Leonard means lion heart.
So when it came time to name my forever studio, the name was already taken. By me.
Brian Leonard, Founder & Principal
Say hi on LinkedInI've been a creative director for 26 years. Lion Heart is my second independent agency.
My first one grew about 33% year over year for eight straight years before a successful exit. We ran it on an independent, distributed contractor model from day one in 2013, well before that was the norm. I've had a few more good exits from inside startups since.
But this one isn't going anywhere. Welcome to my forever studio. :D
The page I keep coming back to.
Years ago I typed up what I believe about this work. I've been using it ever since. The paper's a little soft at the folds now. The ideas held up.
Three things, done well.
The first draft of this studio was a few notes scribbled in a margin. They still hold.
Content
- Messaging frameworks
- Jobs to be done and personas
- Copywriting and scripts
- Campaign strategy
Design
- Product and marketing (both, always)
- UI and UX
- Design systems
- Concepts and MVPs
- Design governance
Technology
- Architecture
- Development
- Full stack
Inside your team, on your timeline.
Most of our work happens inside your team. Product teams shipping something new, marketing teams with a launch on the calendar, event teams counting down to the keynote. We learn your guidelines, your tools, and your deadlines, then we get to work.
After 26 years, I've seen most of the ways a launch can wobble, and I know how to steady one. Some partnerships run eight years. Some run eight weeks. Both get the same care.
AI lets us move faster than we used to. It hasn't changed what we care about.