Notebook

A working collection of ideas, insights, and articles from Simon Bailey Design.

Filter Notebook articles by:

Design Thinking

Private Education

Charities and NFP

Software and I.T.

AI is only as good as the brand you feed it

AI is only as good as the brand you feed it

2 minute read

AI content tools are only as good as the brand you feed them. If your visual identity is patchy or undocumented, you're not getting the most from AI. Here's what to fix first.

The 9 P's of an effective brand

The 9 P’s of an effective brand

4 minute read

Most people think their brand is their logo. The truth is, your brand is everything. Here’s a plain-English walkthrough of the 9 P’s of an Effective Brand, a practical framework for building something people genuinely connect with.

Is your donation page costing you donations?

Is your donation page costing you donations?

3 minute read

On 17% of nonprofit websites, users can't find where to donate. Not because they don't want to give, but because the page makes it too hard. With most donors now giving on mobile, the stakes are higher than ever. Here's what a well-designed donation page should be doing for your cause.

AI in school marketing: a helpful tool, and a potential brand disaster

The questions every school should ask a web agency

2 minute read

Signing with a web agency feels like a productive step. But a few smart questions, asked before you sign, can prevent a lot of frustration later. Here's what to ask.

AI bots are reading your website

AI bots are reading your website

3 minute read

More than half of all web traffic today isn't human. It's bots, and a growing number of those bots are AI tools actively reading your website and deciding whether to recommend your business. Here's what that means, and why your website's foundations matter more than ever.

WordPress vs EmDash: what business owners need to know

WordPress vs EmDash: what business owners need to know

3 minute read

Cloudflare just launched EmDash, calling it the spiritual successor to WordPress. Is it a genuine threat, or clever timing? Here's what business owners actually need to know.

Is WordPress still relevant?

Is WordPress still relevant?

2 minute read

WordPress still powers a massive slice of the web, but is it right for your business? Simon Bailey Design cuts through the noise with an honest, experience-based answer.

When WordPress isn't enough - Is it time to consider Clarety

When WordPress isn’t enough: is it time to consider Clarety?

3 minute read

WordPress is a great starting point for most charities and NFPs. But as your organisation grows, managing donations, CRM, events, and supporter communications across a patchwork of plugins can become more trouble than it's worth.

Design that works

Design that works

2 minute read

"It works" might be the highest compliment a designer can hear. Not "it's beautiful" (although that helps). Not "I like the colours." Just, "it works." Here's what that actually means for Simon Bailey Design.

Process that works

Process that works

2 minute read

Starting a design project doesn't have to feel complicated. Simon Bailey Design follows a clear, structured process for every project, so you always know where things stand, what's needed, and what comes next. No guesswork. Just good work, done right.

The perils of not rebranding

The perils of not rebranding

2 minute read

Sometimes the most valuable lessons arrive wrapped in mild embarrassment. A hard-won reminder that brands are not just names. They are memories, emotions, and expectations. And re-educating an audience is almost always harder than simply rebranding.

Why smart tech brands still print

Why smart tech brands still print

2 minute read

In a digital-first world, it's easy to assume print has no place in a tech company's marketing mix. But the brands that show up consistently, across every channel and every format, are the ones that build trust.

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