Simon ByersHead of Design
What's the most memorable piece of work you've done in your globe-trotting career?
I've done quite a lot of work with charities. Generally this tends to involve working weekends and late nights as the budgets are tiny. The upside of this is working with an enthusiastic client on an interesting brief.
One job I particularly enjoyed was fundraising for a Hospice in New Zealand. Our re-brand and advertising campaign raised their annual donations by 150 percent. So not only did we get to produce some fantastic work, it was for a great cause.
How do you decide what is the best tool/medium for the message?
The first thing you need with any piece of communication is a good idea. Once you’ve got that, the medium tends to present itself.
What do you think makes a report readable?
Content. Design or art direction is no substitute for an engaging story.
Tell us where you get your design inspiration…
A good brief. Everything you need to produce great work should start from there.
Do you have a favourite artist and why?
I don’t really have any particular favourites, but I do enjoy seeing new and interesting work. Right now I really enjoy the work of the illustrator Rob Ryan. His detailed paper cuts are exquisite.
What job would you be doing if you weren't a designer?
Probably a photographer. I studied design and photography at college but ended up specialising in design for practical reasons – I spend half of my holidays behind the camera lens, much to the frustration of my lovely wife.
Where is home for you?
I grew up in New Zealand, but have spent the best part of the last decade travelling around the world – so home is a difficult one to tie down. I guess I'll always be a Wellingtonian at heart though.
