Marketing, communications and business development for architects and designers.

By a formally trained design critic.  

What I Do

Katie Rathbone is the Founder of Freeman Rathbone Communications. I specialise in integrating BD, marketing and communications.   

I do this by helping my clients shift to ideas based BD and marketing.     

The premise is simple: a set of core ideas and values underpin most projects in a firm. They drive BD. 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 individual projects—that sell a firm. 

Your ideas are BD, marketing and communications gold, ready to be shared. 

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 marketing.   

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 all scales of design businesses.

Services

    • Marketing strategies and campaigns

    • Brand development and leadership

    • BD and brand collateral

    • Presentation development and delivery

    • Awards

    • Copywriting

    • Visual content leadership

    • Thought leadership

    • Mainstream and industry media

    • Event strategy and execution

    • Technical writing

    • Awards

    • Long and short-form publications

    • Website and social media

    • Market and competitor research

    • Positioning

    • Sector strategies

    • Bid writing and management

    • Bid postmortem and client feedback analysis

How I Work

Solid collaboration = quality work.

I work with my clients to map a project 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, marketing 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, coaching, property market analysis, bids and marketing management is extensive.