HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING ABOUT AWARDS AND LOVE MAKING REAL IMPACT

Summary from the TLDR Design newsletter

Design agency Stocks Taylor Benson abandoned awards submissions to redirect creative hours and entry fees into "Good Deeds," a structured pro bono program supporting community projects in Leicester. Over six years, it has invested 2,500 design hours (7% of studio capacity) into local partnerships that generate genuine business connections, enhance tender responses, and create measurable returns beyond trophy validation. The community-focused strategy has delivered stronger networks, improved credibility with clients, and positioned the studio as embedded local partners rather than place-agnostic competitors.