MD Creations

17/10/2026

A wee Dutch fact. 🙂

Why does the English language have so many expressions with the word 'Dutch' in them?

Going Dutch: everyone pays for themselves.

Double Dutch: talk that nobody can understand.

A Dutch uncle: someone who gives you blunt, stern advice.

Dutch courage: the bravery you get from a drink.

Many of these phrases are linked to the 17th century, when England and the Dutch Republic were fierce rivals and fought three wars at sea over trade and power.

Rivals love to make fun of each other, and the English language still carries the traces.

The popular story behind Dutch courage: English soldiers in the Anglo-Dutch Wars drank jenever, Dutch gin, before battle.

And the word gin itself comes from jenever, the Dutch word for juniper.

The painting by Willem van de Velde the Younger shows a sea battle of the Anglo-Dutch Wars.

Which 'Dutch' expression do you use most? And do you think they are fair?

17/09/2026

I love sketching for a project, although I can get lost in it and keep going 🤫

15/09/2026

If you find me direct, this is why…

Directness = clarity = kindness.

Dutch directness often surprises outsiders, but within the Netherlands it is seen as a form of respect. Speaking plainly means you take the other person seriously enough to be honest with them. Sugarcoating, vague hints, or excessive formalities are often viewed as inefficient—or even misleading. When a Dutch person tells you exactly what they think, the intention is clarity, not confrontation.
This communication style has deep roots. In a society built on trade, cooperation, and tight-knit communities, misunderstandings were costly. Merchants needed clear agreements. Neighbors working together to manage water and land had to speak openly. Over time, saying precisely what you mean became the fastest way to solve problems and move forward.
Directness also reflects a strong sense of equality. In Dutch culture, no one is assumed to be above honest feedback. Whether speaking to a manager, a colleague, or a friend, the same straightforward tone applies. Opinions are exchanged openly, debates are encouraged, and disagreement is not automatically personal. What matters is the idea, not the ego.
This approach saves time and builds trust. You know where you stand, even if the message feels blunt. Politeness still exists, but it takes a different form—shown through transparency, reliability, and consistency rather than flowery language. To the Dutch, clarity is kindness.
Once you understand this, Dutch directness stops sounding harsh and starts making sense: it’s communication without the fog.

01/09/2026

Sign the petition for a moratorium on planning for all hyperscale data centres here:

https://petitions.parliament.scot/petitions/PE2233?fbclid=IwdGRjcAT_zPZwZG9mBWZkaWQWUNb9Gv6e4ssHIiiJXakMweyhQF5_RGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR7tQrZQWNbmOzG-4YeIx4XPMqgbysSfyhdvzs4gFaAeLKfkXT15ROGQVuvSDA_aem_tqVfqCU6xJo89mPhWwPNWA

Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to introduce a moratorium to prohibit planning permission from being granted for any hyperscale data centres, until it has carried out a thorough assessment of their impacts on Scotland's communities, greenhouse gas emissions, land a...

30/08/2026

Fiona, one of my longstanding clients 🥰 (and occasional swim buddy 😁), is setting up and opening her new sound therapy treatment room in Liberty House Rosyth from September and available for bookings.

Book some time for yourself, you deserve it.

16/08/2026

Some logos I had the pleasure of designing in 2025-2026.

Munro & Co. – Francesca, Paul and Munro
The repurposed horse trailer brewing exceptional and B-Corp speciality coffee like a playful collie in Plean Country Park, Stirling. Check out their socials if you crave coffee, creativity and culture!

FSharpWellness – Fiona Sharp
Sound & drum therapist and nutrition coach based in Edinburgh and Fife, Scotland.

carolinealexandrainteriors.co.uk – Caroline
Caroline is the creative force behind Caroline Alexandra Interiors. Your dream space already lives within you and she will help you bring it to light. Based in Dunfermline, Scotland.

(Craigduckie Dutch Spotted)
Enjoy a memory-making countryside experience from their luxurious shepherds huts based in the heart of Scotland, Dunfermline.

– Fiona
Reduce • Reuse • Refill
Plastic-free & eco-friendly products and refills to create a sustainable tomorrow. You can find this amazing shop at 62 Crossgate on Cupar’s high street.

Shami | IBCLC | Tongue Tie Specialist | Thrive Infant Feeding – Shami
All the feeding support (including tongue tie support) to help you and your baby thrive. Online, telephone and in-person consultations. Based in Staffordshire, England.

07/06/2026

What a great weekend getting sneaky peeks behind the scenes in the studios of local artists. Managed to score some lovely gifts as well (although might keep some for myself 😄).

Proud to be involved, designing the various marketing materials: leaflet, map, outdoor banner and flags. 😀

A big WELL DONE 🎉 to Rebecca, Kayleigh and Caitlin for organising Dunfermline's first city wide Open Studios.

Dunfermline Open Studios

01/06/2026

I had the absolute pleasure of designing various marketing materials (A5 leaflet and posters, outdoor banner, flag, map leaflet) for the first city wide Open Studios in Dunfermline featuring some amazing local artists.

It's on this weekend 6-7 June, and you get the chance to get a sneak peek behind the scenes of these artists.

You can find some of them in:
🎨 Fire station Creative
🎨 Kingsgate Shopping Centre
🎨 Gillespie House
🎨 Abbot House
🎨 Pittencrieff House
🎨 Dell Farquarson Centre

Other artists are inviting you into their Home Studios.

Visit the Dunfermline Open Studios website to find out more about the artist and their locations.

Go and check them out! 🤩

01/06/2026

So much fun sketching for and creating this logo for Fiona at !

A HUGE thank you to the very talented MD Creations for our new logo design incorporating sound, music and wellness.
Very excited to finally launch our new holistic brand... it's definitely been a work in progress! 🩵🤎

14/05/2026

In a world full of advertising, designing marketing materials that really stand out from the crowd has become even harder than before. All of us are met with social media adverts, printed materials, signage and other branded content everywhere we go. A complete overload leading to a short attention span.

We scan, don’t really read unless it’s something that we’re already looking for or… if the design we see is engaging and has a strong message.

This initial reaction is powerful as it happens instantly (often subconsciously). A clean and structured design communicates trust and professionalism. A bad/overcrowded design can feel confusing, less credible, despite a strong underlying message.

An effective design will get an emotional response, which turns into interest, trust and decision-making. Clarity and visual impact are essential.

So where to start creating that engaging, more memorable design for your (social media) advert, leaflet or other? In this post some basic tips to get you started.

After reading this still not sure, or perhaps it’s just simply too much hard work? It might be time to get yourself a graphic designer and let them solve this problem for you. 🙂