Tell us about your educational and/or career journey since you graduated from Brunel?
After graduating from Brunel in 2007 with a BSc in Product Design, I began my career with an Italian lighting manufacturer before moving into retail design, creating fixtures, campaign graphics and visual merchandising displays for major UK retailers. In 2014 I relocated to Sydney, joining Frost*collective, where I developed expertise in signage, wayfinding and spatial branding across healthcare, education, workplace and public realm projects. I later spent 18 months with Maynard, helping establish their Sydney studio, before operating successfully as a sole-trader for over five years. I now run Precinct Creative with my wife, delivering projects across both the UK and Australia.
What does a typical day at work involve for you?
No two days are ever the same. My work ranges from developing wayfinding strategies and designing signage systems, whether at an early concept stage or in detailed documentation, through to industrial design and spatial branding. I also spend time on business development, managing our social presence, and collaborating with architects and design studios on upcoming projects. As a small studio owner, I balance creative work with the operational side of the business, from contracts and finances to long-term planning. It’s a role that requires wearing many hats, which is exactly what I enjoy.
What’s been the highlight of your career journey so far?
The standout highlight of my career has been building a successful independent practice. Going out on my own and sustaining five and a half years as a sole trader, with a consistent flow of work and the opportunity to deliver complex projects single-handedly, was a defining achievement. More recently, 2025 has been a milestone year, with four substantial projects secured under my studio, Precinct Creative. Winning and delivering these as a small, specialist practice has reinforced my confidence, capability and passion for the work. Each step has strengthened my belief in the value I bring to clients and their environments.
How would you say your Brunel experience has helped you to get where you are today?
My time at Brunel was foundational to my career. It completely reshaped my understanding of what design could be and gave me a genuine passion for the profession. The course helped me develop not only technical skills but also the curiosity, discipline and appreciation for detail that continue to guide my work today. Brunel also gave me the confidence and direction to pursue a career path I hadn’t previously imagined. I certainly wasn’t the finished product when I graduated, but the experience set me on the trajectory that ultimately led to where I am now.
Why did you choose to study at Brunel and why would you recommend Brunel to others?
I chose Brunel because the Design School had a strong sense of community and a genuinely supportive atmosphere, something I didn’t feel at other universities. It was a place where creativity was encouraged, but always grounded in solid technical understanding and real-world application. That balance was incredibly influential for me. I’d recommend Brunel to anyone looking for a design education that combines hands-on making, rigorous thinking and a collaborative culture that pushes you to grow both personally and professionally.
What is your best memory of studying here?
My best memory is without doubt my first year, the final year of the Runnymede campus. It was an incredible environment to live, study and create in. What made it so special was the constant interaction with students from later years; being surrounded by people further along in their design journey was inspiring and hugely beneficial. The sense of community, collaboration and shared learning that came from that setting stayed with me long after the campus closed, and it remains one of the most formative parts of my Brunel experience.
If you could give one piece of advice to current Brunel students, what would that be?
Start exploring what you might want to specialise in. University often shapes us into broad generalists, which has value, but it can also make the transition into industry feel unclear. Try to use each project, brief and elective to steer yourself toward the kind of work you want to be doing after graduation. The earlier you develop a sense of direction, even if it evolves, the easier it becomes to stand out, find the right opportunities and build a career that feels intentionally yours.
What would be your top tip or key advice for new graduates as they begin their career journey after leaving Brunel?
Remember that graduation isn’t the end of the journey, it’s the very beginning. You don’t know everything yet, and that’s completely normal. Everyone enters the industry with gaps in their knowledge, so stay curious, humble and open to learning. Focus on standing out: don’t just add to the noise with generic emails or applications, find creative ways to signal who you are and what you care about. And most importantly, build real relationships. The design industry is made up of people, and the connections you make often matter as much as the work itself.
#IamBrunel