Simon Manchipp
Founder, Founding Partner
About
Founding partner of SomeOne, working on the launch, relaunch and management of brands across sectors.
SourceIn their own words
St John's didn't need a new coat of paint; it needed a new position.
Heraldry isn't a constraint; it's a code.
Motion was used not as decoration, but as metaphor.
AI is great at going fast, but this wasn't about speed. It was about substance. You can't outsource intuition.
The future isn't generalists vs specialists. It's generalists with a great point of view, who know when to go deep, and specialists who can zoom out and play nicely with others.
You can launch a career from your bedroom with a cracked copy of Photoshop and a decent Wi-Fi signal.
Pretty is easy. Purpose is harder. Can you connect the dots? Spot the problem behind the brief? Help a brand matter more?
YOU ARE A BRAND. Like it or not.
While a significant number of clients remain seemingly seduced by the instant gratification and low cost of AI solutions, here at SomeOne, we're seeing many clients who insist on the human touch—those who crave emotion, originality, and creative thinking that AI, as an aggregator of the past, simply cannot provide for the future.
Our job is partly to make the internal teams famous internally. But more than that, these partnerships allow us to provide something invaluable: external stimulus and the confidence to challenge senior stakeholders in ways that internal staff cannot easily do.
Articles & interviews11
- "SomeOne Redefines St John's College as 'Home of Big Ideas'"
London studio SomeOne has rebranded St John’s College, Cambridge, positioning it as the 'Home of Big Ideas'. The new identity blends centuries of heritage with a contemporary, human-centred approach, featuring a refined crest, GT Ultra typography, and a flexible 'Court Grid' system. The rebrand emphasizes motion, clarity, and authenticity to appeal to a new generation of students.
- "Creative Agencies Shift from Specialists to Valued Generalists"
The article explores whether the creative industry is moving beyond the age of the specialist toward a new era of generalist creatives. Through interviews with agency leaders, it argues that the most valuable professionals today are 'T-shaped'—those who combine deep expertise with broad, strategic understanding. AI, tighter budgets, and evolving client needs are driving this shift toward adaptable, collaborative talent.
- "Is University Still Vital for Creative Careers in 2025?"