The Youbee Media team will often (quite boldly) use the strapline ‘Creative Solutions, Creating Results’ in our own collateral. This is because much of what we do involves thinking a little bit differently and demonstrating value as well as return on investment. However, for our clients, this might not say much about our approach.
As a team, we’re all creative, but we flex our creativity in different ways. As marketing calls for innovation, imagination and originality, we thought that we’d take a few moments to speak about each team member’s creative flair, showcasing their passions, specialisms and experiences.
Innovative thinking and original strategies
Before I started my career in Marketing, I don’t think I ever described myself as ‘creative’. I can’t say that I was good at art, I can’t draw or sculpt and even at University, I looked around me in awe at the students that could come up with unique designs with what looked like a snap of their fingers. However, what I was good at, and what I enjoyed, was writing stories!
Writing stories is about imagination, wondering ‘what if?’ and seeing what happens if you explore something different. I’m not an author, but I think I’ve found a way of using these skills in my role as Marketing Director at Youbee Media.
While serving in this role (and probably a bit before that), I’ve learned that I’m actually incredibly (if I can toot my own horn) creative when it comes to problem-solving and new ideas. I love the opportunity to think on my feet, see a solution to something that others may not find and share this vision with clarity and passion.
It does seem to come naturally to me, and I love the reaction I get sometimes when I share these ideas. It’s absolutely one of the things I love most about my role. I’m a strategist, creative thinker and I can contribute well to a client’s decisions.
I know that I’m not amazing at design, but that’s why I’ve built a team of exceptionally talented designers. By working together, I know that we can all come together, talk about new ideas and begin to plot something totally new.
That being said, Canva has given me huge confidence in my creative design skills. While I could never quite get my head around Adobe (and didn’t have the patience for it!), Canva allows me to really quickly translate the things in my heard to a new canvas. This works great for collaborating as a team, as it means we can instantly get on the same page.
Making space for creativity in an agency
Working in design was inevitable for me; I’ve always loved creative expression, just for the pure joy of it.
My creative position at Youbee Media lets me enjoy the best of two worlds, by spanning both written and visual projects. I get to flex and combine a variety of skills, developed over the years in different roles. With each move up the professional ladder, I’ve been able to build new skills and insights across a cross-section of industries. I’ve turned my hand to projects involving architecture, clothing brands and universities. Each has given me an insight to the nuances of these projects, different design styles, audience considerations, software and both printed and digital design and copywriting. The task mightn’t even require creativity; in the way we’d typically understand it. I believe that it’s the role of the designer to find a way to present ideas with precise and clear functionality, respecting brand guidelines and the brief.
Deadlines, design restrictions, and budget constraints can be common in an agency, which mean we need to be more structured in our methods. Jobs often need to be turned around with maximum efficiency, in minimum time. This curbs the amount of self-indulgence you can pour into a project, calling instead for greater flexibility, steering the designer towards ‘progress over perfection’. Collaborating as a team also helps massively, as we spur each other on and solidify our ideas.
Problem-solving is an overlooked aspect of design. It’s still a form of creative thinking, but sadly, there’s no holographic unicorns or gradient 3D meshes required at this stage – just the simple but daunting task of distilling raw data and client requirements into a functional and accessible end result.
Since joining Youbee Media, I have a vested interest in constantly improving professional creativity. Having a commitment to lifelong learning and acknowledging that it’s OK to lean into time-saving industry tools to get the balancing act right.
I’m a long-time Adobe user, still proud of the projects I completed using what was an onerous longhand process, compared to the ease of using the updated features now present in the software. There’s creativity to be found in blending an ideal workflow, that lets you work in an agile and informed manner. And when I feel that I’ve given everything I could within the remit of the project, finishing on time and within budget, with a happy client – I can cheerfully lean in to the whole ‘progress over perfection’ ethos. (Especially if there’s been any holographic unicorns involved!)
Creative by nature
I have always had a passion for visual creativity, so working in marketing seemed like a natural fit for me. From the moment I joined the Youbee team as a Digital Marketing Apprentice, I knew I had found my calling.
Although I feel like a job within the creative industry was always on the cards for me – I didn’t know where this could take me. I’ve explored just about every medium of ‘art’ possible while looking for my ‘calling’. Over the years I have picked up a range of creative hobbies including oil pastel art, mural painting, embroidery, rug tufting and designing print cut outs for DIY t-shirts for family and friends.
Pursuing studies within Graphic Design, Media, and Business, introduced me to marketing – which I soon fell in love with. Marketing perfectly encompassed all 3 of my studies, and gave me the opportunity to express myself creatively, in many different ways.
In my role as a Content Executive, I get to unleash my creative thinking to produce content for clients, that not only grabs attention but leaves a lasting impression. I have found joy in designing visually stunning content for social media, online platforms, and for print jobs. Whether I'm brainstorming content ideas to set our clients apart from their competitors, crafting a compelling copy, or designing graphics that push the boundaries, I'm always thinking – or acting - outside the box.
However, creativity isn't just about thinking outside the box in terms of ideas — it's about thinking of the bigger picture too. I use my creative skills to problem solve and find ways to transform ideas into multiple pieces of content that can be shared across different mediums. Bouncing ideas off the team is perfect for this, as we all have something to add. This is something that we call ‘Making Lemonade’ at The Hive. Whether our clients are on Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Pinterest, or beyond, I'm always thinking strategically about how we can make the greatest impact and maximise opportunities across multiple platforms.
The Youbee Creative Approach
We’re pleased to have a team who can bring a unique breadth and depth of creative talent to every project we collaboratively work on. We’re united by our passion for creativity and our commitment to delivering results.
Let's think differently, innovate boldly, and create magic together. Get in touch with our team of creatives on hello@youbeemedia.co.uk
