Founder
Clients are more interested in getting to know the specific people behind the work, versus the weight of a historic agency name.
I couldn't quite reconcile how the role of Creative Director involved so many meetings about creativity, and so little time to actually be creative.
Be open to the quiet signs that something isn't quite right. That itch, that low-level dissatisfaction – it's worth listening to.
Now, success is freedom. It's control over my time. It's knowing I'm growing – creatively, personally – and helping others do the same.
The article explores the realities faced by independent agency founders in their first year, highlighting the emotional, financial, and structural challenges of leaving established agencies to start small studios. Through interviews with founders across the UK, it reveals a shift toward smaller, more agile creative teams responding to changing client expectations and tighter budgets. The piece positions 2026 as a pivotal year for indie studios redefining the creative industry landscape.
Creative Boom profiles designer Steffan Cummins, who left his dream job as Creative Director at Wolff Olins to start his own studio, Lost Property. The article explores his journey from early ambitions and career success to burnout, rediscovery, and renewed creative energy. It reflects on redefining success and finding fulfillment through independent creative work.