5 minutes with leading advertising, design and media professionals - Creativepool

5 minutes with...

Every month we talk to leading advertising, design and media professionals from the industry. If you'd like to contribute to the feature then please email Owen for more information
 

 Our latest Interviews... 


Barry Christie

Barry Christie

Creative Director, JWT London

JWT London is an integrated creative agency of international imagination. Our heritage of innovation, our scale and experience of the world, along with the quality of our people, defines who we are.


Alan Long

Alan Long

Creative Director, Sane & Able

Sane & Able is a creative agency that offers you a complete range of design skills all in one compact little package. Our experience and knowledge gives us the insight to be able to tailor bespoke projects from the very earliest stage to the final delivery, whether they are print, online, packaging, branding - we can help.


Graham Wall

Graham Wall

Executive Creative Director, The Marketing Store

The Marketing Store is one of Britain’s leading integrated agencies. Our London office has about 250 people, with around 100 creatives working across all disciplines, including promotional, retail, experiential, product and digital, the last of which we integrate into everything we do.


Neil Marra

Neil Marra

Creative Director, Creativespark

Creative Spark is one of the North West’s leading brand and design agencies, with a head office based in Manchester’s creative hub - the Northern Quarter.

The agency will celebrate its tenth year in business this year and boasts a client roster including Universal, Manchester United, ASICS, Peter Kay and Lilly Allen.


Nick Stickland

Phil Swan

Creative Director, Erskine Design

Erskine is a full service creative agency helping both established brands and start-ups to engage with their audience through effective design and innovative technology.


Nick Stickland

Michael C Place

Creative Director, Build

Founded in 2001, we are a London-based graphic design agency. Our strength is in producing bold, memorable and effective graphic design and communications— including for print, packaging, digital and moving image. We work for clients big & small, including Nokia, Design Museum London, Sony, Getty Images and a host of smaller independents.


Nick Stickland

Simon Shaw

Creative Director, Exposure

Exposure is a creative communications business. We were founded on the power of network 18 years ago and we still work on that same principal today. We generate ideas and content that spark conversations, are talked about and shared across our network and beyond.


Nick Stickland

Paul West

Creative Director, Imagination

Launched in London in 1968, Imagination is an independent communications agency whose roots lie in non-traditional, live, experience marketing. Imagination has fifteen offices around the world, and the full complement of in-house talent, from brand consultants to architects, advertising specialists to interior designers, retail specialists and event producers to direct marketers and digital experts.


Nick Stickland

Nick Stickland

Creative Director, ODD

I like to think, ODD is the integrated creative agency specialising in consumer marketing for fashion and lifestyle brands.


James Khan

James Khan

Creative Director, Ice

Ice is a brand experience agency , we help our clients express their brand values through live events, exhibitions & environments.


Coca Cola

Simon Needham

Co-Founder, Executive Creative Director, ATTIK

ATTIK is a global creative agency. We develop branding, interactive experiences and fully integrated advertising campaigns for our clients. Once our primary focus was on awesome design. We've now built strong strategic planning, advertising, production, and client service departments. Our team has found extraordinary success across most consumer product and service categories. With the right strategy, creative ideas and gorgeous design, we come up with branding and advertising solutions that ensure target audiences stay connected to our clients' brands.


Coca Cola

Guy Duncan

Global Creative Director, Coca-Cola TM, The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company needs little introduction, but I can say I'm incredibly lucky to work for Jonathan Mildenhall who leads Content Excellence here in Atlanta, at a time when creativity and the development of excellent creative work is high on the company's agenda.


Medina Films

Michelle Coomber

Director, Medina Films

Medina Films is a London-based production company creating high calibre documentaries, commercials and promos in the UK and internationally. We are global storytellers in a digital world.

 

 


Minx Creative

Oliver Maltby

Creative Director, The Chase

The Chase is a creative consultancy, based in London, Manchester and Preston. We work mainly in branding but have done everything from a football stadium design to stamps. Our strength is the variety or work we produce. It's kept us in the top five of the creative league table for almost a decade now. .


Minx Creative

Simon Pendry

Creative Director, Blue Marlin

Blue Marlin is the home of landing big ideas, which are at the heart of everything we do. We pride ourselves on delivering relevant, unique and consistent experiences across brand touch points worldwide. Blue Marlin is an independent integrated brand design consultancy with an international network of offices across the UK, USA, Australia and the Far East.


Minx Creative

Steve Vranakis

Creative Director EMEA, Creative Lab, Google

In the world of search engines there are none bigger than the giant that is Google. Check out our interview with Google's Creative Director EMEA, Creative Lab

 


Minx Creative

Roz Nazerian and Nicola Graham

Co-founders and Creative Directors, Minx Creative

"Minx Creative is a full service creative studio. We create integrated campaigns and design for print, identity, branding, display and digital based projects."


Flock

Sophie Moore

Creative Partner, Flock

"First and foremost we're a design and advertising agency. We look at our clients' problems and solve them creatively."

 


Bliss

Jon Stutfield

Creative MD, BLISS

"We're a digital agency whose founding mantra was to be a pleasure to work with. In reality that means being honest, producing great work and achieving our clients' objectives. And being nice, but that just comes naturally to us."


We Love

Mark Anderson

Creative Director, Founder

"We Love... A fresh new take on what a digital creative agency can be...
Progressive and flexible, driven and creative, we offer an alternative way forward in terms of design, strategy, attitude and ultimately deliverables. Our strength lies in our understanding of markets and brand, our clarity of communication and the intensity of engagement we can achieve."


Minttwist

Alexin Pratsides

Managing Director, MintTwist

"MintTwist is a London based, full service Digital Agency. Working with SMEs and Corporates in the UK, Europe and the Middle East, we help design and implement digital strategies that deliver a measurable ROI."


Baron

Robin Arnold

Creative Director, Baron

"Barôn are a branding and digital agency based in Bolton. We are a small team of award winning designers and developers who strive to create contemporary, intelligent design."


Blair Thomson Believe in

Wesley Brelsford

Creative Lead, View Creative

"View Creative is located in Rhos on Sea, a small town in North Wales so our clients are based across Wales and the UK. As much as we work on big jobs, a lot of the time, we haven't forgotten how to work small. Our clients are as large as the Royal Albert Hall, or as little as a local primary school. Our long standing client list demonstrates our longevity and reliable performance. Our work is creative, considered and always of the highest quality.

Although we are one of the largest design teams in Wales, we are small enough so that we are flexible, adaptable and able to give any project the full attention it deserves. You will see from our portfolio that we are professional but we haven't forgotten how to have fun!."


Very Own Studio

Mark Ferguson

Design and Art Director, Very Own Studio

"Very Own Studio is a small independent practice specialising in identity and graphic design for print and screen. It was formed by Mark Ferguson in 2009 in Manchester but is currently based in sunny Brighton."

 


Headscape

Paul Boag

Co-founder, Headscape

"I have always been rubbish at elevator pitches! But here goes... Headscape is a web design company that offers development, design and consultancy services. We have a broad client base from large public sector organisations to charities, higher education institutions and multi-million pound ecommerce websites."


Blair Thomson Believe in

Andrew J Brown

Creative Director, Brass

"A new agency 28 years young. Brass is a new breed of marketing communications agency. Using new insight, ideas and technology, we help clients succeed in a world of constant change."

 

 

 


Blair Thomson Believe in

Luke Taylor

1 half of Us, Us

"Us is a multi-disciplinary design and direction studio, whose work covers brand identity, printed literature, advertising, motion, installations & web. We believe that projects should stem from good ideas no matter how big or small. In their studio they look to create work that excites, inspires and most importantly meets the needs of the client."


Blair Thomson Believe in

Dave Benton

Interactive Creative Director, Metajive

"We are a small interactive company that cares about making things good for our clients. Our moto is keep it clean/fun because both are equally important."

 


Blair Thomson Believe in

David Freer

Founding Partner, O Street

"We are a multi-disciplinary (only bit of jargon, promise!) design company with a head office in Glasgow. We pride ourselves in offering a wealth of big company experience with small company overheads. Our sleek approach also allows us to work with our clients in a much more direct and fun way."


Blair Thomson Believe in

Paul Franklin

Creative Director, Heavenly

"Heavenly is a branding agency established in 2002. We believe in capturing people's imagination with refreshing brand strategy and iconic creative work. We work the world over. From America and Russia to the Middle East and India. With the biggest of brands to the smallest start ups. We like travelling and we like a healthy mix of clients. We're strategists, writers, designers, art directors and producers. We think about brands from every perspective, from internal culture to advertising, digital to broadcast and print. We make brands that are well rounded."


Blair Thomson Believe in

Paul Logan

Creative Director, breathingjuice

"breathingjuice produces digital design and motion graphics for a wide range of clients and the very best creative agencies. We create digital content that can work across multiple platforms including website channels, social media campaigns, mobile applications, live events, exhibitions and outdoor advertising."

 


Blair Thomson Believe in

Scott Bedford

Creative Director, Digital Jigsaw

"Not only is Scott's agency work great but he also has an award-winning blogging presence which is well worth a look so make sure you check out Scott's interview here."

 


Ross Stirling Studio Juice

Ross Stirling

Creative Director, Studio Juice

"We specialise in creative for print, digital, mobile and retail. Our designers, producers and technologists sit side by side in small, integrated teams. This approach allows us to react quickly and strategically for our clients, helping them win. We are heavily based in music but take on a wide variety of briefs from various industries."

Check out Ross's interview.


Blair Thomson Believe in

Steven Walls

Creative Director, Tomorrow People

"We listen, we create, we engage, we transform, we grow."

Be sure to have a read of our interview with Steven.


Blair Thomson Believe in

Blair Thomson

Creative Director, Believe in

"Believe in is an independent design and branding agency established in 1996. We exist to articulate engaging, provocative and effective brand experiences driven by ideas and solid research. We push boundaries and exploit possibilities, working in partnership with ambitious clients to realise the full potential of their brands."

Check out this great interview with Blair.


Ben Winter, Digital and Direct

Ben Winter

Digital Creative Director, Digital & Direct

Digital and Direct are a branding agency with a huge list of clients that they have created fantastic content for.

Join us for the latest '5 Minutes With' interview with DAD's Ben Winter where we discover what Ben studied to begin his route into the creative industry as well as his appreciation of Batman and the most pragmatic mobile app choices.


Jon Humphreys, The Neighbourhood

Steve Boswell

Deputy ECD, Lowe and Partners

 Steve Boswell is the Deputy ECD of Lowe and Partners. We caught up with Steve for the latest exclusive Creativepool interview.

From getting started in the creative industry to Mr. Magoo and the appreciation of a good beard, it's all here!


Jon Humphreys, The Neighbourhood

 Jon Jumphreys

Creative Director, The Neighbourhood

 Jon Humphreys is the Creative Director and Co-founder of Neighbourhood; a branding, design and animation agency.

Find out how Jon went from studying architecture with a interest in a broad range of design to being at the forefront of this multimedia company and working with clients such as Sony Playstation, Nike, Lexus and others.


Rosie Arnold, BBH

Rosie Arnold

Deputy Executive Creative Director, Bartle Bogle Hegarty

Being a deputy executive Creative Director at Bartle Bogle Hegarty, deputy president of D and AD as well as other positions, Rosie Arnold has a great deal of experience and expertise in the advertising industry.
 

Read this '5 minutes with' to discover how Rosie got into the advertising industry as well as her love of Cornwall and eBay!


Ivanka Majic

Creative Strategy Lead, Canonical

Ivanka Majic is the Creative Strategy Lead at Canonical, a company that delivers free-to-use software platforms.

In this week's '5 minutes with', we interview Rosie to discover what she loves about her job as well as her love of Westwood handbags and motorbikes!
 


Dave Dye

Commissioning Editor, DHM

Meet Dave Dye - Creative Director of DHM, although during our quick 5 minutes with Dave we found out that he would rather you call him a Commissioning Editor, "because it sounds cooler".

This nugget of wisdom is just one of many uncovered in our brief interview. Amongst the others, Dave tells us about how he got started in the business, what a normal day in the office involves and what he would be doing if he weren't doing that.
 


Ben Walker

Creative Director, Beattie McGuinness Bungay

In our brief interview, Ben tells us about how he started off in the industry by attending a copywriting course in Hounslow. We touch upon what exactly the job involves, the opportunity to work with wonderfully talented people, and the perks of the job.

This swift yet intresting encounter, is quite left of centre so join us as we discuss, The Stone Roses, sharing brilliant ideas and selling hotdogs at QPR.
  


Peter Riley

Chief Creative Officer, 20:20

Peter Riley is the Chief Creative Officer of the digital advertising agency, 20:20. Starting off in the industry as a copywriter, he now spends his days overcoming clients' problem with creativity.

We sat down with Peter to discuss what he loves about the job, his favourite pieces of creative work and advice he has for people wishing to make a name for themselves.
 


Edward Lloyd-Williams

Creative Director, cScape

Starting off as an interactive designer, Edward Lloyd-Williams is now Executive Creative Director at cScape - we caught up with him to discus his rise in the industry and the lessons learnt along the way.

Edward tells us, amongst other things, his favourite work online, the ups and downs of working in the industry and the best pieces of advice he could give.
 


Graham Pugh

Executive Creative Director, Teamspirit

Do Executive Creative Directors still remember what it was like to sit on the other side of the table?

Should they roll their sleeves up and crack out the odd idea? What happens if creative people are rubbish at presenting? And how is it these days for agencies that specialise in the financial markets?

These and many more devilishly tricky questions are answered by creative supremo, and all round top bloke, Graham Pugh.
 

 


 

 
 
 

Career Advice