Who am I really?
I grew up in a small town that was sort of rough around the edges as a nerdy goth. I can be highly creative when needed but can also be pretty logical when I need to be. I grew up with parents who were kind of unusual—they lived in both worlds, one creative and the other analytical. Over the years, I've learned leadership by constantly pushing myself to step up but really started out a shy desk jockey. I started designing at a young age because it was something I could do on a computer, and I loved messing around with technology. I still believe technology can be magical and full of possibilities.
What do you really do? It sounds like you're a broad generalist.
People talk about T shapes or V shape people, i think i'm just a square. Most of my background is in digital design—I've spent most of my career designing apps and websites. Way back, I was actually a programmer through some strange circumstance. I learned to do that when i was pretty young as well and still know enough to experiment. I also spent four years in Amsterdam working in advertising. Along the way, I started doing content creation and branding as natural extensions of the design work I was already doing. So, branding and content always came from a digital design core for me. Oh, and I’ve always had a love for motion design, not just in UI but broadly. I made things move before it was cool. Early in my career, I went back to school for post-production, Maya, and 3D. I didn’t stick with it long-term, but those skills have come in handy over the years especially when touching film during my advertising years.
Do you have a leadership style?
Yes, i have philosophies for everything. I was a relucant leader and as i stepped into that world i am constantly trying to understand what it means to be good at it. I read everything i could. I think about a lot of things but i think the biggest ones for me start with these:
First. Bringing optimisim to the team. No matter what the circumstances showing how we can get through it together.
Second. Create clarity and space. Make sure plans, approaches, concepts, ideas, really anything is communicated with simplicity so everyone can understand. Then, make sure that teams/people are on the same page and have the space to communicate when they aren't or have different opionions and approaches.
Third. Listen first. I've been known as a 'fixer'. I get dropped into difficult situations and fix them but that actually only starts with hearing where people are coming from. Clients. Teams. Management. Everything and anything. Usually you can understand where the gaps are if you truly listen first.
What about design? Do you have any philosophies or an aesthetic?
I mean, so many. More than i can list. But my background means i can flex pretty broadly with design. I love swiss design but personally prefer the David Carsons deconstructed approach. I loved when the NFT craze came to be because suddenly design was fun again. Swiss design is great but soulless. In the end the thing maybe the best thing i can say is i constantly look for the nugget of truth in whatever we're doing to zero in on. If it's a site, a brand, and experience, whatever. Go for that thing and push it in all directions until you find yourself where you need to be.
Are you still in the work?
The short answer is yes. The much longer answer is it's the wrong question. Having someone quite senior in the work can be as disruptive to teams and speaks to bad leadership if not handled properly. If needed i will lean in and do the work, specifically if the team is struggling in one way or another. I can lean in and support. But the real solve as a leader to be able to solve it without you being the solution yourself. Theres so many other tools from simple inspiration, clear direction all the way to augmenting the team with people who can put the focus needed.
Have you really been doing this for over 25 years?
Depending on when you start counting, yes. I would say i've always been doing this. I saved up to buy my first computer when i was 12. Sold my Super Nintendo and cut lawns. One of the first thing i did is get Corel Draw / Corel Photopaint on there and started playing with them. I didn't touch Photoshop for a few until i was on my first mac but was intro'ed to 2.0 (the version before layers) in a college 'world wide web' course i took when i was 13, this would have been 1993. So, if you count from when i was 12 i've been doing this for over 30 years. I count from my first professional job in the industry which i got when i was 18 where i started as a "Production Designer" designing microsites for Spin Magazine and some local businesses and helping build them. The only real job i've had outside the industry was doing data entry and database management for a financial advisor, so even then it was somewhat related.
Ok old man, you must be super out of touch
I mean, maybe, but i don't think so. I think what's fascinating is that i've now seen both business trends and design trends go through their cycles. Everyone is super excited about 3d and motion, just like they were in the early 00's in the Flash haydays. There's a push towards "retro" digital design but that retro design is where i started. Skeuomorphism is back. People want design that has FEELING again. And i'm here for it. Plus the ebb and flow of agencies and clients has always had a push and pull and it's interesting to be able to stand back and see the signals through 20+ years of experience.
I think second thing really is, because of the strange immense journey i've been on i can speak to so many aspects of creativity. It's not just design but film, photography, campaigns and i can also draw from these as influences to cross across ideas and tie it together in different ways. I'd like to hope that experience and approach is unique.
This whole thing doesn't sound very "executive" to me
Well, maybe not, but it is who i am. Just simple and straightforward. I would argue that those are two traits that make for great executives. I'm happy to be open about who i am, my experience and things i've done in the past. That history is vital to good leadership. I've used this approach to steer an office, multiple regions, dispersed teams, in person teams and worked with every scale of client to build trust and deliver work. Even transform their organization. I've become and advisor to people at every level from c-suite, all the way to junior designers deep in the weeds. Approachability, listening, honestly and being able to operate with integrity and experience. I think that sounds like an executive to me.
What about the business side what do you know about that?
Beyond all the creative experience and things i hope you expect like resourcing, estimation and things i've been doing for years. I also have experience running agencies.
I was on the leadership team of Huge Toronto running a 24m YoY office. Eventually transitioning to running creative regionally spread across Canada, US and UK accounting for about 35m in business with a P&L that reported centrally.
In Amsterdam, I had a small office and team with me being the primary creative lead. I steered that office out of the red, avoided losing a key client and winning work that expanded the team and lead to growth and hiring.
In London i helped run the 100+ person studio as part of a small cohort of leaders with a bank of direct reports. This is where the 'logical' brain really comes in handy. I bring a lot of business and agency context to the table. I've had to deal with scaling up, scaling down, layoffs, hiring. All the headwinds and tailwinds of the industry and been in the numbers of operating a business. I care pretty deeply about this part knowing that these are the things that drive the rest of everything.