Hi, We're Folkway and This is Our Blog

Folkway is a specialized collective built for work that puts people first: a human-centred alternative to traditional consulting or agencies, grounded in real relationships rather than generic strategy and approach. We collaborate with experts who think and work the way we do, bringing the right expertise to clients exactly when it's needed, on a project basis.

Folkway was founded by Nicole Button and Cole Inkpen, who bring more than 30 years of combined experience turning complex work into clarity people can actually use.

Nicole has spent over 20 years working across communications, marketing, engagement, broadcast journalism, and media and government relations. Her career has been built on trusting relationships that lead to translating complicated, high-stakes work into something people can actually understand and act on. Cole brings over a decade of expertise in graphic design, design systems, and brand development, the kind of work that makes an organization look and feel like itself, consistently and intentionally. Together, they've worked across most major industries in Newfoundland and Labrador and beyond, which means they've seen what works, what doesn't, and what most organizations are still missing. And they always start by getting to know you and your goals, not just your project brief.

Now that you've met us, here's what this space is for.

We're kicking off this blog to share how we actually work, the experiences, thinking, and insights behind the projects. The goal is to be useful (and at least mildly entertaining) for anyone: community partners, clients, peers, and collective members alike. We aim to bring ideas and people together to work through the next biggest things happening in our province and beyond, from an on the ground perspective.

What's next on the blog

This space is for ideas you can use, not just news about us! Here’s a look at what’s coming up:

• Clarity that isn't dumbing it down. There's a difference between making something simple and making something simplistic. We'll dig into communicating complex, technical, or sensitive information in a way that respects your audience's intelligence while actually landing with them.
• Design as a tool for understanding, not decoration. Good design isn't about making things pretty, it's about making things work. We'll explore how thoughtful design choices help people navigate, absorb, and trust information in a way that generic templates never will.
• Engagement ALWAYS starts before reporting. When engagement and consultation gets treated as a box to check at the end of a project, it seems to put the people involved last. We'll talk about why starting those conversations earlier with open, two-way communication and building trust from the beginning, leads to better outcomes for everyone at the table.

We hope you'll come back for those, and tell us what you're working through along the way! 

Visit our website ourfolkway.ca follow us on LinkedIn @folkway and if this resonates with you, share it. 

We'd love to hear from you, no matter who you are. If you have ideas, thoughts, or opinions you’d like to share, feel comfortable sharing them by emailing us at hello@ourfolkway.ca.

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