The marketing team didn't need more process.
They needed more capacity.
Client: Pitney Bowes
Project: 1 day a week bespoke design support
THE SITUATION
Because of our existing relationship, we skipped much of the usual onboarding process and got straight to work.
Pitney Bowes is a global shipping and mailing technology company with a busy marketing team supporting multiple campaigns, stakeholders and business priorities.
I'd previously worked at Pitney Bowes, so I already knew the business, the people and the visual identity. Years later, after reconnecting on LinkedIn, the team saw that I was now freelance and got in touch.
Today, I support the team on a one-day-per-week retainer, giving them dedicated design resource exactly when they need it.
THE REALITY
The team wanted the freedom to move projects forward without unnecessary delays or bottlenecks.
Pitney Bowes already had an in-house design team. The challenge was that demand across the business was high, priorities shifted regularly and marketing projects often needed to move quickly.
Like many corporate marketing teams, they were balancing requests from sales teams, senior stakeholders and directors, all while working within tight budgets.
They weren't looking to replace their existing design support. They simply needed additional capacity and a faster route from idea to execution.
Because so much of marketing is visual, having access to design support makes a huge difference to how campaigns, events and communications are perceived across the business.
BEHIND THE SCENES
Every Tuesday starts with one simple question: what do we need to achieve today?
Each week starts with a planning call where we review priorities and agree what success looks like by the end of the day. Some weeks are packed with fast-turnaround requests such as web graphics, email banners, case studies and event materials. Other weeks focus on longer-term projects that need consistent progress behind the scenes.
The arrangement is deliberately flexible. Priorities can change quickly, and because I'm embedded into the team, we can adapt without losing momentum.
Throughout the day, I work directly with the marketers themselves, meaning questions are answered quickly and projects keep moving.
At the end of the day, everything is wrapped up with organised files, clear updates and next steps so the team can continue using the assets throughout the week.
THE TURNING POINT
The difference wasn't just having a designer. It was having direct access to one.
Over time, the relationship became part of the team's way of working. Now it's common to hear: "Fran's in on Tuesday, let's do that then."
The team knows they have someone who understands the business, understands their goals and can quickly turn ideas into reality. Because I've spent years both in-house and freelance, I understand the realities of stakeholder pressure, competing priorities and corporate processes. That means I can often anticipate challenges and keep projects moving without creating extra work for the team.
THE OUTCOME
A dedicated design day that keeps marketing moving.
What started as additional design support has become an extension of the marketing team. Every week, they have dedicated creative resource available to:
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Create marketing materials
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Develop ideas
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Provide a fresh perspective
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Solve design challenges
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Keep projects moving forward
The most successful creative partnerships aren't about taking orders. They're about listening, asking questions, bringing new ideas to the table and helping clients see possibilities they may not have considered.
That's the role I aim to play every Tuesday.
SOUND FAMILIAR?
The power of a dedicated design day
If your marketing team is constantly juggling priorities, waiting for resource or struggling to move projects forward quickly enough, the issue may not be creativity.
It may simply be capacity.
