Brainstorm & Brews: Building Internal Team Collaboration, Creativity, & Connection

Development

Branding

Team Activity

Useful Links

Overview

At the National Design Academy Foundation, we launched "Brainstorm & Brews," a monthly development day that allowed the creative and marketing teams to work together, stepping away from day-to-day tasks, and tackle a business challenge collaboratively. Brainstorm & Brews quickly became something we looked forward to at the end of each month.

My Role

I was fortunate to play a central role in shaping both the structure and branding for Brainstorm & Brews. My primary focus was to ensure the sessions were engaging, productive, and enjoyable. I supported managerial roles by helping structure the day, identifying team strengths, and suggesting development tasks that were informative and impactful. With only a single day to work on a brief, it was crucial to prioritise clear objectives, regular check-ins, and open communication for both teams involved.

Branding Brainstorm & Brews

To give the day a professional but fun identity, I developed a simple brand concept, with the highlight being a range of themed stickers. These stickers served multiple purposes:

  • Awards: Recognising the best ideas and contributions.
  • Challenges: Adding playful elements to the day, such as vocal tasks or restrictions.       
  • Some of my favourite stickers included:

  • The Goose and Cat: Awarded for sneaking the most goose or cat noises into conversation throughout the day.
  • Potty Mouth: A restriction, given at the start of the day, forbidding swearing.

  • The stickers brought a fun, more light-hearted aspect to the day, while the final "sticker ceremony" gave the team the space to reflect on the task , finishing with a celebration of work achieved.

    Success

    Brainstorm & Brews achieved far more than just solving business problems. These sessions allowed us to:

  • Realign as a cross-departmental team and improve collaboration.
  • Develop a wide range of areas including; social advertisement concepts, brochures, and event materials.
  • Strengthen and “reset” our working mindset heading into each new month.

    Seeing the team enjoy these days and thrive creatively has been incredibly rewarding. I’m proud of the role I played in bringing these sessions to life and helping to provide an experience that balanced productivity with fun. The stickers, the challenges, and the team spirit all contributed to making Brainstorm & Brews a highlight of our month.
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