Adam Ferrier

This week we have been exclusively watching 'Magic Mike', shaking a Magic 8-Ball and listening to '24k Magic' by Bruno Mars (which is just awful) in order to win the slightly nervous attention of Adam Ferrier, founder of Thinkerbell; the thinkers, tinkers and practitioners of ‘measured magic’. 

A psychology brain sat on top of some sturdy strategy bones, Adam is a rare voice of reason in the largely barmy brand world – as well as being the chief sceptic when it comes to the industry obsession with ‘the customer’. He’s also the author of more superb books, including ‘The Advertising effect: How to Change Behaviour’ and supplements all this talk-talking with some serious walk-walking through his work at THINKERBELL – the agency he founded that brings marketing science and creative thinking together. 

In this episode Adam shares his expertise on brands who forget how to be brands, why every business problem is a behaviour change problem and the forgotten benefits of simply fitting in.

This episode is proudly dedicated to Anne Young, Adam's supervisor during his time as a psychologist.

"Never get more excited about the prospect of change, than your client. So you always have to leave that behind and never try to convince them into changing or get excited about change." Anne Young

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Timestamps

09:16 - The impact of D&AD annuals on Adam's career choice

11:19 - Transition from forensic psychology to marketing

16:12 - The perils of customer obsession

22:57 - Balancing brand and customer needs

25:11 - The importance of consumer research