A more reliable route to market for architecture, design and creative studios.
Because this industry does not grow on noise. It grows on reputation, relationships and being in the right conversations consistently.
Most studios rely on referrals and industry contacts to bring in work. When projects are flowing that feels fine. When things slow down or a studio wants to grow more intentionally, there is no structure in place to consistently connect with the right people and the right opportunities.
That is the gap Grand House works on. Not through generic lead generation or cold outreach that treats every studio the same, but by understanding exactly who a studio is, what the market genuinely needs from them, and building the right system around how those conversations happen consistently.
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Every engagement begins with an Assessment and Foundation phase.
We convert what the studio already knows about its practice, relationships and market into the commercial intelligence needed to define where its strongest opportunities sit, who it should be speaking to and how those relationships should be developed consistently.
In practice that can mean target account strategy, decision-maker mapping, positioning, outreach messaging that speaks to the needs of ideal clients, LinkedIn and email used as relationship channels, and CRM and follow-up systems that keep studios visible and focused on the right people over time.
The aim is a more intentional route to market and a more dependable flow of opportunities, without losing the relationship-led nature of the industry.
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Architecture studios
Interior design practices
Branding agencies
Creative consultancies
Specialist creative studios
Typically founder-led, between 2 and 50 people, doing credible work but without a reliable or structured way to grow beyond referrals.
The common thread is not the size of the studio. It is the stage. Strong reputation, good relationships, but new business that still feels reactive, inconsistent or too dependent on who happens to call.
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This is not mass lead generation. It is not generic outreach sent to anyone who fits a rough filter. It is not a software tool or an automation platform running without strategy or human judgment behind it.
Architecture and design businesses build trust over time through reputation and relationships. The system we build respects that. It is designed to get studios into the right conversations with the right people, not to generate noise.
Core Focus Areas
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Clarity on the right organisations and target markets.
Defining the companies, sectors and decision makers that architecture, design and creative studios should be speaking with. This becomes the foundation that makes everything else purposeful rather than scattered.
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Ideal Client Profile definition
Building a precise ICP so outreach reaches organisations that genuinely need the studio's expertise. This includes decision-maker mapping, company types, market segments and buying signals specific to the design and creative sector.
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New business infrastructure
Installing the systems required to support intentional outreach. This may include email infrastructure, deliverability setup, domain reputation protection, outreach systems and workflows including email, LinkedIn and CRM integration.
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Positioning and message alignment
Ensuring the studio communicates clearly and credibly with the organisations it wants to work with. This includes messaging used across outreach, LinkedIn and all external communications.
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Strategic outreach messaging
Designing communication that speaks directly to the problems ideal clients are navigating. Outreach that feels relevant and considered rather than generic or intrusive.
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LinkedIn as a relationship channel
Optimising LinkedIn as part of the new business system. Including founder profile positioning, audience development, Sales Navigator targeting, connection strategy and content direction.
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Building and enriching target data around the right organisations and decision-makers, then using market and opportunity signals to help prioritise where the studio's attention should go and when.
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AI and automation
Use of key tools to streamline repeatable tasks, alerts and follow-ups so the studio can focus on the conversations and meetings that actually matter.
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Making sure the right people can find, understand and trust what your studio does. Building the content, authority and digital signals that strengthen how you appear across search, AI-powered research and the places your future clients are already looking.
Selected Partnerships
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I've had the pleasure of knowing and working with Richard across two very different stages of his career, and I've been consistently impressed by the value he brings.
We first worked together when Richard was a recruitment consultant specialising in the built environment. What immediately stood out was that he genuinely took the time to understand our practice, our culture and the type of people who would thrive within our team. Rather than flooding my inbox with CVs, he only introduced candidates he believed were the right fit, saving a huge amount of time and resulting in some excellent appointments.
More recently, Richard has been supporting me in developing our business development approach, and his impact has been just as significant. He has introduced me to new technologies, software and ways of working that are helping us modernise and strengthen our approach to winning work and managing relationships.
Richard combines an infectious enthusiasm with a genuine desire to help others succeed. His architectural background gives him a level of industry understanding that is rare, meaning he quickly grasps the realities, challenges and opportunities faced by architecture practices and developers alike.
Above all, Richard is approachable, passionate and incredibly generous with his knowledge. He brings energy to every conversation and is someone I have always enjoyed working with. I would highly recommend him to anyone looking for a trusted advisor, connector or business growth partner within the built environment.Abigail Baggley - Architect & Board Director, Boon Brown
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He helped bring clarity across my brand, positioning and internal systems, aligning the business with who we really are and where we want to go. What once felt fragmented now feels structured and intentional.
Knowing that new business development runs quietly in the background has removed a huge amount of stress. Within the first week, I was already in conversation with three organisations that were genuinely aligned, and we signed a new client soon after.
My consultancy was always busy, but not always for the right reasons. Work that previously took days now takes minutes. Now I work smarter, with clearer structure, stronger positioning and systems in place that support sustainable growth.
Peter Cuthbertson - Founder, Sixteen Eleven
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I had worked with several agencies before, but none of them truly understood what I do. I’m not just a florist. I’m a floral spatial artist, and previous work flattened the depth of the studio rather than bringing it out.
Working with Grand House was different. Richard took the time to understand the DNA of the business, the ambition behind the work, and how we wanted to grow. He helped me articulate something I’d always known instinctively but couldn’t quite express.
The result feels calm, confident, and deeply aligned with who we are. I’m now confident we attract the right people, with a brand that feels considered, authentic, and built to last. I’m comfortable stepping into the next phase of growth.
Emily Baylis - Founder, June in March
How the process works
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Every engagement begins here.
Grand House converts what the studio already knows about its practice, ambitions and market into a clear new-business strategy and operating blueprint.
This can include existing client and relationship data, Ideal Client Profile, priority markets and segments, target organisations and decision-makers, positioning and messaging direction, market signals, internal capacity and technology requirements.
Typical duration: 2–3 weeks.
The output is a defined New Business Blueprint covering what to pursue, who to target, why and when, which channels to use, how to prioritise opportunities and how the operation should run.
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Once the strategy is established, Grand House builds the target data and sourcing infrastructure for the agreed initial priority segments.
This can include identifying and enriching relevant organisations and decision-makers, establishing research and sourcing workflows and configuring the technical infrastructure required for activation.
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The strategy and data are turned into a functioning new-business operation.
This can include CRM and pipeline configuration, segment-specific messaging, outreach templates and workflows, campaign sequences, integrations and activation across the agreed channels.
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For studios that want Grand House to build, launch and, where required, continue managing the new-business operation while the studio focuses on relationships, meetings and converting opportunities.
Implementation scope is defined following Phase 1 and depends on the target market, number and scale of segments, data requirements, channels and level of support required.
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Builds the capability inside the studio. Grand House works alongside the team, activates the system and transfers the methodology through documentation, live working sessions and training.
Implementation scope is defined following Phase 1 and depends on the target market, number and scale of segments, data requirements, channels and level of support required.
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Project fees are one-off covering the complete 3-phase delivery.
DFY engagements: monthly retainer covering ongoing campaign management, performance monitoring and strategy refinement.
DWY engagements: strategic support available as needed at hourly or daily rate as and if needed.
Authority + Discoverability
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New business is not only about identifying and approaching the right organisations. It is also about what people find when they encounter your studio, research your expertise or look for businesses like yours.
As search behaviour changes and AI-powered tools increasingly influence how people research, compare and discover businesses, digital authority is becoming part of a studio's route to market.
Grand House helps studios strengthen how they are found, understood and recognised through the right combination of positioning, website and knowledge content, founder and senior leadership profiles, LinkedIn, social platforms and relevant third-party trusted sources.
The aim is to build authority around what you want to be known for, so the right people recognise your expertise before the first message lands or the first conversation begins.
