About me

"Lou's strength lies in her unique ability to straddle two creative disciplines which at times seem at polar ends to each other - advertising and design. Very few creatives can do this, and I've never quite understood how she has achieved it. I think it's mainly because she is incredibly talented. And like most talented people she does a lot of listening. She mixes traditional craft-based ideas with ground-breaking digital experiences for a range of clients that benefit from her hands-on, personal direction." - Domenic Lippa, Pentagram

An awarded creative leader, Louise founded Here We Go Studio to 'design change', from local communities to tackling global issues, championing creativity, and existing to make a positive impact on equality, the environment and society as a whole. Craft-orientated, strategic, change-making storytelling.

One of only a handful of female UK creative agency founders, Louise has built a successful team of designers, artists and creative technologists working with global brands through to female film directors and environmental charities.

The studio was proud to win a Creative Circle Gold 'Art Direction for Charity' award for our branding and communications work with 'The Listening Planet' in only our second year of trading. The work was close to our hearts, not only due to the circumstances surrounding the charity founders health, but also as it reflected Louise's own conservation experience in her 20s, working in Uganda and Kalimantan, Borneo.

Louise is also fractional ECD at SWC Partnership / UP Group, working on excellence in marketing for clients including Whiskas, LinkedIn and SAE.

Listed in Campaign's '40 over 40', Louise is ex-Head of Art & Design at BMB, Sky Creative and The&Partnership, and ex-Creative Design Director at BETC (winning the global Bacardi and Diet Coke accounts, and creating the 'Campaign Hall of Fame' Cockburn's work). She's worked at BBH, M&C Saatchi and JWT, and innocent.

Louise is the first woman Chair of the 50 year old design organisation, the TypoCircle in four decades - a voluntary role - encouraging diversity in the sector and championing the next generation. She successfully steered the non-profit through the pandemic with the introduction of global free-to-watch online speakers (creating a much-needed source of community for creatives during isolation, with many thank you letters as a result). Her early days background as a typographer (and a distinction at MA level in typography) has built a lifelong passion for the craft that she aims to enthuse everyone around her with the superpower of the medium!

Passionate about inspiring the next generation, Louise regularly guest lectures at universities and agencies (including Uni of Herts Graphic Design and SCA advertising portfolios), around a variety of topics including art direction, gender equality in advertising, craft and ideas generation. She co-founded 'SuperCondensed' - a day festival for design students supported by leading industry names - is a mentor for Creative Mentor Network and D&AD New Blood, and has provided resources and funding to important schemes such as the Design Community Hub set up by Phil Jones at Podge, and advertising's 'Who Cares

Louise has previously been named in The Drum's Designerati, made a Pitch 100 Superwoman, and is a contributor to the trade press. Recently, Louise was interviewed on the future of digital typography and AI for Monotype and the Art Director's Club Germany, and advertising trends with Gordon Young at The Drum. She has been on various juries including D&AD (Jury Chairperson for Black Pencil), The Drum Roses Chairperson, the inaugural Gerety jury, Jury Chair at Kinsale (awarding the first ever Design Grand Shark), and Creative Circle (Gold).
Awards won have included D&AD pencils, Cannes Lions, ADC, Creative Circle Gold and Creativepool.

Skills

Advertising, AI, Art Direction, Brand / Logo Design, Brand Stategy, Branding, Content, Copywriting, Creative Direction, design direction, Digital Marketing, education, Graphic Design, photographic shoots, Retouching, Social Media, Team Management, Typography

Sector Experience

Advertising, Airline, Automotive, Beauty, Branding, Charity / Not for profit, Design, E-Commerce, Engineering, Event Organisers / Management, Fashion, FMCG, Marketing, Social Media Content, startups, Web Design

Awards

ADC Bronze, Campaign 40 over 40, Campaign Hall of Fame, Cannes Lions - Shortlist, Creative Circle Gold, Creativepool Annual Bronze, Creativepool Annual Gold, Creativepool Annual People\'s Choice, Creativepool Creative Influencer of the Year, D&AD Award - Wood Pencil, EPICA Award - Silver, Pitch 100 Superwoman

Trade Associations

D&AD, typographic circle