About 8i Studio

A senior, design-led consultancy.
No juniors. No hype.

We do the audit, build the roadmap, and put the right two or three things into production – without burning your operation down on the way through.

Two operators · UK-based · Onsite or remote.

Why we exist

There's too much noise. Not enough progress.

The AI conversation has become exhausting. New tools every week. Conflicting advice.

Most businesses don't have a head of AI. They have a managing director and a team that's already stretched. They don't need another list of tools. They need someone to walk the floor with them and tell them what's worth doing.

That's why external is the point. We're not justifying a department. We come in, do the work, and leave you with something you can act on.

Who we are

Two people. Senior eyes on every line.

Luke Sharman, Founder of 8i Studio
Luke Sharman
Founder
LinkedIn →

Luke has run regulated, marketing-heavy businesses. He knows where implementation goes wrong – and why it usually has nothing to do with the technology.

At Get Claims Advice, he ran the operating side of a regulated financial-services firm. GDPR, FCA conduct rules, SRA obligations, digital marketing – all on the same desk. He learned what compliance looks like in practice. And how to make a complex service feel simple to a customer.

That's the background 8i is built on. He has operated at the intersection of compliance and commercial marketing – a combination that's rarer than it sounds, and increasingly necessary.

His position: most businesses don't need more tools. They need someone to walk in, look at the actual work, and tell them what two or three things are worth doing.

Jonny Tyson, Partner at 8i Studio
Jonny Tyson
Partner
LinkedIn →

Jonny's job is knowing what not to automate.

He's been at the front of marketing, sales, web design and automation long enough to have strong views about each. His position: just because you can automate something doesn't mean you should. The personal touch – the call, the email written by a real person, the moment a customer feels seen – is often the asset. Not the friction.

He knows the modern stack well enough to know which tools are quietly excellent and which are loud and brittle. He's built real things. He has the judgement that comes from that.

At 8i he leads on marketing, sales infrastructure, and design. Growth without losing your voice – that's the brief he holds himself to.

How we work together

Luke runs the audit, the strategy, and the regulatory side. Jonny runs the build, the marketing, and the design – and is the loudest voice in the room when the answer is don't automate that. Every piece of work passes both desks.

Two people. No juniors hidden in the back room. Senior eyes on every line.

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How we work

Six things we always do.

i.

Start with the work, not the tools

We map the actual jobs your team does before we say a single word about software. Tools come last.

ii.

Bust the myths, plainly

From "AI will replace everyone" to "AI is just autocomplete" – we strip the spin and tell you what's real.

iii.

Plain language, every time

If we can't explain a recommendation to a 14-year-old, we don't recommend it. No jargon-by-the-pound.

iv.

Onsite beats over-the-shoulder

We come to you. Watching real work happen tells us more in an hour than a Zoom call ever could.

v.

People before automation

We automate work, not roles. The aim is to give your team their best hours back – not replace them.

vi.

Pragmatic, not precious

We'll tell you when AI is the wrong answer. Sometimes the fix is a spreadsheet, a process change, or just hiring properly.

Who we work with

Businesses that want real results.

We work with owners and leadership at SMEs, agencies, trades, and service businesses. If any of these sound familiar, we're probably a good fit.

  • Teams that have tried AI but aren't getting results
  • Owners who keep hearing about it but don't know where to start
  • Operations leaders chasing time back across the team
  • Businesses preparing for growth and looking to operate leaner without adding headcount

Some clients have never opened ChatGPT. Others are running daily AI workflows that feel like they should be doing more. Both are welcome – we meet you where you are.

Want a second opinion on your AI plans?

Book a free 30-minute call. We'll listen, ask a few questions, and give you our honest take – no sales pitch, no obligation.