At leap, we talk a lot about collaboration, creativity, and the power of working closely with our clients’ worlds. Whether through our studio in London or our leap in-house teams embedded inside major global brands.
But what does that actually feel like for the creatives doing the work?
To find out, we sat down with Bradley Hotson, a seasoned designer with more than a decade of experience across agency and in house environments. Bradley has worked with leap in almost every capacity, from agency-side and in-house, to freelance and contracting. He’s now part of our embedded studio team dedicated to J.P. Morgan. This team is placed through leap in-house: our specialist service that embeds dedicated creative talent directly within a client’s organisation
His journey offers a rare, first-hand look at how agency and in-house models really differ, what each means for clients, and why an offering like leap in-house is becoming one of the most effective ways for brands to scale creatively with consistency and speed.
A career that’s seen both sides of the industry
Bradley began his career freelancing around Clerkenwell and Farringdon after graduating with a first-class degree in graphic communication.
“In 2013, a recruiter arranged an interview with David Brogden at leap, who was placing a maternity-cover designer at J.P. Morgan,” Bradley recalls. “That’s how I first joined the team.”
Once that contract ended, he moved into leap HQ, suddenly experiencing life on the agency side.
“It was here that I got to work across a range of accounts and sectors. Going from a single financial client to multiple brands at once was a big shift.”
Agency vs in-house: What actually changes for clients?
1. The Rhythm of Work
One of the biggest differences Bradley experienced was pace.
“leap HQ could swing from steady-busy to insane very quickly – especially during pitches. I’ve pulled all-nighters when needed. But, in-house with JPM, the pace is steadier, but still consistently busy.”
What this means for clients:
- Agencies offer surge capacity for launches, pitches and campaigns.
- In-house teams provide more predictable workflow, but can feel the pressure during peak moments without external support.
2. Creative Ownership & Variety
Agency-side means variety.
“You’re jumping between clients, often with internal comms projects thrown in. There’s a lot of variety, and the culture is usually more relaxed than a corporate environment.”
In-house, the depth of brand knowledge shifts dramatically.
“Focusing on one brand means you develop an intimate understanding of it. JPM’s brand guidelines are vast and always evolving, but over time you gain a really solid grasp.”
What this looks like in practice?
Agencies create space to think
Agencies thrive where there’s room to explore. Especially on smaller or faster briefs, they unlock creative freedom and bring ideas shaped by work across multiple sectors, not just your own.
In-house teams protect the brand
In-house teams are brilliant at consistency. They understand the brand at a granular level and deliver work that’s on-brand from day one, with governance built in.
But, this can begin to break down, especially in large organisations where caution often wins.
We see it time and again:
“Big in-house teams default to the safest option.”
That instinct protects the brand but it can also stall progress. Without deliberate space for experimentation, creativity gets diluted, not refined.
The best outcomes come when governance and creative stretch are designed to work together.
3. Collaboration & Workflow
Bradley noticed clear differences between agency and in-house ways of working.
“Processes vary, but one thing stays the same – everything depends on communication.”
For clients, this shows up in how teams collaborate. Agencies typically rely on more structured touch-points, while in-house teams benefit from proximity and faster, informal decision-making. An embedded model like leap in-house bridges that gap.
Why embedded studios work
Bradley’s background gives him a clear view of how leap operates alongside client teams.
“leap in-house gives you the best of both worlds: agency agility with in-house insight. You get fresh thinking from the wider agency, whilst having a team that works as as part of your business, completely embedded in your brand.”
This approach maintains creative momentum while strengthening brand understanding, a balance many organisations struggle to achieve. It also solves key client challenges around speed, consistency, governance, and internal alignment.
1. Relationship Depth
“The client gets a dedicated design team sitting right there with them. That face-to-face relationship is invaluable.”
Client value:
- Faster briefing
- Clearer alignment
You get a team that understands stakeholder preferences intimately.
2. Faster, sharper work
Closeness translates to accuracy and efficiency.
“You get to know stakeholders on a personal level… That makes creative work more effective. With that deeper understanding, you’re in a better position to deliver something the client will like within the first couple of rounds.”
Client value:
- Fewer rounds of amends
- Shorter approval cycles
Less time is lost on work that doesn’t hit the mark.
3. Embedded, not absorbed
Bradley emphasises a subtle, but important, distinction.
“An embedded team still has its own culture… Giving them this recognition is mutually beneficial. They’ll be happier and produce more creative work.”
Client takeaway:
- Respect the embedded team’s agency roots, and you get stronger creativity in return.
Advice for clients considering an embedded team
Bradley’s advice is simple:
“Remember the advantages: communication, close collaboration, genuine relationships. And recognise that embedded teams bring agency energy. Give them room to work in their own style as it’s mutually beneficial.”
Bringing the best together
Bradley’s story highlights what sets leap apart: integrated teams that work as an extension of your own, delivering reliable creative expertise, flexible support and the collaborative partnership needed to achieve flawless campaign execution.
The combination of agency agility and in house immersion is what makes leap in-house, our embedded studio model, so effective. It’s why brands like J.P. Morgan trust leap to deliver work that’s not just compliant and consistent, but genuinely creative and impactful.
If you’re exploring an embedded studio model, rethinking your creative structure, or looking for support that balances speed, consistency and creativity, we’d love to talk.
