Pete Popham Email & Phone Number

Ruddington, England, United Kingdom

I’m currently a Creative Leader at True Story, working on branding and creative projects for clients in the retail sector.My responsibilities range from the conceptual (conducting research, contributing ideas and visualisation) to delivering creative solutions (defining principles in guidelines, preparing designs for artwork and rolling out campaigns). The project variety reflects the changing shape of retail, with an increased emphasis on digital to support the physical in-store experience. Top-level brand and strategy work is deeply involved, requiring sustained focus through iterations and feedback sessions. By contrast, initial concepts and rolling out campaign are fast-paced and responsive.I often work with franchise brands on behalf of our clients. I have become adept at rapid brand immersion and balancing the needs of the client and the franchise brand.In the research aspect of my role I get to explore emerging technologies and trends that impact retail and the creative industry. This involves research visits, attending trade shows and keeping up with industry news. This is collated into articles and research boards that can be shared with the clients.I have played a key role integrating new software into the agency’s digital workflow. This has improved efficiency in content design, management and collaboration on digital projects. I helped train others to ensure the software is effectively adopted across the agency.

Leicester, United Kingdom

I joined the marketing agency Makalu for the opportunity to work with well-known brands. This included large-scale print projects, omnichannel marketing campaigns and identity designs. I also discovered how much I enjoy nurturing creativity in others.I was involved with multiple campaigns for Fruit of the Loom and Russell Europe. These started as large annual catalogues, expanding into print and digital campaigns. Due to European-wide distribution all work was designed and delivered in multiple languages. This posed interesting creative challenges – layouts had to accommodate variable text length, fonts had to support all languages and the imagery had to be universally appealing. The complexity of these campaigns required collaboration across the whole team.Projects for the retail group Hammerson PLC gave me experience delivering campaigns alongside other agencies. We were responsible for developing the campaign and platform creative to work effectively across digital channels. This had to blend seamlessly with the non-digital comms created by other agencies. This interagency collaboration contrasts with the creative ownership I have experienced on other projects, requiring a wide range of soft skills.We also worked on social media campaigns for food and beverage brands, which required a substantial amount of motion graphics. I introduced After Effects to the agency, and trained other designers to allow collaboration. This new skillset resulted in an on-going motion graphics project for the Highcross Beacons – a public installation of LED pillars that form a series of screens when viewed from different angles.Collaboration was the defining aspect of this role. My favourite part was mentoring and supporting other designers. I really enjoy sharing knowledge and being a part of a creative journey. I am proud of the team that I helped build and our lasting friendships.

Leicester, United Kingdom

I was a founding member of Whiteroom, a creative agency that helped small businesses find their brand voice. As the lead graphic designer I was involved in every project.We worked closely with each client to establish their brand vision, translating this into a visual identity. The diversity of the clients resulted in many unique design challenges. For example, a nursing lingerie brand commissioned several lookbooks with high-end papers and luxurious print finishes, whilst a solar energy company asked us to create a trade show stand that wouldn’t get lost in a sea of similar companies. This variety was exciting, offering plenty of opportunities to develop a diverse set of skills.The agency had a strong digital focus. We specialised in creating responsive websites to accommodate the growth in mobile browsing. I designed workflows, tools and practices that helped bridge the gap between the creative and web development teams. This close relationship helped us discover new solutions, share our learning and produced some great websites.This time was exciting and creatively rewarding, but all good things come to an end – we decided to close Whiteroom in 2016. I am proud of how much we achieved during those six years, but I wanted to focus on graphic design without the distractions of running a business.

Leicester, United Kingdom

I had consistently been working on collaborative illustration projects with a friend from university. In 2008 we formalised this as a business partnership, trading as Kuma.We worked with magazines, clothing brands, music producers, charities and educational institutions. Initially our work was illustrative, but this gradually shifted to graphic design.Our studio was located at a university Innovation Centre, giving us access to valuable training and mentorship. With no prior business experience this support was vital and has helped shaped my career. Starting a business during a recession was certainly challenging, but I learnt a lot and enjoyed the journey.

Leicester, United Kingdom

I started freelancing for The Detail Co whilst at university, which turned into a full time role when I graduated.Within this small team I learnt the foundations of delivering print projects, from pitching through to preparing the final artwork.This role introduced me to the industry and gave me the confidence to try setting up my own business.

Leicester, United Kingdom

Bachelor’S Degree, Graphic Design & Illustration, 1St Class Hons

Btec Diploma, Foundation Studies Art & Design, Distinction