1. Give a brief outline of your career to date.

I started working as a graphic designer straight out of college in 1999. Since then, I have worked for companies such as Triplicate Isis, Slater Design and The Pierce Group, managing brands such as Sony Entertainment and Bombardier. In 2017, I moved to Australia with my wife and worked as a creative director at Caramel Creative. When we came back to Belfast, I decided to work for myself and get back into the creative side of my career. I then launched Emersion Studios, offering a deeper approach to branding.

2. What was your favourite subject at school?

I had a real love of drawing and art. I had a fantastic A Level art teacher who encouraged everyone in the class and really started me off down the path of Art College.

3. Did you go on to further/higher education, if so, what did you study and where?

I went to Ulster University to study Art. I completed my foundation year, specialising in pottery, painting and 3Dimension drawing. I then studied Visual Communications for three years as a degree and the last two years I specialised in graphic design.

4. Is this what you have always wanted to do?

I’ve always loved graphic design, even when I was in school so for me, it seemed like my calling. I’m quite a perfectionist and that’s most likely what attracted me to graphic design due to the intense amount of detail and creativity.

5. Were there any essential qualifications or experience needed?

In my opinion, qualifications in an art-related field will give you a great foundation for most graphic design careers. I went with the university route because studios would find their next junior designers through open days and showcases.

6. Are there alternative routes into the job?

The first creative director I had never went to university. He started off in a studio but was fortunate to learn a lot in that job, and he had a natural talent for the field. I would say university degrees were the natural route, but times are changing as well as application requirements. Each path requires a considerable amount of time invested into learning but as long as you’re invested enough, you can achieve so much.

7. What are the main personal skills your job requires?

To be at the very top of your game, it’s about having the dedication and perseverance.

8. What are the best and most challenging aspects of the job?

When I first started out, computing en masse was on the cusp of going mainstream, but the computers themselves were really slow. Today, everything is instant. Emails were only coming in and we were still faxing things. We didn’t even have a coloured copier. So, everything took a lot of time: somebody would take two weeks to design a brochure, whereas now we’re taking a day or two.

The best aspect would be clients’ trust and expectations. I think the best clients always come through referral because they have heard what you can do and there will be more trust there because of that relationship they have with somebody else.

9. Why is what you do important?

A business wouldn’t be successful without branding and it contributes positively to business success. That’s why I’m here; to understand my clients’ business and issues so I can create a route to improve the business.

10. What advice would you give anyone looking to follow a similar career path?

I think the best piece of advice is to stay humble and have a sense of humility. No one is going to expect you to know everything. Employers respect you more when you ask questions and learn from your mistakes.

11. If you weren’t doing this, what would you like to do?

This is going to surprise a lot of people, but I like diggers. My dad worked for JCB, so I was brought on big diggers, and I never really grew out of it.

12. Describe your ideal day off.

An ideal day off is going out with my wife. Going out for a coffee or breakfast is the perfect day for me. We love a bit of shopping and going for walks. I really do enjoy the simple things