So why does Alan call me the Gamechanger?

Well, it is of course a direct reference to one of my business names, but also a reference to us gamifying what we do in order to market ourselves in a fun way.

I started working with Alan and Nathan initially with a one-off project to build the brand and website for the MYB softlaunch. It went live in the new year of 2024.

More than two years on and we’re literally working – as we type – on the full proper website relaunch.

The more I’ve gotten to know the team, what they can do and how they go about doing it, the more I’ve realised that they becoming my lifeline for everything web and design related.

I was going to say that it’s hard to explain what AS Design do, as the outputs completely depend on the individual needs of each business, so will look different every time.

However, that is actually the difference they provide – the exact opposite to widely available generic, cookie-cutter design and ‘insert buzzword here’ copy templates.

AS Design acts as my strategic partner for digital and printed messaging. This includes product materials, branding, photography planning, social media, promotional information, stands, website and blending design with our client projects.

They plug the gaps along the entire customer messaging journey that we, as non-marketer founders, don’t know how to fill (or even know exist).

Both of my businesses have very different needs, so the end results in design and copy look very different, even though the same people are working on it. Both businesses also have different strategic messaging gaps to fill, which AS Design makes clear and sorts for me. This is what keeps me partnering with them long-term.

So what do I get from working with ASDNE?

I feel at ease, knowing that they will highlight anything that needs doing along the way, and give options for sorting it, with as little work as possible from me along the way.

I feel excited whenever there is a reveal coming up, as I know it will have put into words and images a point I am trying to get across, but can’t quite put my finger on.

I feel relieved that any messy messaging I have given them will be cleared up for me, with short, sharp copy in its place for the final version.

I feel more confidence to let my USPs shine through, whenever my scared brain tells me to stay in beige, undifferentiated design and copy.

I have complete trust that deadlines will always be met. As a former project manager, it is rare for me to feel I can completely let go of micromanaging, and trust that a sub-contractor’s internal process will get to a final result that will completely match my aims, on time and exceeding the impact of any ideas I come up with on my own.

Their strategic partnering approach means that the end outcomes always end up being more than a sum of their parts. They see behind what I am wanting to say and why, to elevate my original ideas to a point I could never have imagined being possible. And then keep them consistent across all areas of the customer messaging journey.

Written for Issue 3 of ASAP – ASDNE’s newspaper, January 2026.