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What we do

We help founders and corporate leaders see new possibilities and create what comes next

James Box and James Bates working in the Berst studio

How we do it

01 Find new opportunities

Most businesses spend their time iterating on the products and services they already have. Day-to-day demands make it hard to step back and consider the more fundamental shifts that could reshape their future. Meanwhile, the world moves on as behaviour changes, markets shift and new competitors emerge.

We help teams widen their perspective. Through research and reflection, we uncover unmet needs, behavioural shifts and new possibilities that reveal where to go next. This work brings clarity on what to build and confidence in why it matters.

Outcomes

  • A clear and compelling view of your next big move
  • Confidence that it’s grounded in evidence and sound strategy
  • Renewed momentum and belief in what’s ahead
  • Guidance from experienced partners who bring fresh perspective and creative depth

Activities

  • Market, trend and customer research
  • New opportunity sizing and mapping
  • Insight synthesis
  • Value proposition design
  • Concept framing

Timeframe

2–6 weeks

02 Create the vision

Every breakthrough product begins as an idea that feels just out of reach. The challenge is to turn that potential into something ambitious yet believable, a vision strong enough to bring teams together.

You won’t find our work buried in spreadsheets or PowerPoint decks. It’s deliberately vivid, tangible, testable and designed to inspire. It makes business sense and feels true to the organisation creating it, while still pushing its ambition further than it thought possible.

When these things come together, they create the clarity, belief and new momentum an organisation needs to break through to new growth.

Outcomes

  • A tangible prototype of the product, experience and brand
  • Alignment and belief across teams and leadership
  • Confidence in what to build and why it matters
  • The energy and momentum to move from idea to implementation

Activities

  • Customer journey mapping
  • Brand and concept development
  • Rapid prototyping and validation
  • Vision definition and articulation
  • Experience storytelling

Timeframe

4-8 weeks

03 Shape the strategy

A new vision needs a clear path to follow. Product strategy is where direction turns into movement. It connects the big idea to the day-to-day work that brings it to life.

Our approach isn’t a ten-point plan. It’s a living playbook for the teams delivering the product. It creates a shared understanding of the challenge ahead and why it matters. It defines the principles and trade-offs that keep everyone focused and aligned. Most importantly, it shows how to make a strategic bet with confidence, minimising risk, maximising value and leaving space for learning along the way.

Outcomes

  • A clear, coherent plan that connects vision to delivery
  • Alignment across teams on roles, priorities and next steps
  • Defined principles, trade-offs and success criteria
  • Clarity on where and how the product will create value

Activities

  • Service blueprint
  • Technology strategy
  • Design principles
  • Product roadmap
  • Go-to-market plan

Timeframe

2–6 weeks

The Projects Brighton, co-working space with people working in booths and industrial lighting overhead. Hands sketching early design concepts on paper and post-it notes. Relaxed meeting space with a yellow chair and white coffee table. Team members discussing work around a table with laptops open. Bright studio workspace with shared desks, plants, and a framed drawing above the fireplace. Person writing ideas on a large sheet covered with sticky notes during a workshop.

What’s it like to work with us

Partnerships are built on more than process. Here’s what our clients say defines the experience of working with Berst and why it matters.

Trusted independence

We take ownership from day one. Clients know they can hand us high-stakes projects and trust us to lead them without constant oversight. That independence saves time and gives leaders space to focus on what matters most.

Connection at all levels

We work fluidly across leadership, marketing, product and engineering teams. By bridging strategy and execution, we help innovation move from boardroom intent to working reality.

Strategic but tangible design

We work strategically but bring ideas to life through prototypes and stories. This keeps innovation visible, testable and grounded in practical reality.

Enduring optimism

We bring an innate curiosity and belief in what’s possible with technology. This optimism allows teams to see fresh potential in their work and creates energy that lasts long after our project ends.

Want to chat?

We’d love to hear from you

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