Growing the team: welcoming experienced designers
Nathan, one of our Design Leads, came to us as a Senior Conceptual Designer with nearly two decades of creative industry experience, with a passion for print, strategic thinking and the ability to find and create impactful meaning. Nathan previously worked agency-side and in-house roles across B2B and B2C, completing global event branding projects within the telecommunications industry along with leading the creative element across a corporate identity rebrand for a well known, nationwide NGO.
With strong career aspirations and a young family to support, choosing the right role and employer was extremely important. So, from his very first conversations with HR, he experienced our transparency and openness – useful on both sides so that Nathan and we could test whether we were the right fit.
From interview to onboarding
After success in his first interview over Microsoft Teams (and asking plenty of questions along the way), Nathan tackled a tricky design brief, then came to the final in-person interview. “I was particularly pleased about the opportunity to come to the office, as I feel experiencing the creative work environment was an important part of the recruitment process when trying to form a well-rounded opinion about a potential employer,” Nathan explains.
Nathan has a 2-hour door-to-door commute, so flexible working at Hamilton-Brown was important for Nathan. “Having a young family certainly adds a new challenge into the working day.” We agreed with Nathan a two-day minimum in the office which suited him. “Traveling to London only twice a week is great for me and is so helpful with childcare to organise. Working from home 3-days a week also allows me to do the ‘nursery run’ and spend more quality time with my daughter which is priceless.”
The first day – and beyond
On Nathan’s first day he was welcomed by our HR and Creative teams before completing Hamilton-Brown’s Induction process, receiving his MacBook, and being ‘let loose’ on an assignment in the Studio. In the first few days Nathan shadowed another designer. “That was great!” Nathan remarked, “I got to see how things worked at Hamilton-Brown, the type of projects being produced and what the firm’s expectations of me were in those first few days. Everyone is super friendly: they’re always approachable and willing to help with a question and solve any issue.”
Every day is different here, and now Nathan is working on a range of projects – from conceptual proposal designs for global companies, client meetings and leading presentations to giving creative feedback to junior team members and reviewing artwork before it goes to print. Nathan now line manages a team of 5 designers. “Collaborating with my team on their objectives, career goals and sharing my knowledge to help them achieve their goals is an enjoyable and rewarding part of the job at Hamilton-Brown.”
As well as leading a team, Nathan has taken part in our firm-wide creative stand-ups, which showcases a specific area of design. “Talking about design and the creative process should be second nature to any designer and design agency. Being in a collaborate space here at Hamilton-Brown really facilitates this.” Nathan says.
Sharing his knowledge further, Nathan has created a Print Masterclass for designers who want to know more about the printing process and best-practice tips when designing for print media.
We’re delighted that Nathan brought his previous experience to bear on our clients and share with the team. Most important, Nathan has quickly become a valued member of Hamilton-Brown.
If you’re interested in joining Hamilton-Brown, check out our latest vacancies here.