We’ve got some brilliant news to share: Chris Stephenson has been promoted from Design Director to Creative Director.
Chris has been part of Vida for more than four years (!), and in that time he’s had a huge impact on our work, our team and the way we support our clients.
He’s worked with organisations across the North East, the UK and internationally, helping them evolve their brands strategically and bring them to life across campaigns, websites, digital platforms and customer experiences.
That includes work for Soccer Aid for UNICEF, Elddis, Hoults Yard, Northumberland Cultural Education Partnership and the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme, alongside many more ambitious businesses, charities and purpose-led organisations.
He’s also recently supported one of our US clients with a major brand evolution following a $10 million Series A funding round, helping the team strengthen its positioning for the next stage of growth.
A well-deserved next step
For us, this promotion feels like a natural next step.
Chris has already played a major role in shaping the creative direction of Vida. He brings together strong ideas, strategic thinking and a real understanding of what clients are trying to achieve.
He also cares deeply about the quality of the work and the thinking behind it.
As Creative Director, Chris will lead the creative direction across our branding, campaigns, websites, UX and digital projects. He’ll also continue helping us develop as a team, challenge our thinking and make sure the work we put into the world is as effective as it is creative.
“Chris has made such an important contribution to Vida over the past four years,” said Ellen Hedley, Director of Vida Creative.
“He has a real talent for getting to the heart of what a client needs and turning that into something distinctive and impactful.
“He’s earned the trust of our team and our clients, and we’re genuinely excited to see him step into this role.”
A big moment for Vida
Chris’s promotion comes at a particularly exciting time for us.
We’ve just had our strongest 12 months of trading since Vida began, with revenue up 20% on the previous year. In December, we’ll also celebrate our tenth anniversary.
We’re incredibly proud of both milestones, but more than anything, they give us confidence in what comes next.
Over the past decade, we’ve grown through long-term client relationships, recommendations and a belief that the best work comes from working openly and collaboratively.
During the time we’ve worked with Soccer Aid for UNICEF, the campaign has reached the incredible milestone of £100 million raised for UNICEF. It’s a powerful example of what can happen when strong ideas, consistency and long-term partnership come together around a meaningful goal.
As Creative Director, Chris will play a big part in helping us build on that kind of work.
Keeping creativity human
Chris is also stepping into the role at an interesting time for the creative industry.
AI and new technologies are changing how all of us work. We’re embracing that change and exploring how these tools can help us improve processes, test ideas and create better outcomes for our clients.
But we also believe very strongly that technology should support good creative thinking, not replace it.
AI can generate content quickly. What it can’t do is properly understand the people behind a business, the challenges they’re facing or what makes their organisation genuinely different.
That still takes listening, curiosity, experience and human judgement.
“AI can be incredibly useful when it’s used in the right way,” said Chris. “It can help us explore possibilities, speed up certain tasks and give us more space to focus on bigger creative challenges.
“But it’s still a tool. The best work comes from understanding the client, their audience and what they need the work to achieve.
“When brands rely too heavily on automation, everything can start to look and sound the same. Audiences can tell when something doesn’t feel genuine.”
That balance matters to us which is why we want to make the most of new technology, but also protect the strategic thinking, collaboration and human input that makes our work meaningful.
It’s also a big part of why so many of our clients continue working with us year after year.
Looking ahead
“I’m really proud of what we’ve achieved over the past four years,” said Chris.
“We’ve worked with some brilliant people and organisations, and I’ve loved seeing the difference that thoughtful, strategic creative work can make.
“Taking on the Creative Director role as Vida approaches its tenth anniversary feels like a really special moment. I’m excited to keep pushing the work forward and to help shape what the next chapter looks like.”
For us, this promotion is about recognising everything Chris has already brought to Vida, while looking ahead to where we want to go next.
We couldn’t be happier to have him helping lead the way.
