This week we celebrate Emily’s one year anniversary at Two Stories! Emily was the first team member to join Rob and Bekkie at the end of 2020, so her “work birthdays” will always be extra special to us.
To mark the occasion, we asked Emily a few questions about her role as a Designer at Two Stories, her creative streak, and her most memorable moments so far…
How long have you been working at Two Stories and what did you do before you started here?
I have been working at Two Stories for a year now. Prior to working at Two Stories, I had been working at another design studio in Lancaster, but I was made redundant in January 2020. Whilst looking for other design jobs, lockdown hit. Then my husband Ben and I bought a pharmacy (he is a pharmacist) and we eventually got the keys at the end of August 2020, so I was kept very busy creating all the branding and marketing for the business!
What is your role and what does it involve?
I am a designer at Two Stories. My role involves many aspects of design, from creating a brand from scratch to then continuing to create new content in both digital and print form.
Which two things do you enjoy the most about your role?
I enjoy the variety. One day I could be producing work for local businesses, which is great because you get to see your designs in situ, then the next day it could be for a larger business such as Channel 4.
I love the fact that something that has come from my creative mind has helped a business, and ultimately a person, project their initial thoughts to the wider audience. It’s very fulfilling.
Who is your favourite designer?
I don’t have a favourite designer as such, but I really like Swedish design. It’s very minimal and creating this is a lot harder than it looks!
Where do you find your creative inspiration?
My creative inspiration comes from lots of different aspects of my life. Prior to being a designer, I was in the pharmaceutical and forensic science industry. I enjoy finding deeper meanings in design that may relate to a chemical or a compound and its structure. I’m also really into nature and a lot of colours and design shapes can be drawn from the everyday things that we see around us. It’s all about pushing the boundaries of your initial thoughts, and sometimes something amazing comes together!
What do you enjoy most about the creative process?
My favourite part of the creative process is putting all my ideas down on paper and just spiralling more and more ideas, illustrations, shapes – anything that you think might spark another idea. The page often looks like a mess, but this is where creative ideas are born!
What are your two favourite things about working at Two Stories?
I love the team at Two Stories. We all work really well together, and our skill sets complement each other very well.
I also love the fact that if you have an idea, it gets considered. There have been some projects where several members of the team have worked on the design and the final presentation has involved a culmination of everyone’s designs, which is a fantastic way to work.
What are your two most memorable moments from your time at Two Stories so far?
I think the fact that I was Two Stories’ first employee will stay with me forever. After not having a design job for almost a year due to redundancy and the pandemic, the fact that Bekkie and Rob saw something in me and my work, and offered me a job, is really heart-warming. I will be forever grateful.
Every time a new person has joined the team, I have felt nervous as it can change the existing dynamic, but everyone that Two Stories have employed has fitted right in and made the team even stronger.
A huge thank you to Emily for all her hard work and the creativity she has shown so far, and we can’t wait to see more of her amazing design work in 2022!
