why AI raises the stakes for creative excellence

• Creating systems that evolve, not restrict

🌐 Explore COLLINS: https://www.wearecollins.com/

(00:00) Introductions(02:10) Motion as the New Design Languange(07:00) Timing, Rhythm, and the Road Runner Effect(11:00) Filmmaking, Sound, and AI(13:13) San Francisco Symphony Case Study(20:03) Rejecting the “Timeless” Myth(22:42) Design Systems as Creative Tools(25:38) Part 2 Interlude(27:10) Stretching Helvetica with Disney Freeform(37:00) AI & the Future of Design(44:25) History of Design and How it Influences Us(48:40) What's next for COLLINS?(52:20) Outro

#branding #motiondesign #collins #briancollins #typography #monthsInMotion #creativeleadership #visualstorytelling

When BBH did their first rebrand in 44 years, motion was at the centre of it. The man behind that motion is Oded Shein, newly appointed Design Director at BBH London and one of the most interesting voices in the industry right now.

In this episode we get into the full picture: a non-linear career through Byte, Jellyfish, mental health tech, and the music industry, before landing at BBH. We talk Cavalry, kinetic typography, the relationship between sound and motion, and why he wants motion to be "alongside" rather than first or last.

A genuinely useful conversation for anyone working in motion, branding, or trying to figure out their next move in this industry.

Topics covered:

00:00 Intro and the non-linear career path

04:01 What working in the music industry teaches you about motion

08:02 Cavalry: how he started and how he uses it now

13:05 Motion design vs animation: how to actually explain it

16:35 How motion designers should explain their craft to agencies

20:51 Inside the BBH rebrand: motion principles and the 50fps rule

27:16 Building a network when you're an introvert

30:43 Stepping up to Design Director and why motion belongs at the table

34:07 AI in motion: the honest take

36:51 One piece of advice for motion designers looking to level up

About Oded Shein

Oded Shein is the newly appointed Design Director at BBH London, where he led the motion behind their first rebrand in 44 years. Before BBH he worked across agencies including Byte and Jellyfish, plus stints in the music industry and mental health tech. He's a power user of Cavalry, deeply passionate about kinetic typography, and teaches motion theory to younger designers.

Subscribe for monthly conversations with creative directors, motion designers, brand strategists and studio leaders at the forefront of the industry.

Follow BBH: https://www.instagram.com/bbhblacksheep/

Follow Oded: https://www.instagram.com/oded.design/

Follow OK Social: https://www.instagram.com/oksocial_

Months in Motion is produced by OK Social, a London-based motion design studio.

#MotionDesign #BBH #DesignPodcast

Kicked out of school and home at 17, he spent two years making bad decisions before finding his way into design. Now he advises Affinity, sits on Canva's Design Advisory Board, and works with brands like Disney, Nike and Liquid Death. This is how that happened.

In this episode we get into the full story - the difficult upbringing, what creativity actually saved him from, his very loud opinions on personal branding, what mastery really means in a world full of noise, and why he thinks the threat to creativity isn't AI at all - it's the disappearing space that creativity needs to thrive.

00:00 Intro - from kicked out at 17 to the Canva design board

03:08 The real story: abuse, drugs, rock bottom and finding design

14:25 The contrarian streak - where it actually comes from

23:48 Personal branding: what annoys James most about it

31:29 Visibility vs mastery - why talented people aren't always the busiest

45:41 Being in the room: why face-to-face still beats everything

58:24 How motion design conversations with clients have changed

1:06:34 Is creativity dead? Why the environment is the real problem

James Martin, known online as MadeByJames, is a brand designer, author, educator and advisor with nearly a million Instagram followers. He sits on the Design Advisory Board at Canva, advises Affinity, and is a partner at Lincoln Design Co, where he works with brands like Disney, Nike and Liquid Death. He writes a weekly Substack and has spent over two decades building brands and challenging how the industry thinks about craft, reputation and success.

Subscribe for monthly conversations with creative directors, motion designers, brand strategists and studio leaders at the forefront of the industry.

Follow James: https://www.instagram.com/made.by.james

Follow OK Social: https://www.instagram.com/oksocial_

Months in Motion is produced by OK Social, a London-based motion design studio.