A Day in the Life of a Creative Director

Thinking, designing, and a sense of humour – Creative Director Ruthie Hawkesford describes her role at US and gives us some insights into what a typical day looks like….

What made you decide on a career in graphic design?

A love of illustration from an early age took me to art college where I fell in love with the beauty of the Apple Mac and typography… I was hooked and destined to be a graphic designer. With a BTEC and a Degree and a real passion for graphic design I started my career in London doing work experience at the best creative agencies and then working as an intern for an up and coming new media agency – now the world number one. 

I gained lots of experience working with big and small creative teams on clients like Sainsbury’s and IBM which helped to develop my skills. After a time I got tired of the big commute so moved to Jersey so I could cycle to work, and later decided to set up my own creative agency (with a colleague).

Describe your typical day in the life …

We are fortunate to work in a beautiful studio full of plants and natural light (I enjoyed shopping for the giant cactus the most) so every work day is a joy even when we have tight deadlines. 

Coffee is a must before 9am to get into gear. I also drink at least 1 litre of water during the day to keep my brain fed. The morning starts with a get together with the Studio Manager for a catch-up and often with the designers – reviewing work that has been created and making sure everyone knows their focus. Once the designers are briefed I get on with my own list!

There’s usually at least one client meeting every day, and as Creative Director I tend to be involved in a wide range of meetings and phone calls. This evolves into managing multiple projects and delegating tasks to the relevant team members. One of the favourite parts of my job are meeting with interesting people. We work with a wide range of clients, across different sectors and on projects of different sizes and I like the way that no two days are the same. 

Typically a designer works long hours. I have done my spell of all-nighters and weekends which I have really enjoyed. Therefore I try and be as efficient as possible with the time I have.

Any words of advice for a budding graphic designer?

Anyone looking to get in to the creative industry really needs to have a lot of energy, enthusiasm and good communication skills – as well as the skill and desire to envisage something beautiful.