![cat[&]tonic](https://cat-tonic.com/wp-content/uploads/candt_logo-rw.png){kind=logo}
Around the Agency – March 2026 Edition
We’ve been looking for ways to help here in Minneapolis and have been deeply moved by the support pouring in from across the country.
Marketing isn’t the problem. Identity is.
Why capable organizations stall—and why marketing takes the blame. If marketing feels harder than it should, it’s rarely because the team lacks skill, effort, or experience. Most organizations we work with have already invested heavily—internal teams, external partners, new tools, new strategies. Work is happening. Decisions are being made. [...]
The Stillpoint: A cat&tonic Reflection
Closing 2025 & Opening 2026 “At the still point of the turning world, there the dance is.” - T.S. Eliot This year didn’t explode with a single breakthrough or perfect crescendo. It simmered, stretched, tested, and slowly sharpened us. It left us stronger, braver, more awake to [...]
Ideas to Ponder – November 2025 Edition
An inside look at our latest explorations and undertakings. Less panic, more purpose Another reason to take a deep breath and release some of the anxiety that AI will put us all out of work. This one harkens back to c&t’s signature question: What problem are you trying [...]
Around the Agency – November 2025 Edition
An inside look at our latest explorations and undertakings. MnSEIA Gateway to Solar 2025 Still buzzing from the MnSEIA Gateway to Solar conference, where panelists (including Megan) tackled a big question: How do you communicate clearly in a world overloaded with misinformation? A few standout reminders: Lead with [...]
AI, edge cases, and the ethics of creativity
(Or: What happens when the muse has a motherboard.) The buzz and the backlash AI has officially entered the chat, and the pitch deck, and the creative brief, and, let’s be honest, the panic dreams of half the creative industry. Depending on who you ask, it’s either the [...]
Ideas to Ponder – September 2025 Edition
An inside look at our latest explorations and undertakings. Distilled research… and fun! Looking for shared smarts that don’t include a lot of reading? Say hello to Fun with Research. Whether you're into UX, market research, cognitive science, or just curious how people tick, these videos turn [...]
The Rise of Intelligent Creative in 2025: Why Smarter Creativity Wins
TL;DR: In 2025, marketing is drowning in AI-generated noise. Intelligent Creative—the fusion of data, research, and human imagination—is how brands stand out. It keeps creativity relevant, measurable, and unmistakably human. Why 2025 demands Intelligent Creative Audiences aren’t starved for content; they’re starved for meaning. Feeds are packed with look-alike [...]
Around the Agency – October 2025 Edition
An inside look at our latest explorations and undertakings. Getting to know our clients It’s award season and we’re thrilled to share that our work earned a Gold Summit Creative Award for Elevation Point’s branding and launch, and a Bronze Summit Creative Award for Gateway Bank’s 20th [...]
What your data dashboard isn’t telling you
Qualitative research matters, and in this blog, we’re discussing how (and why) it works. You’ve got dashboards. You’ve got conversion funnels. You’ve got click-through rates coming out of your ears. Your charts even have charts. But here’s the thing: numbers can only tell you what happened. They almost never tell [...]
