Why Berst?
Everything changed for us when we worked on our first joint venture at a previous agency. Rather than our normal fee, we worked for a reduced rate and took a small amount of equity in the venture.
We utterly believed in this business – its purpose and founders. But the real insight was switching to think like investors. Our primary interest became their long term success and how we could further their strategic goals.
It may seem like a subtle change but in reality we’d stumbled into a way to align our incentives with the founders and approach the project as entrepreneurs, as well as designers. Part of the thinking behind Berst is take this idea to the next level.
What expertise do you bring to Berst?
My background is design but in particular user-experience and service design. I’m especially interested in combining design and research to reveal unmet customer needs. And then applying creative thinking to imagine how these could be transformed into new products, services and businesses. This is design’s true superpower, even though most people view it as a way to make things pretty.
Lean Startup has also had a big influence on my thinking. I realise it has its critics but design has a tendency to drift and the lean mindset brings much needed rigour and honesty to our approach.
Most recently I’ve become interested in the potential for regenerative design, in particular, how cryptoeconomics opens new possibilities for building products and services that replenish natural resources by default.
What do you do outside of Berst?
Get outside. I love exploring the countryside with my family and running on the South Downs with my dog Ernie. I like to think I've got a pretty eclectic music taste (although my friends disagree) and still make the odd bleepy mixtape.
Why Berst?
I’ve had the pleasure of working with clients of all shapes and sizes, but there is nothing more exciting than working directly with entrepreneurs. This combination of big, bold thinking and deep domain knowledge elevates me.
However, having spent most of my career in traditional agencies, I was often left frustrated when promising ideas were placed on the backburner or ignored because BAU was prioritised over innovation.
So we created Berst to change that. Now we get to work directly with founders and leaders to shape the business proposition itself. We have the perfect setting for helping our partners move fast and take huge leaps forward, and I get to deliver the most impactful work of my career.
What expertise do you bring to Berst?
With over 20 years in the industry, I bring a wealth of experience as well as optimism and curiosity to each new project. I thrive on taking complex, abstract ideas and turning them into simple and beautiful products that customers love.
I like to get under the skin of a business and reveal a brand’s unique qualities. But above all, I enjoy delivering tangible, valuable solutions. After all, the only magic that really matters is the magic that makes it into the real world.
What do you do outside of Berst?
I’m a maker at heart and love to tinker with digital fabrication tools like 3D printing and CNC. But I most enjoy the feel and the smell of working with wood. It’s the perfect antidote to designing for screens.
I’m also an avid cook and bread maker and have recently found myself addicted to cooking over fire. Everything from low and slow barbecue to pizza.
The mountains are my happy place and I take as many opportunities as I can to hike, bike or snowboard. I currently live by the sea in Brighton with, my partner and three children.
