Great projects start with great people. Studio Stories is our way of taking you behind the scenes and introducing you to the people behind the work, their backgrounds, how they think, and what drives them.
This time, we’re talking to Chris Stephenson, our Creative Director.
Tell us a bit about your background – how did you get into design?
I grew up in a mining town and always thought I’d end up as a mechanic because I was obsessed with cars. My mam hated the idea and basically said, “Go to college first, and if you still want to fix cars after that, go for it.”
I took a graphic design course, started designing posters for events, and realised I really enjoyed it. One of the tutors pulled me aside one day and said, “You’ve actually got an eye for this. You could go to university and do it.”
So, I went to Teesside University to study graphic design and loved it. The first year was type, the second was editorial, and the third was branding – that’s when it all clicked. That mix of structure, ideas and craft felt like the right fit.
What did those early years after university look like?
After uni I fired off about a thousand emails and landed what I thought was an interview in Melbourne… it turned out it was Melbourne, Derbyshire. I went anyway, did a short placement, and they offered me a job.
I spent a few years there working on projects for brands like Nike and Primark – the kind of stuff you dream about at uni. It was a huge learning curve. You go from being taught how to use Photoshop to realising that great design isn’t about software, it’s about thinking. I began understanding the importance of things like the brief, finding the story and building something that holds up.
How did you end up joining the Vida team?
After a few more roles, I went freelance. I loved the craft but hated the selling, chasing invoices, pitching myself and that side of it in general. Then the pandemic hit, and things slowed right down.
I already knew Ellen and Henry from the NatWest startup hub, and when they mentioned they were looking for someone to help shape a Creative Director role, Henry gave me a call to pick my brain. Halfway through the chat I said, “Actually, I’ll do it.”
It felt like the right time to get back into a team environment. Somewhere I could focus on the creative side again, help people develop and be part of building something long-term.
What do you do as Creative Director?
I lead the design team and make sure the work not only looks good, but does what it’s meant to do: solve problems, tell stories and push our clients forward.
That’s meant introducing better systems and processes, mentoring the team and keeping the creative standards high across everything we deliver. I’m still hands-on with projects too, especially when it comes to shaping routes and making sure ideas hold up from strategy right through to delivery.
A big part of the job now is also looking ahead – working with Ellen and Henry on where we take the studio next, making sure we’re aiming high and building a team that’s confident doing the kind of work we all want to be known for.
What do you enjoy most about the work?
That the best work never comes easily. You’ll have an idea, think it’s the one, then spend the next week trying to prove yourself wrong. You keep pushing it until it stands up on its own. I always think if something’s too easy, it’s probably not right.
What’s one thing clients don’t always see, but should, about what you do?
They see a logo or a concept and think, “That came together quickly.” But behind that is usually days of testing, binning, reworking, and questioning everything.
Sometimes we land a strong route early, but I’ll still spend days trying to pull it apart to make sure it holds up. That invisible part of the process, that’s where the value is. And if you’re just giving people what they expect, you’re not doing your job properly.
What mindset keeps your work sharp?
You’ve got to look beyond what’s written in the brief and work with the client to uncover what they really need the project to achieve. I really like figuring it out together and getting to the heart of the problem before we jump to solutions.
And don’t believe your own hype. That’s the main one I’ve learned over the years. The minute you think you’ve cracked it, you stop learning.
Favourite TV series?
The Sopranos, hands down. It starts well and ends well, which is rare. I also love Inside No. 9 – they pull stuff off that shouldn’t work but somehow does, it’s proper clever writing.
What do you do outside of work?
I’ve got two mental dogs, so most of my spare time is just trying to tire them out!
What’s next for the studio?
We’ve come a long way since I joined. The team’s grown, the work’s stronger, and there’s a lot more confidence in what we do. The next step is to keep building on that.
