Signing Off 2024 with Gratitude and Reflection

As the year wraps up, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the journey that was 2024. I read Sam Pewsey’s Round Robin yearly sum up and thought that's a cracking idea (so I’ve outright robbed the format, Thanks Sam!). It’s been a year of stepping up, stepping out, and occasionally stepping away (to recharge by a campfire). Here’s a round-up of the highs, the lessons, and the moments that made this year so memorable for mike b designs.

Professional Highlights

✨ Celebrated a huge milestone—officially over a full year since stepping away from the 9-to-5. I haven’t looked back.

✨ Collaborated with incredible clients, made new friends, and delivered video and photography projects that people are genuinely proud to shout about—always a pinch-me moment.

✨ Refined my services to focus on supporting businesses, brands, and individuals who make a real difference. It’s been rewarding to know the work we’re doing is helping others tell their stories.

✨ Reconnected with returning clients for exciting new projects. Catching up and creating together feels like work with old friends.

✨ Launched a fancy new cloud-based service to make collaboration with other creatives seamless—it's a little bit snazzy.

✨ Working with students, sharing what I’ve learned while also being reminded how far I’ve come. Watching others grow has been humbling. I’ve also started a student rate service for helping graduating students with Show Reels and marketing content.

✨ Dived into research (and a fair bit of online window-shopping, and several social media rabbit holes) to build a professional-grade inventory of gear—because only the best for my clients will do.

Personal Highlights

🚐 Bought a camper van / work vehicle! It’s been a labour of love, with plenty of DIY cupboard-building and light-wiring thrown in. The best part? Escaping screens and embracing the great outdoors with my amazing wife and kids. There is nothing like unwinding infront of a campfire to make the realise why we work hard.

📸 Teaching my kids photography has been a joy—seeing them develop patience, practice, and pride in their work has been the ultimate highlight reel.

🌊 Took a few more dips in the Sea. Thanks to Tyler Slade and his brilliant VS Life group, I’ve found a new appreciation for saltwater therapy.

🎉 I’ve worked more with my brother, I cherish the relationship we have. Not only a great guy, but seeing him go from success to success in his own endevours is inspiring.

Collaborations and Networking

🤝 Attended 20–30 networking events this year and discovered that there’s always room for another great conversation.

🎉 Celebrated nearly two years with WIN, turning professional connections into real friendships and learning the true value of community.

🌍 Worked with clients from Sussex to Surrey, Hampshire to Norfolk, Cardiff to Leicester—because creativity doesn’t need a postcode.

✨ Connected with talented creatives who’ve shaped the mike b designs journey and inspired me to dream even bigger.

Challenges & Learning

⏱️ Mastered (or attempted to!) the art of time management: balancing overlapping briefs, editing marathons, and the occasional cup of coffee.

💡 Wrestled with low-light videography and found ways to turn technical hurdles into creative leaps.

💬 Reframing criticism as "yet-to-be-constructive feedback," an essential mindset shift for growth and not throwing your toys out the pram.

Looking Ahead

2025 already feels like it’s going to be epic. January kicks off with promotional work for 3Fall Dance Company and Mapdance—We had amazing shoot days in Dec and I can’t wait to see the magic unfold when the edits are released.

I’m also planning to share more of the mike b designs journey through my blog and our ‘Stop. Don’t Shoot… Yet.’ mailing list. It’s been a joy connecting with you all this year, and I can’t wait to keep that going. If you haven't found it yet, it's on www.mikebdesigns.com/blog

Finally, a massive thank you to everyone who’s supported me along the way—whether you’ve collaborated on a project, cheered me on, or simply liked a post on social media, it’s all meant the world.

Here’s to a "mega" 2025. Let’s make it a year to remember!