About
Shaped by venture building, we’re for people who value speed, technology and imagination, and believe creativity can change the course of a business.
Studio
For Different is an independent creative studio built for a new creative era. We believe creativity is changing shape. Speed, technology and imagination are colliding, and the businesses that move with it will be the ones people notice. Founder-led and senior by design, we bring decades of experience working with disruptors, accelerators, challengers and global technology companies.
Shaped by venture building, not agency-land, we know what it takes to build, launch and grow something worth noticing. Across strategy, identity, websites, digital experiences and activation, we work in milestones, build systems teams can grow into, and make original ideas real at pace.
Team
Culture
We work with people who think differently and build for purpose.
Work that can’t be ignored and makes people feel, think and do.
Delivering at the pace and pattern of the world’s most ambitious businesses.
Big ideas sharpened by strategy and commercial reality.
Human imagination and AI, defined by taste, to innovate and create like never before.
Focusing only on what shifts markets and makes a lasting impact.
Breaking silos, avoiding chaos and protecting our pace, freedom and creativity.
We focus on what endures, creating the conditions for our people and partners to thrive.
High standards show respect for the work, our clients and each other.
Our industry is rare. We’re gifted the responsibility to shape feeling. How wonderful.
FAQs
Who launched For Different, and why?
Lee Fairbrother launched For Different in 2019, building on almost 20 years of experience across strategy, design and digital products. At Blenheim Chalcot, one of the UK’s leading venture builders, he helped launch and grow digital businesses in partnership with organisations including Google, GSK and Legal & General. For Different was designed to be senior-led and agile, giving the team the freedom to choose the creative challenges and businesses they genuinely want to work with. Lee remains involved in every project, working alongside the team to shape what For Different is and how it works. Since launch, this approach has supported early-stage ventures, scale-ups, global technology companies and established brands through moments of growth and change.
What makes For Different different?
For Different is for brands, and the people within them, who think differently, build with purpose and want to create something that adds genuine value to the world. The name came from a belief in championing different ways of thinking and working, but that does not mean making things different for the sake of it. Our role is to uncover the differentiated value already within a business and express it powerfully across brand and digital. We built the studio around that same philosophy: senior-led, agile and shaped by experience across venture building, global brands and digital products. The result is a model designed for organisations that are building, growing and changing quickly.
What brings the team together?
There is a useful duality across the team. Everyone is senior and brings experience across global brands, B2B and B2C, while our creatives understand brand and digital in equal measure. We favour broad creative thinkers who can see how everything connects. When a project requires deeper expertise in a particular area, our collective allows us to bring in trusted specialists who are right for the challenge.
Which sectors do you work with?
We work particularly well with challenger brands: ambitious organisations changing their market, questioning how things have always been done or building something genuinely new. We are ultimately sector agnostic, although we have strong experience across technology, SaaS, fintech, climate tech, science and innovation. Whatever the sector, we become the secret shoppers, speaking to customers, exploring the market and getting under the skin of the business. The ambition needs to be right, and the work should have the potential to leave a positive impact.
Do you build your own products?
Yes. Alongside our client work, we have a dedicated R&D practice through which we partner with investors and other businesses to explore and launch digital products together. Every idea has to meet clear venture criteria and solve a problem we genuinely care about. Our current focus is on tools that support creative people and communities as AI changes the way our industry works.
What do you believe about AI and creativity?
We approach AI with cautious optimism. It can help us explore, learn and make certain things faster, but faster does not automatically mean better. We use it carefully, where it adds genuine value without compromising our creative integrity or the originality of the work. We will not use AI to replace creative people or generate core intellectual property that a client needs to own. Craft is changing, but imagination, empathy, taste and human judgement are not going anywhere.
Where are you based, and where do you work?
For Different was founded in London and we remain proud of that heritage. Today, we are a remote-first studio with a base in Oxfordshire, a London residency and a hybrid team working across the UK and Europe. We support clients globally, but always try to meet in person where it matters, whether that is for a workshop, an important project session or, of course, a wrap party. Remote working gives our team greater balance and allows us to bring the right people into each project, wherever they happen to be.
What is it like to work at For Different?
We want people to do brilliant work without sacrificing the rest of their lives to do it. We treat everyone’s time with respect, work regular hours, avoid evenings and never work weekends. We get together every quarter, primarily to spend time together rather than fill the day with meetings. We are generous with what we know because sharing knowledge helps people grow and forces us to keep learning too. High standards matter here, but so do kindness, creativity and enjoying the ride. If you would like to work with us, keep an eye on our latest roles, which we share through our live feed, LinkedIn and social channels. Alternatively, you can send your CV or portfolio to apply@fordifferent.com
Impact
in enterprise value across the businesses we’ve partnered with.
The amount of VC’s, VB’s and Accelerators that trust us with their portfolio.
brands we’ve helped build that went on to exit or merge.
industries, from FinTech to ClimateTech, Pharma to Sport.
VCs & accelerators we have partnered with to help their portfolios scale.
transformational projects, delivered across brand, digital and product.
Testmonials
"Working with For Different is one of the best investments we've made in our business."
“We've really enjoyed working with For Different. The level of research they go into surrounding the heritage of the brand and how they translate this into the design is fantastic. Integrating our charitable foundation into the story for 2021 created a really powerful message and long term impact."
"The thing that’s unique about For Different is they know how to work with start-ups, scale-ups and mature businesses, and understand what it takes to build them."
"For Different are amazing. I've worked with them for years, across two companies, and regularly recommend them to others. They combine amazing creativity, use modern tools to maximise output, and respond quickly if you need something urgently. All of this makes me a happy repeat customer that anticipates staying with them long term."
“A remarkable studio, led by a remarkable team. The perfect partner for design in the age of AI.”
“They ask probing questions, give honest feedback and listen to us. They are expert in taking all that learning and distilling that essential DNA into the product/service we wish to brand. They are a partner that is understanding with an excellent design ethos to create world class brands that our teams can get behind quickly."
"From ideation right through to delivery, the For Different team has been true experts."
“Big thanks to the team for helping bring our new brand and website to life. This launch is more than just a fresh look, it reflects the energy, ambition, and momentum we’re building every day at New Horizon Bank. We’re proud of the direction we’re heading and grateful for talented partners who helped us get there.”
"Outstanding work and commitment to stellar client service."
"The really different part of our experience was that everyone we worked with had gone to effort to understand our business."
“Their team demonstrated an exceptional level of expertise and creativity, delivering a product that not only aligns with our vision but also enhances our market presence. Their attention to detail and innovative approach have made a significant impact on our business, and we wholeheartedly recommend their services to anyone looking to elevate their brand.”
"They are thoughtful and creative in their approach to design, taking the time to understand our business, and producing a final product that is not only beautiful, but effective - since launch, our website conversion rate and time on site has gone up. e couldn't ask for a better partner."
"For Different are true experts in their field, full of creativity, insight, and energy. The team took the time to understand our brand and what we’re aiming to achieve in the pension tech space. With their strong experience in SaaS and fintech brands, they just got what we were trying to portray and brought it to life with real creativity. I couldn’t recommend them highly enough."
"Working with For Different was a great experience. They nailed the balance between a brand refresh and a complete redesign, creating something that feels modern and true to us. The team did an excellent job translating complex concepts into clear, engaging design that we can easily build on."
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