10 years and counting: curiosity, creativity and community

By Charlotte Henderson on 04 March 2026

What does 10 years of practice really look like? It’s rarely a straight line. More often, it’s a winding path shaped by curiosity and collaboration.

This April, Firefly celebrates its 10th birthday. We’re delighted to share our story and invite you to take a look back on our journey with us. It has been incredibly rewarding to reflect on the people we’ve worked with, the projects we’ve delivered and the experiences that have shaped us. As we step into our next chapter, we’re grateful for these opportunities and very excited about everything that’s still to come.

Where it all began

In July 2014, Firefly opened the doors to its very first workspace in the Creative Exchange, a co-working studio in Leith that would become the launchpad for a decade defined by curiosity, creativity and community impact.

By May 2015, the team was quite literally up and running as Ben chased buses around Edinburgh to photograph and film some of our early work for a fledgling portfolio. These formative months really laid the groundwork for what would become a collaborative agency always striving to go the extra mile.

In March 2016, Firefly exhibited some key projects at a showcase within the Creative Exchange. This event reflected our growing confidence and amplified our voice within Scotland’s creative scene.

Just a year later, Firefly registered as a limited company and began employing designers, marking the transition from small startup to established studio.

By March 2018, Firefly moved into its own private office at Ocean Point One in Leith. This new home was a clear sign that our studio was beginning to make waves as we further established the agency within Edinburgh’s creative community.

Sharing knowledge, inspiring ideas  

In April 2017, the team delivered a logo design workshop for BBC Make It Digital in collaboration with Edinburgh College. This was an excellent opportunity to share our knowledge and gain valuable experience in creative mentorship.

In May 2018, after learning about salutogenic design, we were inspired to create a space that actively nurtures creativity and motivation. We installed custom-built desks and a bespoke meeting room booth, carefully shaping an environment that supports both focus and collaboration. To strengthen our connection to nature, we introduced plenty of plants throughout the studio, enhancing air quality, reducing stress, and bringing a sense of calm and vitality into our everyday work.

June 2019 marked the trip of a lifetime for Firefly as we travelled to Chennai, India, to deliver design sprints and training sessions for AnywhereWorks. Working closely with their team, we facilitated collaborative workshops, shared practical design thinking tools, and created space for fresh perspectives and problem-solving. The energy, openness and willingness to embrace new ideas made the experience truly unforgettable. The trip not only strengthened our global outlook but also fuelled our passion for sharing knowledge and empowering others. It reinforced our belief that creativity thrives when people are given the confidence, structure and encouragement to explore new ideas together.

Resilience in challenging times

Like many organisations, Firefly’s operations were truly put to the test during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to the crisis, Firefly had already begun adopting a hybrid working model, which provided a degree of flexibility that made the initial transition somewhat smoother. Between 2020 and 2021, the team first moved to a socially distanced office setup, implementing safety measures to protect staff while maintaining essential operations. As lockdowns intensified, Firefly swiftly shifted to fully remote working, leveraging technology and collaborative tools to ensure continuity, maintain productivity, and support the wellbeing of its employees. This period highlighted the organisation’s agility and its commitment to both operational resilience and team cohesion, even in the face of unprecedented challenges.

Sustainability in action

At Firefly, we strive to embrace our broader responsibility in caring for our planet. In February 2020, our team joined the UK Student Climate Network’s strike in Edinburgh, which called for urgent action on climate change and reinforced our commitment to sustainable futures beyond the design industry.

That same ethos carried forward into longer-term partnerships. Since 2021, Firefly has collaborated with Borders Forest Trust to restore native woodland habitats in the Scottish Borders. Over the past seven years, we have seen the benefits of growing mixed-species forests and experienced the positive impact of working together on meaningful environmental projects.

Community, culture and continuity

In November 2022, Firefly worked with the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) to create branding and event graphics for the RCN Nurse of the Year Awards. We also had the pleasure of attending the ceremony and meeting STV’s Sean Batty, who presented the awards.

The following year marked a shift in how we worked as a studio. Following consultation with the team, Firefly transitioned to a fully remote model by February 2023, embracing flexibility while supporting everyone’s productivity and creativity. Despite the physical distance, we maintained our collaborative culture through regular virtual meetings, brainstorming sessions, and digital tools that kept communication and idea-sharing seamless. The change also encouraged more focused work, improved work-life balance, and reinforced Firefly’s commitment to an adaptable and inclusive studio environment. We continued to collaborate in person where possible, attending volunteering opportunities and holding face-to-face meetings as appropriate.

In April 2024, we launched a refreshed brand identity, bringing to life the concept “More than a design agency”. The refresh was guided by our core values, collaboration, creativity, integrity, and impact, which informed not only the visual identity but also how we position ourselves as a studio. It reinforces our multidisciplinary approach, delivering branding, digital, print, video, and advertising solutions that are tailored to each client’s unique challenges and ambitions, while remaining true to the principles that have always defined Firefly’s culture and work. This became our statement of intent, reflecting Firefly’s evolving role beyond traditional design work into a broader practice that combines creative strategy, audience engagement, and impact‑led design to help clients communicate more effectively and meaningfully across all channels.

By January 2025, Firefly established a bespoke, purpose‑built studio by Holyrood Park. Designed with collaboration in mind, the space serves as a base for key strategy meetings, concept development, training sessions, and photo shoots. While the wider team continues to work most of the time remotely, the studio provides a central hub for creative collaboration and shared experiences when in-person interaction is needed. This new chapter reflects Firefly’s commitment to quality, innovation, and impact-led design, offering a flexible environment that supports both the team and the clients we work with.

Looking ahead

Firefly’s 10th year has been marked by continued environmental action. We have extended our four‑year partnership with the Water of Leith Conservation Trust, participating in their regular litter‑picking sessions to help keep the area clean for both the community and local wildlife. Since June 2025, we have also partnered with Friends of Meadowfield Park, funding the purchase of spear spades and supporting their habitat restoration efforts through volunteering, including tree planting in Holyrood Park.

Ten years on from its beginnings in a shared workspace, Firefly has grown beyond the boundaries of a traditional design agency, transforming into a partner in creativity, education, sustainability, and social change.

And with a decade behind us, Firefly remains exactly what it set out to be:

More than a design agency.