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STUART WATSON
EP.51

 

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Stuart Watson

The Premier League rebrand + what's wrong with the design industry

In episode #51, Ross is joined by Stuart Watson, Founder & Partner of Nomad.

Stuart started his career as the first junior designer ever hired by Wolff Olins. He moved to venturethree where he became a Partner at 27, and later, Design Studio as an ECD where he played an integral part in rebranding the Premier League. In 2016, Stuart started his own Studio, Nomad, with Terry Stephens. Nomad’s clients include Premier League, Disney, BT, Sky, The FA, Natural History Museum, and Rolls Royce.

Ross and Stuart discuss why we need to find a better remuneration model in the design industry, our addiction to branding, and a new method of collaborating to win and create better work.

 
 
 

Highlights

 

You become a trusted advisor or partner who has got their back rather than a gun for hire

When we, as an industry, get it right we add unbelievable value to the bottom line of a business

I definitely think there's gotta be a smarter way to be compensated for the work that we do

 

But the minute something's asked for free, then they have all the power and we’re subservient to them. It's not healthy

I don't think anyone feels that pitching is valid or valuable or adds anything

 

Great work, in my opinion, comes from trust. And that trust comes from relationships

More about Stuart Watson

Stuart Watson is a graphic designer based in London. He started his career as the first junior designer ever hired by Wolff Olins. Whilst there he co-created the brand for ‘Oi’ – Brazil’s fastest ever start-up to reach one million customers, winning a Guinness World Record and Grand-Prix at The DBA Awards. In 2003 he left to join venturethree where he became a Partner aged 27 and went on to create brands for Sky, The Times, Little Chef, and King; who's IPO valued them at US$7.08 billion. In 2015, Stuart joined Design Studio as ECD, winning the pitch to rebrand Premier League. A year later, fed up with being an employee, Stuart quit, finding himself unemployed and unemployable. He started Nomad with Terry Stephens in 2016 with a maxed-out Amex card as funding. Their first project was the rebrand of Sky Sports, followed by The FA Women’s Super League, a refresh of the Premier League, and the 2018 Cannes Lions event branding. 

Nomad now has a roster of Mass Fantastic clients including Premier League, Disney, BT, Sky, The FA, Natural History Museum, and Rolls Royce. We are also proud sponsors of Hackney Laces, a community-supported and run football club for girls who want to play football and learn new skills, on and off the pitch.

Stuart has had articles published in Fast Company, Muse by Clio, Campaign Magazine, Tortoise, Design Week, and Creative Review, and has been a D&AD judge, and Chair of AGDA, Australia in 2015. He's also a visiting lecturer at Nottingham Trent University. His awards include: Transform Awards Gold, 2019 – The FA Women's Football D&AD In Book, 2012 – Little Chef Creative Review, Best in Book, 2012 – Little Chef Brand New Awards, 2012 – Little Chef Transform Awards Gold, 2012 – Little Chef Transform Awards Silver, 2012 – Little Chef D&AD Silver, 2010 – The Times D&AD in Book, 2006 – Sky DBA Grand Prix, 2003 – Oi Guinness World Records, 2003 - Oi

Find Stuart here: Website | LinkedIn | Instagram

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Season 03 of One More Question focuses on brands and, more importantly, brands that make an impact in people's lives.

This podcast came about because we want to share some of the best answers we have heard over the last 14 years. We talk to significant creators, experts and communicators we encounter and share useful insights, inspiration, and facts that make us stop and take note as we go about our work.


Hosted by our founder Ross Drakes.

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