
Creative Director · Co-Founder · Executive Creative Director
We just try to be consistent, and aim to share one piece of work a week.
Provenance, heritage, craft and the dedication of the maker… even the water source is an essential element in the finished product's quality and authenticity.
I'll check my emails when I start, then quit out of emails.
Basically, we cut bespoke fonts for brands for a one-off fee: no hassles, no licenses, no hidden costs.
The UK is definitely more cautious at the moment. We've been fortunate in that we now have clients based all over the world.
Human relationships still sit at the heart of good business.
Sometimes... the logo does need to be bigger.
Success is being happy. I think that's about it, really.
Success is being happy. I think that's about it, really.
Surround yourself with good people and treat them well.
Creative Boom’s article by Tom May explores how creatives can market themselves authentically without discomfort. Featuring insights from designers, illustrators, and creative directors, it offers practical advice on honesty, consistency, and reframing self-promotion as connection rather than bragging. The piece emphasizes confidence, community, and enjoyment in sharing creative work.
Creative agency D8 collaborated with British paper manufacturer James Cropper to launch Coloursource, a new range of 50 coloured papers. The campaign celebrates traditional craftsmanship through handcrafted imagery by photographer Susan Castillo and videos produced with Creative Boom. The project highlights the heritage and sustainability of British paper-making while positioning Coloursource as a symbol of creative authenticity.
Creative Boom’s article by Tom May gathers insights from various creatives on how to achieve and maintain a state of creative flow. Contributors share personal rituals, time management strategies, and environmental cues that help them focus and protect their creative energy. The piece highlights the importance of self-awareness, boundaries, and intentional disconnection in sustaining creativity.
Creative Boom’s July 2025 roundup spotlights new typefaces and foundry launches from studios including D8, Brand Brothers, and Fontwerk. The article highlights six notable font releases—Lost, Tausend, RT Lately, Bus Sign, Karel, and SLTF Rigale—showcasing trends in experimental and heritage-inspired typography. It also notes the rise of new foundries and tools like Fonts Ninja that are shaping how designers discover and use type.
Episode 160 of The Spark, Creative Boom’s podcast, features Adrian Carroll of D8 sharing lighthearted and insightful reflections on his creative career. He discusses his most controversial opinion, the best advice he’s received, and personal anecdotes that reveal his personality and approach to design. The episode is sponsored by the School of Communication Arts.
The article explores how creatives across the UK are adapting to the 2025 economic slowdown and the rise of AI. Freelancers and small studios face reduced work and uncertainty, prompting many to diversify income streams, explore international clients, and emphasize human creativity. Voices from across the industry share strategies for resilience, authenticity, and adaptation in a changing landscape.
Creative Boom’s founding editor Katy Cowan interviews Adrian Carroll, co-founder and executive creative director of D8, about his 26-year journey in the design industry. The conversation explores how D8 has adapted through technological and economic shifts, the importance of trust and human connection, and the studio’s new venture into type design with the launch of ABCD8. The episode offers insights into creative longevity and the evolving role of design in an AI-driven world.
The article explores how creative professionals in 2025 are redefining success beyond traditional career milestones. Through insights from designers, strategists, and studio founders, it reveals a shift toward valuing work-life balance, autonomy, and meaningful impact over financial or hierarchical achievement. The piece highlights a growing emphasis on personal fulfilment and wellbeing within the creative industry.
The article by Tom May explores how creative professionals in 2025 are redefining success beyond traditional career milestones. Through insights from designers and studio founders, it reveals a shift toward valuing work-life balance, autonomy, and meaningful impact over financial or hierarchical achievements.
The article explores whether university remains the best route into the creative industry in 2025. Featuring insights from creative leaders across agencies, it concludes that while formal education still offers structure and mentorship, self-taught and alternative paths are increasingly valid. The piece highlights accessibility, evolving technology, and the importance of time and practical experience in shaping creative careers.
Creative Boom’s article by Tom May compiles advice from leading creative directors and studio founders for graduates entering the design industry in 2025. The piece highlights themes of self-kindness, authenticity, personal branding, leadership, and embracing technology such as AI. Contributors from studios like SomeOne, Red Antler, and Fold7Design share practical insights for navigating the evolving creative landscape.
Creative Boom’s article by Tom May gathers advice from a range of successful creatives on the lessons that transformed their careers. Contributors including designers, illustrators, and creative directors share insights about persistence, collaboration, rest, and self-initiative. The piece highlights how mindset shifts often matter more than technical skills in achieving creative success.
Creative Boom’s article by Tom May compiles advice from designers, illustrators, and other creatives on overcoming creative block. Contributors share practical methods such as working through resistance, changing environments, collaborating, and focusing on wellbeing. The piece highlights diverse personal strategies that reflect both discipline and self-care in the creative process.
Creative Boom's article by Tom May compiles advice from experienced creatives on lessons they wish they'd known earlier in their careers. The piece covers topics such as networking, patience, collaboration, and the importance of soft skills and business acumen. It offers practical insights for designers, illustrators, and other creatives seeking long-term success and balance in their professional journeys.
Creative Boom reports that Glasgow-based design studio D8 has developed a new brand world for Edinburgh Gin, following its 2023 bottle redesign. The project includes 3D-rendered visuals, a flexible toolkit, and a simplified color palette inspired by the brand’s new home, The Arches. Led by design director Emma Durnan, the work extends across packaging, retail, and event applications.
Creative Boom’s feature highlights D8 Studio’s stop-motion campaign for NBC Universal and Hayu promoting The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. The project reimagines the show’s glamour and drama through intricately crafted dolls and a miniature dollhouse, blending humour and nostalgia to engage fans. The campaign spanned multiple international markets with a wide range of digital and out-of-home deliverables.