About Ian

Dynamic Art Director, and Studio Manager, passionate about transforming unique design concepts into visually captivating narratives, bringing brands-to life, pioneering creativity and inspiring audience engagement. With 26 years design management experience, showcasing an intuitive approach to multi-channel creative output, translating the written word and new ideas into engaging, memorable and often breathtaking visual creatives. Inspired by the sheer vibrancy and freedom of expression of the creative sector, a consultative leader, upskilling high-performing professionals and partnering with cross-functional teams to deliver every project with innovative thinking, infectious enthusiasm and an abundance of energy.

Philosophy

Emphasis | Alignment | Contrast | Repetition | Proportion | Hierarchy | White Space
Skilled designers have the knowledge to incorporate design principles into their creations, while great designers have the insight to determine when and how to break them.

Career Highlights

26 years experience in the creative industry, working with multi-sector clients and showcasing specialist knowledge of Studio management, Graphic Design, Brand creatives and Art Direction.

Leading design innovation, thinking out of the box and exploring different aesthetic styles to make an impact, excite teams and capture audience engagement.

Pioneering progressive thinking by creating an open communication culture where ideas are nurtured and feedback is embraced, ensuring every creative concept is given the opportunity to shine with the right output and phased development.

Detailed knowledge of multi-channel roll outs, driving visual narratives over print, web, social media and various digital platforms, crafting the visual narrative with a clear understanding of the best route to market and target audiences.

Methodical end-to-end project manager, leading multiple projects from concept to completion with detailed roadmaps, execution/roll outs and team engagement, ensuring every deliverable is tracked to achieve results on time and with precision.

An empowering leader, passionate about motivating high-performing creative professionals by sharing best practice, prioritising training and launching bespoke developmental plans.

An engaging relationship manager, building stakeholder relations based on integrity and trust, showcasing an adaptable approach to work with multidisciplinary partners including copywriters, photographers and manufacturers.

Culturally intelligent and with full eligibility to work in the UK, dedicated to integrating extensive experience gained in Hong Kong into a new career path in the UK market.

professional Experience

Art Director & Studio Manager
PURE International, March 2008 - May 2023

  • Business expansion: Played an integral role in evolving a 5-year-old PURE organisation in 2008, with only two main business units (Yoga and Fitness), into a global organisation with a suite of 6 sub-brands including F&B, nutrition and apparel.

  • Brand development: Contributed to the growth of each sub brand by creating individual brand identities whilst also maintaining a uniform brand approach.

  • “20 Years of Fit and Flexed” campaign: Positioned as the Creative Director, Art Director, Liaison and Designer for the creation and launch of a visionary project, working with copywriters and photographers to create a storyboard of visual designs to inspire the public to move forward following the impact of COVID.

  • Design strategy: Led design briefs and supervised the creative output of the studio by driving brand and strategy development.

  • Brand architecture: Elevated the profile of the brand with standardised brand communications/representation to maintain a single brand identity across all visual output.

  • Quality excellence: Analysed every creative output with intricate detail, promptly identifying flaws and implementing changes to realign design specifications to the brief.

  • Brand profiling: Accelerated brand presence by collaborating with different business units and steering the design process to integrate trends into multi-channel creative output.

  • Process optimisation: Explored ways of transforming the design and creative process, ensuring the business plan/go to market creative strategy delivers project objectives.

  • Consumer focus: Deep dived into the market to develop key insights; integrated intelligence into targeted visual output in line with brand guidelines and brand vision.

    Relationship management & Team development:

  • Motivational leadership: Steered team performance by maintaining full visibility as a manager, offering guidance to make a competitive environment productive and enjoyable.

  • Contractor/agency integration: Promoted transparency across external partners, leading briefs, negotiations and project reviews/analysis with design agencies, freelancers, photographers, illustrators and copywriters.

  • Transparency: Initiated team meetings and shared project updates/progress tracking to capitalise on success stories whilst also redirect creative processes to improve final outcomes.

  • Developmental planning: Mentored a skilled creative team, ensuring junior members were trained whilst also delivering developmental plans for all staff to drive performance.

  • Stakeholder communications: Established a strong cross-functional team, partnering with Marketing, Design and Production to integrate specialist insight into the flawless execution of creative projects.

  • Regional unity: Facilitated partnerships between creative teams in Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai by sharing project insights and best practice/challenges with a view to building a united approach and standardised operational processes.

Early Career

  • Art Director
    2006-2008 Million Communications
    2004-2006 Corona Advertising

  • Senior Graphic Designer
    2004 Betake Marketing
    2001-2004 Tactics Communications

  • Designer
    2000-2001 Ion-Global (china.com corporation)
    1999-2000 Tactics Communications

  • Junior Designer
    1999 Synergy Advertising
    1997-1999 The Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club (part-time)

areas of expertise

  • Design & art direction:
    Graphic design / Visual design
    Colour application
    Typography
    Composition techniques
    Branding and identity
    Adobe Creative Suite: Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere Pro

  • Operational leadership:
    Strategy development
    Process optimisation
    Go-to market visuals
    Project management
    Multi-channel alignment: Offline / online platforms

  • Relationship management:
    Team leadership
    Training and mentoring
    Cross functional teams
    Client engagement
    Stakeholder networks (photographers, copywriters, agencies, producers, vendors)

Core Skills

  • Entrepreneurial self-starter

  • Highly detailed multi-tasker

  • Strategic & tactical planning

  • Motivational leadership

  • Creative problem-solving

  • Assertive decision-making

  • Critical thinking

  • Adaptability and punctuality

  • Progressive mindset

  • Collaborative teamwork

  • Articulate communicator

  • Influential negotiator

Qualifications

Bachelor of arts (Honors) in Applied and Media Arts
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Professional Education and Executive Development
2017-2021

Diploma of graphic design
First Institute of Art and Design
1997-1999

Honors and Awards

First Class Honours (GPA 3.94/4)
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Professional Education and Executive Development

Top Student Award
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Professional Education and Executive Development

Gold Award
25th Graduation in First Institute of Art and Design