Introduction

Series One 

In this episode of The New Abnormal, I interview Kate Shepherd, Director and Co-founder of The Future Collective. 

She specialises in strategic design direction and cultural intelligence, based on 25+ years experience in the design industry where her clients ranged from Rolls-Royce to adidas to P&G. 

After working for leading agencies inc Imagination, Checkland Kindleysides, and Fitch, she then co-founded The Future Collective - an alternative consultancy specialising in brand identity and experience design. 

Crucially, their collective approach offers clients a means of commissioning world-class freelance talent, instead of simply using the standard and more expensive agency model. 

That collaborative ethos is replicated in different guises in markets and sectors around the world, but it's one in which there is still much to learn from, and of course give back to, in a spirit of 'pass it on' open-source generosity.  

Therefore, Kate explains why the Future Collective's approach to collaboration seems to have worked so well, and what the practical lessons are for both client-side marketers and freelance creatives & strategists who may be interested in utilising this dynamic approach.