A conversation with Sue Gibson, one of our Graphic Designers

Posted on Tags: Conversation, Strawberry Academy

How long have you worked at Strawberry?

I have been working at Strawberry since it was first established in 1993 and have seen the company grown from a team of two (me and Jonathan Leafe) to over twenty! I originally came to know Jonathan after answering his advert for a ‘mouseketeer’ in 1991. We started Strawberry in a small corner of our current office building and it’s great to see how much the company has, and is still growing now.

What’s changed since you started?

I’d say the biggest change has been the introduction of new technologies over the past 17 years. When I first started working at Strawberry, we were typing copy into documents from hand-written client notes and the introduction of floppy disk seemed like a revelation!

Obviously things developed quickly from then on but it’s funny to think back to how we used to work. Also, Strawberry has changed dramatically from a primarily design-led agency to a full service agency offering everything from e-commerce websites to public relations.

However, one thing that has never changed is our relationship with Hull City AFC – we have been designing their programmes ever since Strawberry started.

What software do you use?

I work in Quark Xpress, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator for my design work and also use Excel and internal administrative software on a daily basis.

What’s new with design? Have you noticed any new trends in client requirements?

I guess the biggest trend over the past few years is clients requiring integrated designs for their websites to tie in with brochures and offline advertising campaigns.

Do you have any other responsibilities?

I’m Strawberry’s work experience coordinator so have a good relationship with many of the local schools and colleges. The majority of our work experience students are of school age, however we will accommodate university students too.

So do you have any tips for people who want to work in the marketing industry?

We are committed to helping talented, enthusiastic individuals enter the industry which is why we have set up the Strawberry Academy – to help students of different ages gain experience and learn more about agency life.

We welcome anybody who is keen, interested and willing to learn. The industry is very competitive at the moment so work experience is a great way to give you an advantage.

What do you most enjoy about working at Strawberry?

I’m now in my 18th year at Strawberry so can safely say that I really enjoy the job! There’s never a dull moment and it’s particularly enjoyable when you can develop a good rapport with clients.

What projects are you currently working on?

I’m currently working on the marketing material for national building supplies merchant MKM. This involves designing adverts, point of sale material and brochures for individual campaigns and ensuring MKM branch managers can view them on the website ahead of ordering what they need.

Finally, what inspires you?

Good design!