Mad River

Mad River The ‘Be There’ Agency

We help adventurous brands show up and be where it matters most. In culture, in people's lives and in the moments that drive growth.

Brand Strategy • Identity • Design • Packaging • Experiences

09/10/2026

ANOTHER TWO FOR THE TROPHY CABINET.

We’re very happy to have picked up two wins at the 2026 International Visual Identity Awards for our work with and .

For , we built a challenger identity around truth. Turning the asterisk from a symbol of hidden small print into a mark of openness, curiosity and belief.

For , we created an identity rooted in exploration, adaptability and a life spent operating at the extremes. Building a distinctive system around the octopus, the globe and Aldo’s eight pillars of learning.

Two very different brands. Two very different ideas. Both recognised on an international stage.

A big thank you to both teams for trusting us with the work, and to the International Visual Identity Awards for the recognition.

Two wins. We’ll take that.

We believe adventurous brands need to be where it matters most. In culture, in people’s minds and lives, and in the mome...
02/10/2026

We believe adventurous brands need to be where it matters most. In culture, in people’s minds and lives, and in the moments that create real connection.

And as more of our world becomes digital, those physical moments are becoming increasingly valuable. Experiences give people something a feed can’t. Presence, participation and a memory they were actually part of.

Our latest report, The Art of Showing Up, explores five principles for turning brand thinking into real-world experiences people want to be part of.

Read Be There. The Art of Showing Up.

25/09/2026

FEEL WILDLY AT HOME.

Today, we’re proudly introducing the new identity we’ve just delivered for

Set on a family farm in the West Dorset countryside, Outbuildings is a grown-up rural retreat made for escaping the everyday. Beautiful rooms, exceptional food, copper baths, countryside views and thoughtful hosting; all delivered with warmth, personality and absolutely no unnecessary hotel fuss. More than somewhere to stay, it’s somewhere to reconnect, reset and feel completely at home.

Our rebrand captures that unmistakable Outbuildings feeling: luxurious but unpretentious, beautifully considered but never overdone and just a little bit wild.

The identity draws on the character of the farm, it’s people and its surroundings, with earthy, weathered colours, a wordmark with real physical presence and a toolkit that has delivered hand-drawn illustrations and a language style that knows when to behave and when to loosen its collar.

And at the heart of it all is a simple invitation:

Feel wildly at home.

Stay. Dine. Gather. Kick off your boots.

We highly recommend you take a closer look and book your next retreat at outbuildingsdorset.com

WE’VE WON. TWICE.We’ve been celebrating two big wins at this year’s Creativepool Annual Awards for our branding work wit...
18/09/2026

WE’VE WON. TWICE.

We’ve been celebrating two big wins at this year’s Creativepool Annual Awards for our branding work with and Aldo Kane .

For Roastworks, the brief was to build a challenger brand around something increasingly rare: truth.

We turned the asterisk from a symbol of hidden small print into a mark of openness. A visual device designed to reveal more, question more and bring honesty to the realities of coffee production, sourcing and value.

The result was a bolder, more ownable brand with real commercial impact. Waitrose and Ocado saw a 90% increase in unit sales in the seven months following the rebrand.

For Aldo Kane, the challenge was very different. We created an identity rooted in exploration, adaptability and a life spent operating at the extremes. An octopus represents intelligence and resourcefulness, held within an octagon built around Aldo’s eight pillars of learning.

Two very different briefs. One shared ambition.

A huge thank you to and Aldo Kane for trusting us with the work, and to for the recognition.

11/09/2026

This August Bank Holiday, alongside our friends we helped Rover.com, the pet care platform connecting dog and cat parents with trusted local sitters and dog walkers, turn an important message into something dog owners could actually stop for.

Together, we brought The Pup Stop to Roadchef Strensham South Services on the M5. A free cooling station giving four-legged travellers the chance to stretch, rehydrate and cool down before getting back on the road.

With one in four dog owners admitting they’ve left their dog in the car while “quickly popping in”, the activation had a serious job to do.

From first sketch to final water bowl, Mad River handled the lot. Design, logistics, staffing and on-the-ground operations.

Paddling pools. Cooling mats. Fans. Fresh water. Practical advice. All wrapped in a bold, welcoming experience designed to get people thinking about safer summer journeys with their dogs.

And over the course of the one-day activation, more than 450 dogs came through The Pup Stop.

A serious message. A simple idea. Plenty of happy paws.

04/09/2026

BRINGING THE GLORY TO WHOLE FOODS.

We love helping brands show up properly in the real world. Retail activations, sampling, displays. The moments where a great brand has to grab attention, make sense fast and get people involved.

To mark 's launch into Whole Foods Market, we created a high-impact activation for the store’s main foyer, built around the balance at the heart of the brand.

Gut = the functional benefit.
Glory = the flavour payoff.

From there, we made the journey simple.

Stop. Explain. Activate.

A bold hero message to catch the eye. Clear product benefits to make the proposition land. And simple prompts inviting shoppers to drizzle, dip, dress and, most importantly, taste.

The result is a seamless extension of Gut & Glory into retail. Bold, direct and impossible to miss.

And the proof was in the sauce. One product line sold out in store!

Planning a retail activation of your own? Come and talk to us.

28/08/2026

Taking Mountain Professionals to new heights.

We worked with the brilliant Mountain Professionals team to transform their brand and build a completely new digital experience, designing and building a website that puts their expertise, trips and spirit of adventure front and centre.

At Mad River, we believe a website should do more than look good. It should make information easy to find and the next step effortless to take.

For Mountain Professionals, that meant creating a bold, modern platform that helps future adventurers explore trips, find the right challenge and get a clear picture of what each experience involves before taking the leap.

We rethought the experience from the ground up, introducing a clearer structure, intuitive navigation and a confident new visual direction. Immersive imagery brings visitors closer to the action, while sharp messaging and carefully placed calls to action keep every journey moving.

The result is a website that feels bold, considered, and ready for adventure. One that captures the expertise behind Mountain Professionals and makes joining the next expedition feel closer than ever.

Explore the new website: mtnprofessionals.com

21/08/2026

From brand strategy to visitor experience.

Over the last two years, we’ve been working closely with the Caldey Island team to shape how this extraordinary place presents itself to visitors.

It started with strategy. From the positioning, Far from Everyday, to a new identity system spanning logo, colour, typography and illustration. Since then, that identity has rolled out across the visitor experience, from the ticketing kiosk, welcome literature and website to information and interpretation signage. Each new touchpoint building a connected, cohesive experience from first welcome to final goodbye.

The Monastic Story Hall is the latest chapter.

The challenge here was to open up a world that most visitors know exist, but may never actually see.

Bespoke printed books span the length of a wooden lectern, each chronicling a day in the life of a monk, from rising just after 3am for prayer to meals, work and chores.

Turn around and the bigger story unfolds; an illustrated timeline traces almost 1,500 years of history, from Caldey’s first Celtic monastery to the Cistercian community that calls the island home today.

And there’s more to come...

On the horizon is the design and delivery of the new Visitor Centre. A critical next step and a launchpad into Caldey’s nature, culture and history.

From strategy and identity to communications, interpretation and physical spaces, Caldey is a great example of the joined-up expertise we bring to cultural heritage and visitor destinations.

Operation POSTMASTER. A remarkable story, beautifully told.Some projects deserve more than great design. They deserve ca...
14/08/2026

Operation POSTMASTER. A remarkable story, beautifully told.

Some projects deserve more than great design. They deserve care, respect and an obsession with the detail.

Black Alpha Wh***ey’s new Operation POSTMASTER Limited Edition is exactly that. A rare 10-year-old, single cask Irish Single Malt, bottled at natural cask strength and limited to just 220 bottles worldwide. Inspired by one of the most daring covert operations of the Second World War, every element of the presentation has been thoughtfully designed to honour the story behind it.

We were delighted to work alongside the Black Alpha team to design and produce the commemorative booklet that sits within the presentation case. More than an accompanying piece, it’s an integral part of the experience, bringing the history, people and legacy behind Operation POSTMASTER to life.

It’s a great example of what we love most: helping brands create meaningful moments through considered design, craftsmanship and storytelling that adds genuine value.

Congratulations to everyone involved in bringing this exceptional release to market.

Explore the collection at Black Alpha Wh***ey.

07/08/2026

Some people change the way you think. Others change the course of your life. Nims did both.

We first met him in 2018 through military connections, when we were asked to help deliver a fundraising event for what would become Project Possible. We didn’t know then where that journey would lead, only that within minutes of meeting him something clicked.

We shared the same belief that ordinary was never enough. That if something was worth doing, it was worth doing properly. There was an energy, ambition and determination about Nims that was impossible not to be drawn to.

From that day on, what started as a project became a friendship built on trust.

Over the years we had the privilege of helping shape his personal and business brands as the world came to know the extraordinary mountaineer behind them. But behind the records, documentaries and headlines was the man we were lucky enough to know.

Nims was one of the most principled people we’ve ever met. He did exactly what he said he would do. Every single time.

He never over-promised. He never dealt in fluff or ambiguity. He was refreshingly direct, fiercely loyal and utterly dependable. With Nims, you always knew exactly where you stood and that honesty earned complete trust.

He challenged us too. He showed us what commitment really looked like. What resilience meant. What happens when you refuse to accept that something can’t be done.

We will miss the endless calls and voice notes from somewhere high in the mountains. The updates from base camp. The excitement of the next impossible idea. The conversations that somehow always ended with us believing a little more was possible than we did before.

Looking back, we realise he gave us far more than the opportunity to build a brand. He gave us the privilege of being part of an extraordinary journey. He trusted us with something deeply personal. He became a friend. And in doing so, he helped shape us as people and as a business in ways we’ll always carry with us.

One thing Nims said over and over again was, “Don’t be afraid to dream big.” It wasn’t just something he said. It was how he lived. He encouraged everyone around him to think bigger, reach higher and believe that the impossible was only impossible until someone proved otherwise. We know those words will stay with us forever.

The world will remember his records. We will remember the man.

Thank you, Nims, for your friendship, your trust, your loyalty, and for reminding us every day not to be afraid to dream big.

We miss you more than words can ever say. 🖤

Address

5 Stratfield Saye
Bournemouth
BH88JN

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5:30pm
Tuesday 9am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 9am - 5:30pm
Thursday 9am - 5:30pm
Friday 9am - 5:30pm

Telephone

01202292933

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