Interview with Rik Barwick
Aug 7, 2010
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Company: Creativitea Ltd
Portfolio: www.creativitea.co.uk
Country: United Kingdom
Profession: Company Director / Head of Digital Design
Tell us something about your background to introduce yourself.
I studied Graphic Design at The Surrey Institute of Art and Design a few years back and realised early that I wanted to work for myself rather than another agency. I started freelancing for extra beer and clothing money doing websites for local business. Most notably Natterjacks.com which is now one of the UK's largest urban clothing e-commerce stores which Creativitea still work on today.
This caught the eye of the design team at The Carphone Warehouse where I worked for a few years as a digital designer mainly working on digital marketing and their online portfolio.
In 2007 I decided that I wanted a new challenge and joined a direct marketing agency WDMP which I loved. I worked in a great team with clients such as Chelsea FC, Bonne Maman, Habitat and Betfair.
Later that year Electronic Arts called with an offer I couldn't refuse. I got headhunted and was given the opportunity to work on EAStore.co.uk as the lead design and also got the opportunity to work on flagship game titles like Battlefield, Command & Conquer, FIFA and Warhammer.
This was life changing really as it cost too much to use an Umbrella Group to deal with Tax and NI so I had a chat with my best mate Lloyd Bedford and put tea* into action.
We've been going now for a few years and used the recession to gain work, we were cheaper than the London based 'Super Agencies' and provided clients with a more personalised service. That coupled with great design work put us on the map in Guildford, Surrey.
We are now expanding the agency into a new premises and are looking forward to a bright future. With new challenges and opportunities.
Where from do you get your inspiration?
Inspiration arrives when your least expecting it I find, whilst shopping at Waitrose the inspiration for the layout for our new website creativitea.co.uk came to me.
My 1 year old Son and his yet to arrive brother inspire me to work late but also to get home and have fun and relax!
I do the usual web crawls and am always reading about design agencies. I also like to get out on my bike and think things over in The Surrey Hills. Nature is a massive inspiration to us all so I am strong believer in getting out there!
Do you use a sketchbook for your drafts?
Yeah and scrap bits of paper
What is your favored machine (Mac/PC)?
Mac
What new projects are you currently working on?
I am currently falling in love with Drupal so i am learning more about that CMS system.
Creativitea are working with new clients such as Geek Squad and Airport House on some great installations and websites.
What one quality do you think a person needs to make it as a designer?
The obvious answer would be 'creative' but apart from that i would say 'ambition'. This keeps designers learning, striving and working hard to deliver results!
I agree with Rik on the last question and I have to add that if you want to make it as a designer you also have to be hard working and learn to accept critics :)
Comment by Adriana
9. August 2010 @ 15:28