The Grayson Perry of Commercial Creative Thinking
Grayson Perry’s Art Club not only made fine art accessible, but showed people that creativity is valuable, important, and centred on how you think and feel, not how well you draw.
In a commercial space, the need for change is often hamstrung by the equally important need for productivity, profitability, and a whole bunch of KPI’s.
Change requires a creative thinking, but creative thinking can be tricky to quantify.
I’ve been delivering design in commercial spaces for 30 years, both at senior management level in a busy manufacturing plant, and as a freelancer. Like Grayson, I understand how to normalise the value of the creative process, and give it context. I can bring creative thinking into your process, but also help verbalise that in a way that makes sense at board level.
The problem I solve:
I can help work through brand strategy - building the symbolism and storytelling that forms the backbone of your tone of voice, values, and your visual identity.
I can facilitate workshops to encourage your teams to think differently - either in general terms, or around a specific project.
I can help adapt productivity systems such as Lean to work within design teams, helping find the balance between creative agility and reportable productivity.
How much it costs:
My daily rate for workshops starts from £500 per day,
1-2-1 sessions are £75 per hour, and can be run in person or via Teams
My MO is always to find a creative way to solve problems in tight spaces, so if you have particular needs, please get in touch. There’s always a way!
About Me:
I’m based in Wales, but grew up in various places around the UK.
After completing my Foundation Diploma in art and design, I studied Jewellery and Silversmithing design at Loughborough, which is where I discovered bas-relief sculpting. This led me to an apprenticeship as an engraver at the Royal Mint.
——————-
I spent 15 years at the Royal Mint, rising to the post of Chief Engraver in 2004.
It was during this time that I learned to balance design with the commercial needs of a busy event driven business, and the importance of being able to verbalise creative ideas in a way that makes their value apparent to more commercial areas of the business.
During my tenure, I was technical advisor to the UK coin advisory committee, as well as technical design advisor for the London 2012 Olympic medals.
I was chair of the Royal Mint’s first innovation team, and headed a 2 year initiative to introduce a product prototyping ‘cell’ into the design department, resulting in a 75% drop in lead times, and raised the rolling ‘On Time In Full’ KPI from 25% to 96%.
——————-
I parted ways with the Mint in 2011, and spent a year working with GDR Creative Intelligence, a London based innovation consultancy specialising in the retail sector.
Although brief, this role showed me the transferable nature of my commercial design experience, and also revealed my innate ability for pattern spotting and connecting different ideas.
——————-
In 2012, I returned home to Wales and began working as a freelance designer, quickly falling back in with the coin industry.
I taught myself digital sculpting, and this formed the backbone of my work. I also began working at Cardiff met University, as an associate tutor on the Graphic Design degree, where I delivered workshops and modules aimed at boosting the students critical and lateral thinking skills.
My Credentials:
Enterprise Leader: Rose from apprentice to Chief Engraver at The Royal Mint, directing creative vision and prototype manufacturing in a fast paced, event driven envirnoment.
Innovation Consultant: Worked with GDR Creative Intelligence to spot market patterns and drive retail innovation for heavyweight brands including Louis Vuitton, Intel, and McDonald’s.
Agile Freelancer: Spent 15 years delivering product and packaging strategies for international clients, strictly balancing creativity with commercial ROI.
Academic Pedagogue: 13 years as an Associate Higher Education Tutor, helping students broaden their creative knowledge and critical thinking skills.