Questions, in plain English.

I’m James Kindred — a brand consultant and creative mentor. I’ve been at this for over 25 years, started out as a junior designer in London in the late nineties, and co-founded Big Drop Brewing Co (the world’s most-awarded alcohol-free beer brand) along the way. I’m openly AuDHD, which shapes how I work: plainly, and from odd angles.

A mix. Startups in their first year, scale-ups outgrowing their original brand, charities trying to do more with less, and established companies feeling their identity drift. Industry-agnostic — I’ve worked with breweries, universities, mental health charities, tech, and retail. What clients tend to share is the kind of problem rather than the kind of business: foggy positioning, a brand that no longer fits, growing pains, or a sense they’re blending into the background.

Consulting is brand work — strategy, positioning, identity, design — usually for a business or founder commissioning a defined project. Mentoring is one-to-one with a person, often a neurodivergent creative trying to build a sustainable career without burning out. Different rates, different rhythms, different deliverables. If you’re not sure which one you need, the discovery call is the place to figure it out.

A free discovery call to understand what you actually need. If we’re a fit, I write a scoped proposal with a fixed price and a clear list of what’s in (and what’s out). Then the work — usually a mix of workshops, broad thinking and exploration, and back-and-forth iteration — and a delivery date we both stick to. No surprise change orders. If something shifts mid-project, we talk about it before any new work happens.

I’m based in Ipswich, Suffolk, working globally. Most of my client work runs remote — Google Meet, text messages, whatever fits how you think. For clients within a sensible drive of East Anglia or London, in-person workshops are an option. I’ve worked with people across the UK, Europe, and the US without anyone needing to get on a plane.

Yes, mostly in ways you’ll find useful. I notice patterns other people miss, I cut through fluff fast, and I’d rather have a five-minute honest conversation than a fifty-minute polite one. I also build in breathing room — no back-to-back marathon calls, friendly schedules, written follow-ups so nothing falls through the cracks. If you’re neurodivergent yourself, you can ask for the accommodations that help you; if you’re not, you’ll just notice the work feels less exhausting than usual.

Both. Strategy comes first because you can’t design what you can’t articulate — but the same engagement can run all the way through to visual identity, design systems, websites, and launch assets. Some clients hire me for the strategy and take the design in-house; some want me to deliver the whole thing. I’ll be honest about which makes more sense for your situation.

Project-based, never hourly. I scope the work, agree the price up front, and that’s the price — no clock-watching, no surprise invoices. Mentoring runs as either single sessions or monthly packages, depending on whether you need a one-off sounding board or ongoing support. Specific figures get discussed on the discovery call once I understand what you’re actually trying to do.

Book a free call via the contact page, or email james@j-kindred.com. There’s no pressure pitch — it’s a friendly conversation to figure out whether I’m the right person for what you’re trying to do. If I’m not, I’ll usually know someone who is.