I’ve always been creative, yet I didn’t always see it. Teachers always talked about my art and creativity whilst I was at school, but it was something that I never really considered as a career option. I wanted to be an architect, so I ended up doing art, maths and physics at college. One of my tutors noticed my keen interest and skill in graphic design however, which brought two of my big interests together: art and technology.
I decided to ditch physics and dedicate all my efforts into art (I unfortunately had to stick with maths to get enough points to get into uni!). I got into the University of Bath studying New Media - a course covering graphic design, video editing and web design - and I loved it! That was it, my career path was set. It was also here where I met Dan; our shared passions and the creative spark between us leading us to setting up Obladee after university.
Once I finally got a job in design (I graduated in the middle of a recession) I felt really connected to the fact that it was for a company that, on the face of it, was doing something good. And so, something else was solidified as well as my career path - a desire to create change and bring more good into the world through design.
I genuinely believe that if done well, and with thought and purpose, design can not only look the part but can also drive change and success too. I would love to do exactly this for you, with my (silent) creative partner in crime by my side…
I always loved art and crafts as a kid. Throughout school, and similar to Jon, I combined this passion with another of mine which was tech and computer skills, resulting in studying graphic design at GCSE then College and eventually University where myself and Jon met.
After Uni I got my first job within an in-house design team at a large tri-service military campus. I gained a huge amount of confidence in my graphic design skills as well as lots of experience in print and digital design, and was soon promoted to Lead Designer. The role unfortunately became less creative though so I left and became a graphic designer at the company I still work at today.
Obladee has been a part of my career journey alongside my full time roles, and keeps me inspired and motivated whilst challenging me creatively. I love solving problems and coming up with ideas, plus I get such a buzz from completing each project. If I can make someone happier or more successful then even better! That, to me, is how powerful design can be.
As individuals, and as a partnership, we are brilliant at what we do. We look at a brief from two different perspectives and which ultimately gives perfect, well balanced design solutions to match the brief and your needs.
We create design with purpose and meaning using our years of experience, with an unrivalled partnership dynamic which allows us to explore each idea fully and widely (until Dan ultimately pulls Jon back in!) to deliver exceptional results.
Check out our Portfolio to see how we work, the type of projects we love to work on, and the impact our designs make!
Want to chat about how we can help bring your mission, message and ideas to life? Contact us (well, Jon!) and let’s talk it through.
Obladee is inspired by the song 'Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da' by The Beatles. As big music fans and of The Beatles, we chose this playful name to represent our fun, creative approach to design. The whimsical nature of the name encourages us to think outside the box and create memorable experiences in our work.
We are aware that the tune has its fair share of both fans and critics, but we love the playful and creative spirit it embodies. This quirky, polarising name encourages us to embrace the unexpected, push boundaries, and create designs that leave a lasting impression - whether people love them or can't quite decide! The choice of this name reflects our commitment to delivering unique, innovative designs that resonate with a wide range of audiences.