Ben Clarke
Published 15th March 2021
INTRODUCTION
A Creative Intern at Gymshark, Ben is a forward-thinking and socially conscious creative with key interests in branding and design strategy.
He’s on a Year in Industry as part of his degree in Graphic Design at Northumbria University, graduating in 2022.
Nicknamed ‘Lanky but Lovely’, he is pursuing a career that will stimulate thought, effect change in society and make a difference to people.
This interview took place over video call in February 2021.
The day after we spoke, you were heading off for your first day on set at a Gymshark shoot - How did it go?!
It was great! A little clammy wearing a mask all day but I’ve been very lucky to get on a shoot! The early start and long day was definitely worth it, having the expertise of a team around me was very inspiring and made me want to know everything! I can only imagine how great a shoot is without all the Covid restrictions.
I’ve only ever dabbled in photography and not worked to this level, so really enjoyed learning something new and being hands-on creative; I definitely learnt A LOT. I was amazed by how much equipment, time and precision is needed for what a consumer might overlook as a simple shot. I’ve often been told the best design is that, that you don’t immediately notice and the same can definitely be said for photography.
What I found most interesting was being able to see first-hand the impact each person’s role had on the shoot from the gaffer to hair and makeup whilst having the freedom to deviate from a plan to experiment and work with the space and talent.
© Ben Clarke - Whistling Frog Rum
Let’s take a few steps back...Why did you choose to buck the trend and do a year in industry?
When I was searching for university courses, I knew I wanted one that offered a Year in Industry. I’ve always seen it as a year to gain an insight into what a career could be like and the opportunity to put into play what I’ve learnt in my first two years. Similar to choosing to do my foundation year, it’s the space and freedom to experiment and try all sorts before choosing a direction to graduate into. I think especially within the creative industry having time to explore is crucial.
Working within a business, to deadlines and to parameters I don’t always have control over has made me a lot more resilient and adaptable to change. I hope the business and interpersonal skills I’ve learnt will give me that edge and if nothing else at least the 1 to 3 years’ experience everywhere seems to want these days…
As part of the University criteria, I do monthly reflections and looking back it’s great to see how much I’ve learnt, achieved and changed in just half my time here, the support, trust and direction from my team throughout has been nothing but top-notch. I’ve grown both professionally and personally, working collaboratively with different creatives has really helped me question and explore where I could see myself starting out in my career. It’s broadened my scope and given me the confidence to believe more in my own capabilities. The past few months have opened my eyes to where my degree could take me, and to more places than graphic design alone.
What would you say to students who might be on the fence about taking a year out to work in industry?
Just Do It. Seriously, do it. It’s hard work applying for and finding one and at times you’ll feel like giving up, be ready for numerous rejections and to be left on read but stay consistent and it’ll pay off in the end. You’re probably at Uni to advance your career so why wouldn’t you want to give it a shot. If you don’t apply, someone else will.
My best advice would be to start early and apply to as many places as you can; it’s better to have more offers than none, in the end I applied to 30+! That’s not to say send out blanket applications, make everything from your CV to portfolio specific to the place you’re applying for, do your research and put in the time to find out as much as you can about them. Reach out for support and advice from peers, tutors and people already in industry, run things by them. Finally, don’t just take anything and definitely don’t do it for free, know your value even if you lack experience in the design world, you still have something worthwhile to offer.
© Ben Clarke - Experimentation with Cinema 4D
What do you think set you apart and secured you the highly-coveted internship at Gymshark?
I wondered about this too… I subsequently asked and have been told that it was the balance of my technical ability in my portfolio together with my willingness to look past the current position of the brand, seeing its flaws and how it can therefore grow. I took a risk in how I approached the interview task, but this brand was built on big risks, so I’m glad I took a small one to be a part of it.
I’ve since learnt that my alternative outlook on the brand as a non ‘gym lad’ has brought a new perspective, ideas and always challenges the ‘why’. At first, I thought of hiding that fact I’m not a fitness fanatic – I nearly didn’t accept the job out of fear of not fitting in – but I’m so glad I did, and proud to say I stayed true to myself. What I was most insecure about is what’s helped me feel valued.
There’s plenty more to me that aligns with the amazing people and culture at Gymshark and there’s plenty more to Gymshark than just the gym. Looking back I was being naïve and too quick to judge to even think that, that’s what I thought would matter to the team most. I was hired for my creativity and questioning not for how much I can bench press.
“What I was most insecure about is what’s helped me feel valued.”
What does a day in the life of your role look like at the moment, and how have you found the overall experience so far?
I’ve just passed the halfway point of my internship, it’s crazy how fast it’s flown by. At the moment my days are really varied. Of course, I spend the majority of time WFH, which is challenging at times, but it’s what I’m used to now. Lately, I’ve been lucky to assist and work in the office and on set for a few shoots, which has been great to see a project come to fruition.
My time is currently split between the Creative team who are responsible for the ideation and art direction of all our campaigns and the rest of my time is spent within Artwork, who execute the creative ideas, and make the final assets that our audience see. They’re both very different ways of working.
Artwork is very process heavy, with a clear list of tasks and deadlines to meet and brief owners from across the business submitting to our daily workloads, you can work on multiple assets a day from social content to emails, so my workload is constantly flowing and turned around fairly quickly. Creative on the other hand is very self-led and more collaborative, I’ve been working on the same large projects for the last few months, and have really drilled into the concepts, and followed them as they grow and develop into a tangible campaign and worked with other teams across the business to align and create channel-specific executions.
“Despite the struggles we’ve all faced this past year, a truly innovative, transparent and creative environment has been cultivated and our wellbeing has always been put first, just like any family would.”
So far, the experience has been greater than I could have imagined. Not only has the scope of my role allowed me to explore different areas of a creative career but I’ve learnt how to effectively work within a business, approach creative briefs and deliver a result. I’ve felt the energy and rate of company growth, even when working at home. Despite the struggles we’ve all faced this past year, a truly innovative, transparent and creative environment has been cultivated and our wellbeing has always been put first, just like any family would. The strong company values aren’t just tokenism but actioned daily all the way from the Chiefs down to Interns like me; I really feel a part of something bigger.
© Ben Clarke - Form+Function concrete homeware
You’ve also experienced working at design agency Jack Renwick Studio, how would you compare the studio to an in-house position?
In my short time with Jack and her brilliant team compared to my long-term time at Gymshark I still learnt a lot, adapted to living and working in London and joined at a very busy time for the studio. There are however many similarities between my time with Jack and Gymshark. The first is the team around me. In both jobs, I’ve been welcomed, trusted and valued, and never as just a tea boy! It really makes a difference to the motivation and joy you feel when you’re recognised and given responsibility. I’ve also been encouraged to bring myself and voice my opinions, I’ve worked long days, felt the pace and learnt a lot from the experienced creatives around me. Both places have felt strong and close-knit – although the lack of IRL contact at Gymshark has been tough, I’d love a pint with my team.
The main difference between the two is that at Gymshark I’m only working with one brand in its own niche with many branches. I’m a day-to-day part of the brand; as much an employee as a consumer. Compared to an external agency working for a period of time or on a specific project. In-house I’ve got hundreds of colleagues across many departments all working towards one north star, and I need to adapt how I communicate my ideas to suit.
I think both in-house and at an agency you have to be multifaceted but perhaps even more so in an agency. In-house you have specific teams with built processes to brief and pass projects onto specialists throughout the business, whether to a social team or producer. The work is very different too: at Gymshark my role is very campaign heavy, working a lot with product and talent across photo and video compared to my role being more of a branding and editorial focus at Jack Renwick Studio.
Their differences aside, both have given me opportunity to learn, create and do what I love the most. I’ll always be grateful for the opportunities they’ve given me.
You’ve done a great job at capturing your personality on your website, what’s been your approach to self-promotion and how have you found it?
I’ve always been very self-critical and a bit of a perfectionist but I’m learning to be more vulnerable and just accept where I’m at and my abilities best lie. I work hard and stay consistent, so constantly update my site (often too obsessively) but I think as I’m always changing and creating new work I need to keep it up to date, as much as I can.
I see my website as a digital representation of myself, so I obviously show my project work and speak in design waffle, but I know the importance of showing the lanky boy behind the Cinema4D and the other interests he has. A glimpse of the things that make me, me. I have a section in my About Me page, for no purpose other than to just spark conversation. You never know which Design Director might also like the same series or song (then again it could be my downfall). Ultimately, I hope it breaks through the professionalism and shows a glimpse of me as a person, and I can save the formality for my CV.
“I’ve always been very self-critical and a bit of a perfectionist but I’m learning to be more vulnerable and just accept where I’m at”
My approach to self-promotion was reinforced a few weeks back as I took a workshop titled ‘BIG UP YOURSELF’ by F*ck Being Humble. The biggest takeaway for me was that if I don’t talk about myself and my successes then how will anyone ever know how great I am. And I learnt how to communicate this without being a dick.
Stef Sword-Williams (Founder of FBH) says ‘self-promotion is not a dirty word’, we’ve been conditioned to think that we shouldn’t celebrate our hard work and I think that’s where we start to disconnect with ourselves. (Definitely read Stef’s book if you haven’t already). The workshop really illustrated the importance of being myself, selling myself, and having my personality shining through all that I do and say.
© Ben Clarke - Form+Function concrete homeware
Tell us about your side project Form+Function, how did it start and what do you enjoy most about it?
It was born in Lockdown 2 (Lockdowns are officially the new form of measuring time). But the idea began back in Second Year when I made a pretty crap concrete lamp from a Tropicana carton, in my uni flat kitchen, (don’t worry I cleaned up the mess). As we went back into another National Lockdown I needed something to fill the long and dark evenings, so I thought I’d give concrete homeware a proper go.
Working from home I’ve really missed the hands-on creativity, and having the time to slosh around in the garage with a jug of concrete was the break I needed from Zoom and the headspace to switch off for a few hours. I think what I’ve been privileged to enjoy most is being able to have full control of something, during what’s been a very uncertain year: a chance to create without deadlines or external pressures. And the positive reception encouraged me to keep going…
Do you ever feel the pressure to have a side project? And if so, is that pressure balanced out by the benefits in your opinion?
100%. I think all creatives do, especially when WFH; I find it impossible to switch off. If I’m not thinking about actual work, I start a personal project or try to learn something new to ‘relax’. I think we’re lucky as creatives, that we do a job we enjoy. It’s something that often stems from a passion and becomes a career. I think that’s why it’s hard for me to draw a line between work and play, it’s a grey area, often filled with too much blue light and Untitled.ai’s.
“it’s hard for me to draw a line between work and play, it’s a grey area, often filled with too much blue light and Untitled.ai’s.”
I mentioned my side hustle Form+Function, which, after a few weeks of deliberating, I’ve decided to put on hold. I started it for fun and it was important for my own sake that when the fun stopped, I should stop (I sound like a gambling advert). I was enjoying it as I felt in control of something but as I started to feel the pressure come from elsewhere, to manage a social feed and meet multiple orders, it began feeling like a chore...3-4 hours a night sanding proved to not be as relaxing as it initially was, and it wasn’t healthy to sustain. I’m much happier in my head now, and I’ve always got the moulds should I want to start it up again. I’m sure soon enough I’ll move onto a new hustle to keep me occupied…ooo…maybe candles!
How do you plan to tackle your last year of uni when you head back in September?
I plan to go full throttle, it’s my last year to fully experiment doing my own thing, whilst building a strong portfolio to kickstart my career. I want to widen my network to reach out and learn from more of the people that inspire me.
I’m going to bring back what I’ve learnt from my time at Gymshark, encourage more collaboration between my peers and keep putting myself into my work. I want to plan my time wisely and think carefully about where to put my energy, I’ve only got 30 short weeks and a lot I want to fit into them. I’m going to continue looking forward and out for opportunities, join back in with societies, volunteering and remain true to myself and what I set out to do.
“if I’ve learnt anything from the past year it’s the importance of having the resilience to deal with everything not going to plan and staying confident in the knowledge things will work out in the end.”
All whilst enjoying the last of my time in the beautiful North East (and it’s cheap trebles). At least, that’s the plan… if I’ve learnt anything from the past year it’s the importance of having the resilience to deal with everything not going to plan and staying confident in the knowledge things will work out in the end.
Thanks Ben! Best of luck with your final year. We can’t wait to see what you get up to next 🤩
Recommended reading
F*ck Being Humble by Stefanie Sword-Williams
Recommended listening
The Creative Rebels Podcast hosted by Adam Brazier & David Speed
Recommended follow
