Business development and communications for architects and designers.

By a trained design critic. For a knowledge-based world.  

What I Do

Katie Rathbone is the Founder of Freeman Rathbone Communications. I help firms clarify and communicate their positioning to grow beyond current capability.

Leveraging ideas and values lies at the heart of this work.

The premise is simple: a set of core ideas and values underpin most firms. They drive ambition. They communicate differentiated expertise. They motivate the people who touch each project. They endure. And they are true to each firm’s culture and brand.     

That’s why I look for them with each client: it’s core ideas and values—illustrated by projects—that define a firm and set direction. 

They are gold, and we'll levearage them to elevate your BD and communications efforts.

Why I’m Different

My business is niche, like my background.

I’m not a marketing person who fell into architecture and design.  

I’m an architecture person who crossed into BD and communications.   

I have a Master of Design Criticism from the School of Architecture at the University of Illinois Chicago. I studied how architects and designers share their ideas and projects—with clients, peers and the public alike.  

Since 2008, I’ve done this kind of work for renowned global and APAC-focused firms.

Services

My services fall into two broad buckets:
BD inputs and Communications outputs.

They can stand alone or be fully integrated, whatever best suits the task at hand.

    • Market and competitor research

    • Sector strategies

    • Partnership building

    • Event strategy and execution

    • Bid writing and management

    • Bid postmortem and feedback analysis

    • Communications strategies and campaigns

    • Brand development and implementation

    • Slow content: thought leadership, publications, photos/visuals and core collateral

    • Fast content: video, animations and digital channels

    • Mainstream and industry media

    • Awards

    • Internal communications and engagement

How I Work

Solid collaboration = quality work.

I work with my clients to map an approach that suits their needs, work style and timeframes.

Work is scoped to suit, from one-off efforts to longer engagements.

I can work independently, integrate with established teams, or lead BD and communications subconsultant groups.

If need be, I’m happy to bring those subs to the table. My network across photography, videography, branding, strategy, PR and marketing, coaching, property market analysis, and bids management is extensive.