I'm honoured to be a jury member for the 'Design for Good' category for this years DIELINE Awards.
This will be my second time on the Jury, with my first in 2025 on the panel for the 'Limited Editions' category. For 15 years, DIELINE Awards have celebrated the world’s most innovative and creative packaging designs. From luxury brands to sustainable solutions, the competition honours those who push the boundaries of packaging as an art form, showcasing exceptional work from designers and brands globally.
Super excited to see the work and play my part in the selection process.
I had the pleasure of guesting on the WiseNoise podcast, hosted by Pearse O'Halloran of WiseLove. With a background in stand-up comedy and radio, it was only a matter of time before he started his own podcast. I've known Pearse for a number of years, having first encountered him at a GAB talk in which he shared his story in his unique comedic style. He's hilarious and a talented creative so it was nice to have a more relaxed catch up style format where we could chat shit and have some laughs.
In an unconventional approach, it kicked off with a “I'm not doing the journey so far story”, instead, a very funny nod to my recent Creative Boom episode, mini violins at the ready 🎻 🤣.
Pearse’s format included ‘blowing smoke up my arse’ where we discussed some of his favourites projects of mine, a quick-fire round via the ‘Bingo Wheel of Wisdom’ with a real bingo set, each number corresponding to an assigned question, and finishing strong with the ‘heavy dessert menu’ where I chose an industry topic to chew on.
Best watched on YouTube for the visuals, or just listen along. Cheers to Pearse for having me on, it was a blast.
I’ve been a long-time fan of Creative Boom and an avid podcast listener, so being asked to come on as a guest was a proper “wait… really?” moment. Full bucket-list behaviour.
Katy Cowan was an absolute joy to chat with. Having known her for what feels like forever as an online pal, she instantly put me at ease — which led to some unexpectedly vulnerable moments. We talked about everything from my creative journey and running a studio, to surviving a knife attack, losing my dad, work ethic, and all the messy, human bits in between.
PART II - The Spark There's a half-hour bonus episode called 'The Spark' where things get a lot more playful and light-hearted as I answer some quick-fire questions about quirks, guilty pleasures, the creative advice I ignore, and what really happens behind the scenes when I'm out of my depth. Me and Katy talk parenting, music, creative identity, and my inner critic 'Steve'. There are seaside amusements, mosh pits and broken toes!
Branders Magazine is a digital publishing specialised in branding, strategy, and innovation. The magazine was born from the need of gaining access to the latest industry information and the initiative to share knowledge, exchange ideas and learn from industry experts practitioners.
In a truly, WTF milestone moment, I was invited by the magazines founder Luis Fernando Vergara to contribute an article that explored my thoughts on the vital role that packaging plays in a brand perception, customer experience and a product's success. You can read the full issue, for free, at Branders Magazine Issue 40.
I was extremely grateful to be featured, especially as it's their 10th Anniversary Issue and with previous cover stars including big hitters like Marty Neumeier, Chris Do and Debbie Millman it was a true honour to be included in the line-up.
A special thanks to my long-time friend Martin McCready of Upfront photography for capturing images for inclusion in the article, it was shot on a summers day (rare in Scotland) on my studio rooftop, I appreciate the patience when battling the heat to get the incredible shots you can see below.
When I started out designing I never thought it would result in me being cover star of a leading NYC publication! I'm really blown away to have my opinion matter within the packaging design and creative communities. Next on my hit list Time, Forbes, Vogue, Kerrang! and Playboy 😉 😆
I recently had the chance to share a few thoughts on the future of packaging with Packaging Unboxd, a brilliant online channel hosted by Evelio Mattos. He reached out to see if I’d contribute to his Netflix-style packaging insights video series, and of course, I was more than happy to get involved.
Each episode features quick 1–2 minute clips from creatives around the world, all weighing in on a specific packaging theme.
The first episode dives into Packaging Trends for 2025, and I talked about sustainable packaging. Check it out HERE.
Episode two is all about common packaging mistakes and pet peeves. I shared some ideas on how brands can steer clear of clichés and stand out on the shelf. You can watch that one HERE.
Evelio’s Youtube Channel is packed with helpful, no-fluff videos mixing real-world advice with great stories, well worth a watch whether you’re just starting out or have years of packaging under your belt. Or if podcasts are more your thing, definitely give Packaging UnboxdPodcast a listen.
Big thanks again to Evelio for the invite, it was a real pleasure to be part of it.
I've been a member of the online portfolio platform Behance for over 14 years (since back in the Scott Belsky days) and it never gets old to receive an email from their curatorial team to let you know they've featured one your projects. I've been lucky to have had a few over the years and it still gets me buzzin' to know that the Adobe team rate my work, giving it the big blue appreciation thumbs up and showcase it to the creative community.
Things got heavy on my recent chat with Radim Malinic on the Mindful Creative Podcast. This one was less about projects and the work and more about me opening up about my personal experiences of running a studio. I've followed Radim and his work for his studio BrandNU for a number of years and own a selection of his books, so when I had the chance to meet with him in Barcelona whilst attending the OFFF design conference, I jumped at the chance. We spent an afternoon drinking jugs of sangria and connecting on stories of creativity and our careers. Catching up via social media on my return Radim invited me to come on the podcast.
I’m a huge fan of the series as it aims to help people to understand the highs and lows of creative careers through interviews with those in the industry, so I was grateful to be invited on to share my story in a no-holds-barred style sit down.
We discussed me being attacked with a knife as a university student, how work became a crutch and distraction for dealing with traumatic experiences and how that ultimately led to burnout and ending up in hospital. It’s not all doom and gloom (honest) as we also discussed personal growth, rewards of running your own business and the advantages of therapy.
You can find links to listen to the full episode HERE.
I'm honoured to be a jury member for the 'Limited Editions' category for this years DIELINE Awards.
For 15 years, DIELINE Awards have celebrated the world’s most innovative and creative packaging designs. From luxury brands to sustainable solutions, the competition honours those who push the boundaries of packaging as an art form, showcasing exceptional work from designers and brands globally.
I was fortunate enough to pick up Two awards in the 2024 ceremony and this time I'll be on the other side, judging the submissions. Super excited to see the work and play my part in the selection process.
For the second time, G.F Smith shines a light on the studio by featuring 'The Only Drop' project on their newly launched website.
Having a ton of paper choices at my disposal means I can select a paper that's right for each specific project. With this particular project (see the full project HERE) the cover design requiring a deep crisp foiled impression, so, Wild with it's high bulk and soft tactile surface was the perfect partner.
The bottles sculpture contained wood shavings from the actual whisky cask, embedded into the pulp to reunite the liquid with the cask as they once were during maturation. Using Gmund Bier Weizen I was able to visually continue this narrative with the small flecking found in the paper, mirroring the veining found in the sculptures surface.
It's a great feeling to have an established paper maker such as G.F Smith feature my work as an example for how to use their papers effectively, you can view their feature HERE
I had the pleasure of being a guest on the U.S. based podcast series Packaging Unboxd. Hosted by metal-music loving packaging expert Evelio Mattos, his podcast is the go-to series for anyone eager to learn how to design packaging.
The podcast brings together the wisdom and experiences of global packaging design experts, offering insights into the practical and creative aspects of package design, so I was blown away to be invited on to the show.
In the episode we cover, how Stckmn began, the chances taken to get the studio where it is, the hustle culture that almost killed me, and how I'm trying to bring balance back to Stckmn. We also deep dive into my project for The Only Drop, one-off whisky packaging project, revealing my process, unused concepts and challenges faced throughout the project.
Really thankful to Evelio for having me on the show alongside so many great creatives from across the industry. You can watch the full episode on YouTube (recommend watching as it contains visuals) or alternatively you can listen along on Spotify.
Three weeks ago, at 6:37pm on a Friday evening, an email popped into my studio account. I try my best not be checking work emails at night or weekends but this email subject was titled 'The Dieline Awards 2024'. I immediately felt butterflies in the pit of my stomach and with hands shaking I frantically scrolled through the email...I'd been nominated for not ONE but TWO 2024 Dieline Packaging Awards for my work on the Scotch Malt Whisky Society's 'The Only Drop'.
My jaw dropped and as I shared the news with my Wife, I was dancing around the living room like a man possessed and knew I had to make the trip stateside for the ceremony. The Dieline Awards is like the Oscars of the brand and packaging world and as an avid follower of The Dieline platform since the early days, it was huge to be nominated.
So, last week I jumped on a flight to New York City to attend the ceremony at Luxepack alongside a ton of other talented creatives. With over 1400 entries from 41 countries it was amazing to be part of the ceremony and I was delighted to come away victorius, bagging myself 2 awards;
1st place Gold in the Design for Good category
2nd place Silver in the Luxury category
As a one-man studio offering services that are predominantly self taught and after 18 years in the industry striving to create work that's seen as industry standard or accepted by my peers as on a level worthy of notoriety, it's incredibly special on a personal level to receive these prestigious awards.
The after party was at Pearlfisher HQ, it was amazing to speak with like minded creatives, make new contacts and be part of the global design community.
Big thanks go to the wider team of folks involved and to my wife Nicola Wilson and my son Caleb for the unrelenting support, I hope I’ve made you both proud.
The Chatty Freelancer podcast is an honest space that explores the good, the bad, and the ugly of the freelancing and creative world. Hosted by Chloe Marie Doyle a digital designer, movie lover & pie enthusiast, who in her own words not mine, LOVES to overshare.
As an avid listener of the podcast I was delighted to be asked to share my story and take the hotseat to give my take on the industry and give insights into the running of my one-man studio. We discussed my career, how I land clients, how I price jobs, misconceptions of being your own boss and everything in-between. A part of each episode is reserved for a unique section discussing the guests 'movie of the week' and 'favourite pie'.
It was an extremely enjoyable experience, Chloe's approachable personality made for a really comfortable interview. Thanks to Chloe for having me part of her wonderful series.
So if you like creative based podcast episodes that go off on tangents, contain some swearing and rife with unscripted honesty then fire over and give it a listen here on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Interested in having me come speak at an event? be on a podcast? or just wanna hear my story? get in touch, I'd love to come share my ramblings.
Ophilia Steele Davis and Yexa Rivero run Unknown Errors, a series of creative talks that celebrate failings and what comes next. They kindly asked me to be part of the three person line-up alongside The Chatty Freelancer founder Chloe Marie Doyle and Amandine Elaye, a creative writer working across TV and Film.
The unique format centres on creatives sharing their failures, shit-hitting-fan moments and the negative experiences from their time in the industry with a goal of normalising the fact that things don't always go to plan. The three talks were followed by a Q&A panel where the attendees got a chance to as throw questions our way in a no holds barred session to gain some honest insights into the industry workings.
I was delighted to be involved, a great night all round with Ophilia and Yexa doing great things in building a local design community. The cherry on the cake was that all proceeds from ticket sales, £150 total, went to supporting the charity Refuweegee.
I was fortunate enough to be invited along to the auction preview night at Hopetoun House in Edinburgh on the eve of the auction to experience first-hand the lots on display. The venue itself was incredible, beautiful ornately decorated rooms, very fitting for displaying some of the worlds rarest and uniquely designed whiskies.
It was an exciting experience watching live on the 5th of October as "The Only Drop" was put under the hammer by Sotheby's. A flurry of bids saw the price quickly rise, fetching 3 times the lower estimate. It was amazing to be part of such a worthwhile cause. A record-breaking £2.25 Million was raised at the 2023 auction, with all proceeds aiding disadvantaged youth across Scotland via Youth Action Fund..
Due to the fast paced nature of running a one-man studio, moving from one project straight into the next or having multiple projects overlapping, means I rarely get time to reflect on the work I've just completed.
A few weeks back a 'PLEASE DO NOT BEND' style envelope arrived at the studio. Thinking it was print/paper samples I'd ordered for a client project I opened it without much thought and was taken aback to see I’d received a recognition award from Right Aligned (they do great things for the design community and provide a platform for the little guys like me to be seen and heard.)
I’m not gonna lie, I welled up, then proceeded to jump around the studio like a kid. Accompanying the award was a small note from Chris Sanders (the founder of Right Aligned) thanking me for my contributions to the community and complimenting my work. It felt incredible and my confidence and motivation has been fired up since.
Chris’ kind gesture of recognition reminded me I need to carve out time to enjoy the small wins and the achievements within each successful project delivery, and to keep doing what I'm doing. I'm off to add 'award winning' to my title.
On a side note, the assemble-yourself style award was the cherry on the cake, as a fan of Lego and assembling Ikea furniture, this ticked all the boxes.
You can check out the invaluable work Right Aligned are doing for the design community HERE.
From 5th-9th June '23, Right Aligned Events hosted their inaugural Online Design Festival. A week long event with 30 events and 50 speakers. I was one of fifty speakers hosting a workshop in the 'Nice Work' series format sharing my design process and all that goes in to creating a new brand.
It was a real honour to have been asked to participate amongst so many talented creatives, and delighted to see I even got my name on the line-up poster (a dream I've had since my days of being a frontman of a pop punk band)
Right Aligned are empowering creative communities by sharing the story of people working in the creative industries. Their programme consists of talks, workshops and events, giving everyone the opportunity to be heard including juniors, freelancers and founders because they believe in developing equal opportunities that are accessible to all, irrelevant of age, ability and background.
I was delighted to be asked to share my story as part of the 'Building a Studio' series that Right Aligned host. I sat down with founder Chris Sanders for an hour long talk where we chatted about my career so far, the pros and cons of keeping it small and being proud to be a generalist.
You can catch the full length conversation on their youtube channel HERE
Fedrigoni 365 has always been an expression of love. It has been its own love letter to the power of creativity, of fine paper and of exquisite print. For the 2023 edition of Fedrigoni 365, each contributor was asked to use the concept of 'LOVE' as their core inspiration along with an assigned date, mine being Jan 28th.
Inspired by the concept “love is in the air” I explored a balloon-like type in the form of an inflated beating heart.
The numbers form a soft tissue style aesthetic seen in a real human heart. When in love our heart skips a beat and makes us feel like we are walking on air.
Using Open-Source software Blender, I created 3D type and inflated the numbers in the form of a love heart, with each '28' softly nestling and cuddling one another, multiple parts forming one united shape.
Each book was assembled at random, with varying coloured front and back cover boards glued onto each book block. The internal pages showcasing the red and pink hues of the paper range.
Special thanks to Susan Mitchell for the invite to take part (and for her wonderfully skillful wrapping of the book) and to TM Studio and Identity Print for producing a source of inspiration for new designers, showcasing the endless possibilities of finishing and book binding.
Another year and another feature in the prestigious Fedrigoni 365 calendar.
Each contributor was given a date to inspire their design. I was assigned the 16th of December.
My date conjured up memories of flicking through the pages of an Argos catalogue picking what items I hoped to get for Christmas. One of those eagerly anticipated presents was the first 16-bit games console, the Sega Mega Drive.
An icon of the games industry I created a technical style illustration of the console to represent my given number of 16, with Christmas representing December. With the silver metallic Pantone being my assigned colour for the print, the design is reflective of printed circuit boards typically found in consoles of that era.
The edition is divided into four volumes, each of which were produced by a different print partner. All of whom flexed their creative and technical muscles on the earthy tones of Materica.
Special thanks to Susan Mitchell for the invite to take part and to TM Studio and Diamond for producing a source of inspiration for new designers, showcasing the endless possibilities of finishing and book binding.
The fine folks (Graeme & Craig) of JamHot, kindly asked me to do a short talk at their most recent GAB event. Gab is a get together for creative folk – a series of informal talk events in Glasgow where you can get inspired, meet new folk and share ideas.
I'm a huge fan of the GAB talks and have attended pretty much all 28 of them, so it truly was an honour to be asked to be on the other side and give a talk this time round. I shared the stage with Susan Castillo (a set styling-photographer) Ross Baynham of INSTRMNT and Pamela Scobbie from creative agency John Doe.
Susan, Ross & Pamela
It had been two years since the last event due to the pandemic restrictions and it felt great to be meeting up in person again with other creatives and spending an evening sharing stories, catching up and having a few beverages. Really enjoyed hearing the words of advice and journeys of the other speakers. Thanks again to JamHot for asking me to take part.
Interested in having me come speak at an event? be on a podcast? or just wanna hear my story? get in touch, I'd love to come share my ramblings.
