Francesco Imola

Work (now)

I currently spend most of my time growing Never Not Ready. I went freelance in 2024, and it's been an exhausting but very rewarding journey so far. I now use design, words, and strategy to get people to buy stuff from other people (small businesses and freelancers). Or else book their time. At the very least, engage in their work.

While I’m more about off-grid marketing than doing your social media (I know some great marketers who can help with that), I can make sure your foundations are strong, your community is up to date, and you're attracting leads even in your sleep.

Not work (now)

I've recently launched a publication slash newsletter where I get to write about all the things that interest me and the Never Not Ready community—design, marketing, and sustainability-wise.

When I’m not working, you’ll likely find me walking around town, reading, spending time with the people I love, practicing yoga (or some other form of socially accepted mind plus body activity), taking photos and making absurd little art on the web (and sometimes IRL).

Earlier

I previously enjoyed working at Blueberry, where I co-led communications, a brand refresh, and email marketing.

Years ago, I helped the Galleries and the Film & TV department at the University of Greenwich with everything from events to copy-editing, ops, design, and project management. It feels unreal to have worked alongside so many brilliant people, from whom I've learned literally everything I know.

What I’m good at

My forte is doing generalist (or interdisciplinary) work with more or less identifiable creative components. Always happy to lend a hand with ops, web and project design, tool integration, inbound marketing, and UX writing.

I'm pretty handy at helping small teams get tricky and time-consuming projects done quickly and well. I'm good at tapping into simple AND effective storytelling (through design and comms) to reach clients' goals. The best part? It's fulfilling work, and I rarely get bored.

Over the years, I've had a great time working stints in internal comms too. I enjoyed the freedom to experiment creatively and connect with tight-knit communities both online and off. If the perfect internal comms role came along, I'd definitely consider it.

Where I see myself

In between all of this, I have some extra spare time now. And I'm open to collaborating with like-minded folks on both serious and silly work. In exchange for what, how long for, and how often will be up for negotiation depending on what the role entails.

Things that aren't up for debate

• Trust. In the process, that I'll do what I said I'll do, that I can ask for help when I need help, that I'm not in it to steal your job or waste your time, that I'm being honest, that more often than not I can recognize my own mistakes, and that I want us both to succeed.
• A happy team. I've had the privilege of working with some incredibly generous, inspiring, and understanding people over the years. The bar is that high now.
• An open mind. I'm queer, have ADHD, and have experienced depression. These aspects of my life shape my approach to work.
• Working remotely. It feels great, for so many reasons, to be able to get things done from home, if not every day, at least every now and then.

Things you might appreciate knowing

• Job titles don't matter. I'm open to any role and am not particularly concerned with precisely defining myself, at this stage.
• A connection to the cause. That's ultimately the deciding element in a collaboration.
• Learning drives me. It's the reason I get up in the morning, push myself, see what I can do, where those roads I never crossed will lead me, and what new stuff I can learn.
• I speak English as well as I do Italian. And in about a decade, I will have spent as long in the UK as I did growing up in Italy.
• I live in Folkestone (brilliant town!). It’s about an hour away from London.
• I'm on GMT. But I can make any hours work for the right project/role.

In short

• I'm open to part-time work
• Will consider both one-off projects and long-term positions
• If this interests you or you know someone who might want to work together, I'd love to chat more. Drop me a message at francesco@nevernotready.club