I'm an Executive Creative Director, which means I’m someone who practices various forms of design, guides others, and makes creative and operational decisions to improve brands, products, organisations, creative teams, and hopefully, the lives of customers.
To do this, I put people first, and believe no matter what’s being designed, you’re ultimately designing an experience.
Outside of work, I’ve got a passion for various sports, music, psychology, animals, photography and video, and I guest lecture at HE institutions on things relating to brand and UX design...and still enjoy getting my geek on and doing some hands-on design work.
A more corporate version:
I’m an Executive Creative Director with extensive experience of brand development, internal comms, product development, IA, UX, UI, project management and business process management relating to SME’s, national and multi-national businesses/organisations.
I’ve sat on the Operating Executive of a global company; created identities for some of the biggest brands; helped create market leading products; taken a business from inception to a multi million pound turnover; and helped develop people in their roles.
My core strengths lie in creative direction for global audiences, people management, BX/UX/UI, marketing communications, design/studio management, operations blueprinting.
PHIL BANKS
LISTENER. DESIGNER. PROBLEM SOLVER.
LISTENER. DESIGNER. PROBLEM SOLVER.
WHY YOU SHOULDN'T HIRE ME
If you're looking for someone...
- who’s going to come in and rule with an iron fist
- who’s got a lot of deep coding experience
- who puts profit above people
- who gets their team to work all the hours they can
- who likes lots of long meetings
- who thinks people need to be in the office to work
- who puts clients before their team
- who clock watches
- who says yes to everything
- who’s going to do a lot of Powerpoint
- who puts efficiency above effectiveness
I'm not going to be the right one
But, if you're looking for someone...
- who’s got years of experience across many design disciplines
- who’s experienced in team management
- who’s experienced in running global teams
- who’s worked at ECD level
- who believes you’re always designing an experience
- who’s experienced in IA, BX, UX and UI
- who enjoys developing others
- who’s sat on the operating executive of a global company
- who’s experienced in project management
- who has client facing experience
- who loves photography
- who’s a bit of a process geek
- who’s worked with FTSE100 and S&P500 companies
- who’s experienced in design strategy
- who’s experienced in brand development
- who loves action sports
- who’s experienced in video production
- who loves psychology
- who loves music
- who’s experienced in business strategy
- who’s friendly
- who’s helped set up and run a +£million turnover company
- who’s strong in the Adobe suite
- who’s experienced in creative service management
- who’s experienced in workflow blueprinting
- who loves dogs
I could be the right one.
SPECIALITIES
- Creative Direction
- Team Management
- Brand Development
- Graphic and 3D Design
- Moving Image
- IA | UX | UI
- Photography and Video
- Business Blueprinting
- Project Management
- Account Management
- Budget Management
- Strategic Decision Making
SOFTWARE SKILLS
- Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects, Premier, Acrobat, XD, Dreamweaver, Lightroom
- Figma
- Sketch
- Webflow
- Squarespace
- Maxon Cinema 4DXL
- Ableton
- Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, Powerpoint (don’t tell anyone)
- Traffic
- Sage
- Mavenlink
- Lucid Charts
EXPERIENCE
- Creative Consultant
Various | 2017 - Present - Global Design Director
Mind Gym | 2014 -2017 - Looking after the international studios, the brand, the clients, the colouring pens, the colouring in people and even returning to the practice of colouring in every now and then.
- Part of Operating Executive Team.
- Design Manager/Head of Design
Mind Gym | 2012 -2014 - Looking after the studio, the brand, the clients, the colouring pens, and the colouring in people. And some design things too.
- Studio Manager
Mind Gym | 2012 -2012 - A step down to get back up…
- In basic terms I managed the workload so designers in the studio could make things look good.
In business talk, I looked after resource and workflow management of a busy design studio. Implementing systems and new working ways to help Mind Gym’s creative team take the next step in the design world. - Creative Director | Design and Marketing Communications Director
Eve Products | 2003 -2012 - Eve Products…what can I say; there were a lot of good times and I learnt a lot.
- Successfully co-managed the inception of this design led marcomms small business in competitive market segment, taking it from initial start-up to a £multimillion turnover company and leader in its field.
- Helped design and develop a market leading product.
- Created and managed a leading brand in the exhibition market: Twist.
- Full exposure to business strategy, marketing communications and general management.
- Developed an in-house design and print studio, with responsibility and accountability for: Creative direction; graphic design; art direction; multidiscipline team management; workflow, time and creative resource management (freelance, photography, agency etc); recruitment; staff mentoring; budget management; simultaneous project management (including print, multimedia and web); studio systems choice, design, management and implementation; and all design and print practices, employees and equipment. The design studio was used by many agencies as a White Label service and after realising the potential, was separated into an independent company in its own right by the owners in 2012: Rounded Edge Studio.
- Whilst at Eve Products, I had exposure to and responsibility of every aspect of business management including: Legal aspects such as patent and copyright law; financial management; employment law; and above all, all aspects associated with design and creative management.
- Designer
Xpo Innovate | 2002 -2003 - Marketing Communications Advisor
Litestructures | 2001 -2002
EDUCATION
BA (Hons) Business Studies
