Spotlight: Jon Wallace, Digital Designer, Bath

Name: Jon Wallace

Creative Field: Digital design

Location: Outskirts of Bath

Website: www.jonwallacedesign.com

Describe yourself in three words!

Obsessed with detail….

Tell us about your background

I have been working in the digital design space since I was 18 years old. I studied Multimedia at Bath University, learning the then tools of the trade. Since those early days of the digital revolution, I have stayed right up to date with the latest developments.  I have over 10 years experience of working with top UK agencies and worldwide client side organisations, including posts as a Senior Designer at renowned studio glue London, and as Design Lead for Mobile across Europe for Adobe    I have been well known in the design industry as dubbs (http://www.dubbs.org.uk/) for quite some time now, and have, and always will have a real passion for stunning design work. I recently returned back to the South West to set up my own company, jonwallacedesign - digital design studio, in January 2009.

What inspired you to launch your own business?

Having worked for some of the UK’s best agencies for around 10 years, I felt it was time to go it alone and take advantage of the massive array of industry contacts I had built up over those years. I have always wanted to work for myself as I am a self-confessed control freak and obsessed with detail… I love to have a lot of control over project work, conceputalising it with clients, planning architectures, design, developing and delivering.  Working for my own business affords me this freedom and means that I can ensure everything is always spot-on! I have always loved designing and that is the core of our business at jonwallacedesign – digital design studio. I have always developed for the web, with XHTML and Flash and feel the current availability of so much high quality open-source material enables us to develop as much as we design!

What’s your proudest moment so far?

This one is easy, the birth of Chloe my daughter outweighs anything to do with my career by miles! I guess from a career point of view; launching my business in January 2009 stands alone as a very proud moment for me.  As I am more of an introvert than an extrovert character, being able to get my company up and live and showcasing our talents has been really special for me.

And your greatest project?

I have been lucky enough to work on a tremendous amount of fantastic projects with the teams I worked with prior to launching jonwallacedesign – digital design studio.  But for me I would think it’s probably the planning, design and continual development of our own company website – http://www.jonwallacedesign.com/.  As I never see the site as a completed project, whenever I have downtime from client work I am always working on the next iterative version or feature which will enhance the site that little bit more – I am constantly striving to outshine the competition!

Who or what inspires you?

I have worked with some real superstars in the industry and I have been inspired by many of them and the work they create. I guess my real inspiration comes from my own desire to continually improve with every piece of work created – this keeps me insanely busy all the time, but I love it! I can’t bear standing still…

What do you hope to be doing in five years time?

I hope to be running a thriving business, enjoying my family and beginning and ending each day with a smile on my face! I don’t have a 5-year plan to become the next JWT…. I am very happy working directly with my clients keeping very close to the design and development of projects and will always continue to work this way!

When you aren’t being creative or running your business, you are…?

I used to be a keen Duathlete (that’s like a dry triathlon… running 10k, cycling 20k then finishing off with a 5k run), but these days due to the demands of having a daughter I no longer have the time to dedicate to the volume of training needed to complete such events! These days I spend any time not working with my daughter and partner or at the Rec watching Bath Rugby

Anything exciting ongoing or in the pipeline?

There’s always lots going on here with new clients coming on board all the time, which is fab!  For example, we have just been working with Destination Milton Keynes to develop the new brand identity and logo for the City of Milton Keynes.  We have also recently partnered with corporate communications consultants FCM-i to launch its new website (http://www.fcm-i.com).  And we’ve worked with Live Talkback (http://www.livetalkback.com) to design and launch both its new website and custom skins for its mobile voting (http://m.livetalkback.com).

Finally, any words of wisdom to other creative people or businesses?

Never stop working… Iteration and evolution is key to success!