“Have we become too comfortable with convenience?”
Our Joint MD, John, recently took a trip to Switzerland to catch up with some of our clients (read about it here). It was a valuable visit for lots of reasons—not least because of his now expert-level knowledge of Swiss public transport—and it got us thinking.
With hybrid and remote working becoming more commonplace as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, is the ease of virtual communication actually just moving the dial too far in the wrong direction?
Like everything in life, it’s all about balance—and Teams and Zoom have undeniably brought huge benefits, especially in a more eco-conscious world. But many of us have seemingly convinced ourselves that virtual catchups are more effective.
John’s week in Switzerland gave us a timely reminder that this isn’t always true. But more importantly, it led to two vital conclusions:
The science stuff
Our discussion about the impact of our boosted screen time set the cogs whirring; surely there’s something scientific in all this? As it turns out, there very much is.
We know that the timeline of human existence on Earth stretches back around 200,000 years. Up until March 2020, the majority of this time has been spent almost exclusively in person.
So, face-to-face interaction is deeply rooted in our biological evolution. More recent findings also show that our behaviour, brain processes, and cognition work differently when we interact in the same physical space.
It’s a chemistry thing. In-person conversations, along with physical gestures like handshakes and hugs, have been proven to release oxytocin—a feel-good hormone that builds trust and fosters social connections.
Which makes sense. It’s much harder to read things like body language and social cues through a screen; we lose the subtlety that’s so key to shaping our dynamics and strengthening our relationships. The task-oriented nature of our virtual meetings also leaves little space for the small talk that helps us feel more connected with one another.
“You can’t truly add value and elevate a project with creativity until you know your client. And you’ll never fully know your client until you’ve spent time with them in person.”
How do we reconcile this with modern-day agency life?
Ours is a people industry. It’s also creative and fast-paced with tight deadlines. Sometimes, we just need to get shit done, pronto, and in these instances, it absolutely makes sense to jump on a Teams call.
But the thing is, it’s not always about productivity or efficiency. Building trust and rapport with our clients is essential for us to do what we do best (transforming creative into reality). And you have to put the work in to make this happen.
We’ve never been an agency to just churn out what our clients ask for without a second thought; we pride ourselves on going above and beyond. But you fundamentally can’t do that well without knowing the person behind the brief.
So, to answer our own question, we think convenience is overrated—and we challenge you to change our minds. Let’s chat about it in person; coffees are on us.
Let’s make ideas happen—together. Visit us in person and experience how collaboration sparks creativity.
In case you missed it, we recently launched Inside Outlook—our first ever outward-facing digital magazine. And we’re really proud of it! It’s the first time we’ve truly flung open the door to our world of creative problem-solving and invited everyone in for a hearty dose of all things Outlook Creative.*
Have a flick-through while you’re here. It’s full of honest conversations, stories of fulfilling client partnerships, and insights into the thought processes behind our work—essentially, all the things that get the cogs turning.
But the process of getting here sparked a wider debate. Isn’t a digital magazine a bit of a rogue move? We all have busier lives, shorter attention spans, and more content to digest than ever. It’s a short-form world. Surely no one’s going to read a 60-page magazine?
We’re going to go out on a limb and say…We think they will.
This isn’t just us blowing smoke up our proverbial. Digital magazines aren’t a new thing at Outlook Creative—our internal magazine, The Outlook, publishes three times a year and receives consistently high engagement rates. In fact, its popularity is what inspired a host of additional longer-form publications (including the one that’s the subject of this article).
We’re also noticing a growing trend towards long-form content among our clients. We recently won a competitive pitch to work with Salts Healthcare on their The Salts Way campaign. Our proposal for this lifestyle-inspired, nurse-led movement is centred around a campaign linchpin of—you guessed it—a carefully curated magazine.
Now, these examples may be anecdotal, but the broader point we’re making is echoed by the wider industry and consumer behaviour.
It’s not news that AI is transforming marketing at a rate of knots. But as a direct reaction to the saturation of uniform and often impersonal AI-generated content, experts predict that human-centric content, storytelling, and making an emotional connection will become more important than ever throughout 2025 and beyond.
In other words, people are craving authenticity and human stories. Digital magazines (and other longer-form mediums) provide an ideal platform for delivering the depth and meaningful engagement audiences are looking for.
“People are craving authenticity and human stories. Digital magazines (and other longer-form mediums) provide an ideal platform for delivering the depth and meaningful engagement audiences are looking for.”
We’re not saying that long-form content is the be-all and end-all of answering this need for a genuine, trusted voice. What we are saying is: Don’t write it off as part of a bigger strategic picture.
Because, while a pithy social post, short blog, or video is great for capturing attention, longer-form pieces are where you maintain that interest as part of an integrated cross-channel strategy, meeting your audience further down the funnel with the specifics of how your offering can make their lives easier. It’s also an opportunity to demonstrate thought leadership and authority on a more extensive scale—qualities that build confidence and scratch the authenticity itch.
So, it’s clear that long-form content is far from dead. It’s actually alive and kicking when used strategically—for example, a digital magazine that offers an interactive, multimedia-rich experience that stands the test of time…
That’s why we stand by our assertion that we think people will read Inside Outlook. And we’d hate for you to miss out.
“Long-form content isn’t dead. It’s actually alive and kicking when used strategically—for example, a digital magazine that offers an interactive, multimedia-rich experience that stands the test of time…”
*Everything featured is work our NDAs allow us to talk about. Anything else remains for our respective clients’ eyes only.
So, there you have it. That’s Inside Outlook. Want to feature in the next issue or have a magazine of your own? Get in touch and let’s chat.
Danielle Reading is stepping up as our Senior Event Project Manager—the natural next step for someone who makes project management look easy.
As Adam Sherlock, our Joint Managing Director put it: “[Danielle brings] a strong sense of tenacity and a dedicated client focus on every event she delivers.”
We’re excited to see what comes next.
When not working at Outlook, Danielle has a second full time job keeping up with her three children’s social calendar, being mum’s taxi or walking her pooch Phoebe, officially her fourth baby and bestie.
“Danielle has an incredible desire to be busy and valuable. Her commitment is clear to see.”
John Lloyd, Joint Managing Director
“Danielle has truly grown into her role within the LI team, demonstrating a strong sense of tenacity and a dedicated client focus on every event she delivers. We’re excited to see her career continue to advance—well done, Danielle!”
Adam Sherlock, Joint Managing Director
As a wise Client Services colleague of ours once said, “Our job is effectively to make our clients’ lives easier.”
At Outlook Creative, we see this as less of a principle and more of a promise. It extends to every creative service we offer and underpins the very thing we hang our hat on: transforming creative into reality.
Like all promises, it’s built on trust, integrity and credibility—saying what we mean and meaning what we say. Because what’s the point of style if there’s no substance to back it up?
So when we say “We make film easy”,what does that actually look like? And most importantly, what specific benefits does it bring to our clients?
One of the biggest transformations we’ve seen recently is the introduction of our snazzy new Elements™ server. This state-of-the-art media ecosystem is purpose-built to support every step of the post-production and broadcasting workflows.
…which is technical speak for “a top-tier tool that makes your video projects as faff-free as possible.”
Sounds good, right? Let’s get into the specifics:
Immediate access with just one click
Elements™ puts your projects at your fingertips. No more downloading, uploading, rinsing, repeating. One link, one click, and you’re ready to dive straight in. Simple.
Feedback on the fly, wherever you are
Provide edits, make notes—whatever it is, one of the biggest benefits of this new way of doing things is that you can instantly feedback on your videos with time-coded annotations. Gone are the days of unwieldy email back-and-forth; you’re in your Element™.
Quality through collaboration
As the old saying goes, “Many hands, in real time, make more efficient work” …or something like that. Elements™ is built with cross-team collaboration in mind, so whatever it is your project needs, we can facilitate it pronto.
Less time, more moolah
We’ve saved the best ‘til last. Elements™ exists to make things happen in the most streamlined way possible. That means optimised workflows that deliver better work for lower costs. It’s a win-win.
Elements™ is a top-tier tool that makes your video projects as faff-free as possible.
So, there you have it. Our flexible, future-proof, and easy-to-use new server. Keen to put it to the test? Get in touch and let’s chat about how we can use it to make your next video project easy.
30 August is a significant date for Outlook Creative. Any guesses why?
Yes, it’s the penultimate day of the summer (*cries in British weather*). No, it’s not the collective sigh of relief at it almost being time for the kids to go back to school.
It’s actually way more significant than that.
We’ll give you a clue: for us this year, summer’s not the only season drawing to a close with the arrival of September.
That’s because on 30 August, we bid a fond Outlook Creative farewell to two of our longest serving and much-loved Seekers. Jason, our Design & Digital Director, and Amie, our Operations Director.
With a combined 51 years of service between them, both Jason and Amie have played key roles in shaping the Outlook Creative we know today—which it’s fair to say is completely unrecognisable from the place they joined over 20 years ago.
We’ll miss them hugely, and it’s impossible to thank them enough for everything they’ve done over the years. But before we get too mushy, as with all goodbyes it’s only right that we take a good old trip down memory lane.
You ready? Step inside the Outlook Creative time machine…
The year is 1996. Spice Girls’ Wannabe is top of the charts. Acid-wash denim is all the rage. The nation’s buzzing with the hopeful prospect of football coming home (too soon?).
Jason, however, is walking through the Outlook doors for the first time, having taken a chance on one final job application before boarding a one-way flight to Australia.
“It was a completely different place back then,” he muses. “It was much smaller—I think only around 10 people—and it was heavily event-focused.
To put it into context—and God, this really does make me feel old—when I rocked up on my first day, they had no Apple Macs, just a couple of really rubbish PCs using software I’d never heard of for slide production. The Internet wasn’t even a thing. It was still faxes and couriers for moving assets and files around.”
Mad, right? Jason agrees. “I really did wonder how I was going to get on, and whether it was the right choice for me.” Luckily for him (and us), he was soon enveloped by the Outlook charm—as was Amie, when five years later in 2001, a series of sliding doors moments led to her first day on the reception desk.
“I remember it like it was yesterday,” she reminisces. “I saw the job ad in the Chronicle and dropped round my application in person. Bill, the Finance Director at the time, recognised me from his local, the Bold Dragoon, where I’d been working.”
Little did Bill know, Amie had already been shortlisted for the role. “I started the week before my 20th birthday, was handed a branded mug with my name on it, and immediately felt like part of the family.”
“Believe in yourself and don’t wait for things to fall into your lap. I’d also say be kind and full of praise for your colleagues—let people know you value them!”
Of course, such extensive tenures come with a whole heap of memories. When asked for his standouts, Jason can’t help but smile. “I’ve got loads, as you can imagine. And the majority aren’t publishable!”
We’ll have to use our imaginations for those. But some of the more SFW ones give an idea—think travelling round the world, including a pretty memorable client sales conference that took him to Palm Springs.
“They had the astronaut, Buzz Aldrin, as guest speaker, and camels being paraded through the audience as part of a big reveal. The local techies working for us on the event decided to abseil down the hotel wall to meet us on the patio for beers!”
While Amie’s favourite memories may not feature wild animals or abseiling techies, her 23 years at Outlook have been shaped by the same two key components: people and fun. “I’ve made some of my best friends here,” she reflects. “And it’s these relationships that have made me who I am today.”
When asked about personal highlights, she paused for a moment. “A real proud moment for me was getting my seat on the LT in April 2017—the first woman to do so, having worked my way up from my very first role here.”
This impressive trajectory embodies Amie’s parting advice for her fellow Seekers. “Believe in yourself and don’t wait for things to fall into your lap. I’d also say be kind and full of praise for your colleagues—let people know you value them!”
Jay, however, takes a slightly more practical approach: “Never eat yellow snow.” He laughs, before continuing, “But on a serious note, time really flies and 25 years at Outlook genuinely only feels like five. So make sure that, as well as working hard, you’re taking time to savour and appreciate the work you produce, the brands and clients you’re working for, and the impact your work can have.
Never take that for granted. Step back and take pride in what you individually and collectively have achieved—the business is only as good as its people, so take care of each other, be respectful and helpful, and make the most of every minute. Even during the busy and difficult times, which ironically is when you really learn about yourself and your colleagues.”
“Step back and take pride in what you individually and collectively have achieved—the business is only as good as its people, so take care of each other, be respectful and helpful, and make the most of every minute.”
Wise words indeed.
Now, we couldn’t let them leave without sharing a few of our own favourite memories. Read on for cracking anecdotes, standout moments, and bonding over the best team in the league.
“I’ve worked with Amie for 13 years: 9.5 whilst I was in the Events team and the last 3.5 in Operations. If I had to describe Amie in three words, they would be compassionate, dedicated, and inspiring. One memorable moment was when I was tasked with sorting the stationery cupboard, which was a complete mess. Amie simply said, “bin it.” I took her words to heart and ended up discarding a lot of old paperwork that seemed useless. In my eagerness to tidy up, I mistakenly threw away our branding bible containing all our old brand logos. Amie then had to climb into the skip outside the building to retrieve it. Watching Amie climb into the skip was quite the sight, and we couldn’t help but laugh.”
Sarah Skates, Assistant Operations Manager
“I have known Jay for over a decade now. He brought me into the Outlook fold many years ago, which I will always be grateful to him for. I suspected when he asked me which team I supported in my interview, and I said the mighty Spurs, things were going to go well. I will miss the comedy and the constant laughs we all had in the studio, especially when the sun came out and the team went a little crazy. A sneeze made Jay jump into action and get that door open sharpish.
Good luck Jay, we will miss you. And COYS!”
Pete Hanson, Senior Creative Artworker
“When I interviewed Amie for the receptionist role at Outlook Audio Visual in 2001, I knew she was destined for great things. Despite having no experience, her personality, warmth and can-do attitude won me over. I had a gut feeling she was the perfect fit for the company. Little did I know she would go on to achieve so much over the next 23 years. I am incredibly proud of the remarkable woman Amie has become, her career progression at Outlook is a testament to her hard work and leadership qualities.”
Rachel Beard, HR Administrator
“Jay—thank you for all the genuinely brilliant memories. From the daily post-lunch studio insanity to the Outlook 5-a-side football team and everything in between. Whilst the work has always been a top priority, having a good laugh has been right up there too. Thank you for your mentorship, trust and overall good times—they have all shaped the person I am today. Would you like ham with that?”
Andy Upton, Art Director
Congratulations to Danielle, who is transitioning from our Client Services team to the Live team as Events Project Manager.
Danielle has been with Outlook Creative for 3+yrs and her commitment to everything event related is clear to see.
We pride ourselves on offering career journeys to our colleagues by matching the right skills with the right roles and this change for Danielle benefits her, our clients and Outlook Creative – we think they call that “win, win, win”.
Everyone is looking forward to her enthusiasm and collaboration skills delivering excellent live experiences for our clients.
Conratulations Kate Hall on your Promotion to: Senior Producer – Live
Kate is an enthusiastic but admits terrible football player who is somewhat fluent in ‘Friends’ quotes. Loves pineapple on a pizza, travelling and her espresso coffee machine and is the loyal sidekick to her dog, Mr. Simba.
“Since joining Outlook in July, Kate has impressed in countless ways. She’s slotted seamlessly into the team, brought a fresh new approach in many areas, and has demonstrated her expertise as a seasoned and talented Event Producer. Her promotion is thoroughly deserved, we’re absolutely thrilled to have her as part of the team!”
Amy Cullen.
“Kate has proven to be a valuable member of the Outlook in the 10 months she has been with us. A can-do attitude and willingness to go the extra mile has made her a person in demand both internally and with our valued clients. Very much looking forward to the next chapter for Kate and we are sure she will continue to thrive.”
Adam Sherlock.
Congratulations Corinne Kavaz on your Promotion to: Client Services Director
Corinne loves to sleep and drink gin (but never seems to get enough of either!) and hopes to master the art of body boarding in the summer months. She hates the texture of avocado, people spitting and horror movies. Her claim to fame is, once whilst singing on stage an audience member threw their pants at her (Tom Jones eat your heart out!).
“The poster-person of Our Outlook. A promotion into a role very close to my heart and it comes with my complete confidence she can bring to the CS team everything it needs”.
John Lloyd
“Corinne is a perfect example of someone who has come into the business and made us more efficient and stronger. Corinne is a valuable sounding board and offers an opinion that is always rounded and logical. A very well-deserved promotion”.
Adam Sherlock
Wow. Wow. Wow. Massive congratulations to our Senior Creative Artworker, Pete, who recently celebrated 10 years at Outlook Creative 🙌
To put that into perspective, when Pete joined us, people were still using BlackBerrys, and heading to cinemas to watch Transformers: Age of Extinction.
Thank you, Pete, for a decade of commitment, collaboration, and creativity.
If you have ever seen a corporate video or animation that pulls you in and makes you feel something, that’s where the magic of Storytelling has played its part.
Getting your message out isn’t just about throwing out facts and figures; it’s about making those concepts relatable and humanising them. Imagine your brand’s story being told in a way that connects with your audience, breaking down walls and making your message crystal clear. That’s the power of Storytelling done right.
Let’s talk strategy for a second. When you tailor every visual, every word, and every tone to your brand’s identity, you’re not just making a video—you’re making a statement.
You’ve got to keep your viewers hooked to get your message understood. That’s where we excel. We’ll ensure every performance feels real and every scene draws you in, keeping your audience glued to the screen from start to finish.
You’ve got to keep your viewers hooked to get your message understood. That’s where we excel.
But it’s not just about engagement; it’s about creating an experience. Picture your audience walking away from your video feeling like they’ve been on a journey. That’s what we aim for. We’ll craft every detail carefully, leaving a mark that sticks with your viewers long after the video ends.
We’re passionate about Storytelling and bringing your vision to life in a way that leaves an impact. It’s not just a job for us – it’s a mission. We handle everything from the script to the final edit, ensuring your story shines through in every frame. So, let’s work together to weave a story that sticks.
See how we helped Vestergaard share their powerful story.
Got a story to tell? Drop us a line: sales@outlook.co.uk