The HMA Digital Marketing team
How did you get into digital marketing?
I have not always been in ‘digital marketing’ of course, as it didn’t even exist when I started my career but I guess there are not many people who have more experience in the digital sector, having set up a ‘new media’ business back in 1995.
I graduated from Central (St Martins) School of Art and Design, London and first worked as a graphic designer in Covent Garden on mostly travel accounts, including Thomson Holidays. Within a couple of years I had the opportunity to move back to my home county of Yorkshire as design manager of a small design team attached to a printing company. As creative director I helped develop the team into a fully fledged design business with offices in Leeds, London and Dusseldorf working with ASDA and other major retail brands. I left in 1988 to set up my own company, Hill Meyer Design.
One of the driving forces for establishing Hill Meyer Design was the advent of brand new technology which was to revolutionise the design and marketing industry – the Apple computer of course. After a short while I went into business with Carol Meyer and Anthony Allen and Hill Meyer Allen Design was born. We were incredibly successful from the first year and it wasn’t long before we were working with brands such as British Airways, Puma, Burton and Railtrack and had opened a sizeable office in London.
Having seen what effect Apple technology could have on the design business I was immediately interested when the mention of ‘new media’ started to circulate the industry. By 1995 we had enough confidence to start a separate limited company which was named HMA New Media and is now HMA Digital Marketing. Subsequently I sold my interest in the ‘traditional’ business to concentrate solely on digital marketing.
Which are your most successful projects?
I am immensely proud of all the work the team at HMA produce. Digital marketing is a complex business and requires a wide range of skills, experience, attention to detail and determination to deliver what sometimes looks like a relatively simple project.
I wouldn’t like to choose individual projects and while it’s good to see we have won a number of awards through the years I guess what gives me most satisfaction is building long term relationships with clients; Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate and Spacia - 20 years, and MEPC, Rutland Group, Roberts Graphics - 10 years.
What was your first job?
Working on my parents fruit and veg stall on Barnsley market.
If you weren’t in your present job what would you like to do?
It would have to be something completely different like farming or at least growing things.
What are your interests outside of work?
Gardening, sailing, kayaking and watching Barnsley FC.
How did you get into digital marketing?
My background is in bioscience and healthcare and a key focus for me has always been in communicating about science and technology. As a result, what appeals about digital marketing is that it allows me to help healthcare and technology-based organisations get across clear and compelling marketing messages in what is becoming an increasingly important format.
A few years back, I started thinking seriously about making a career transition from my healthcare role. Around this time, I met Diane Hill, HMA’s Finance Director, and was very impressed by the company and its client list. We agreed there was a business opportunity in combining HMA’s expertise in digital marketing with my experience in healthcare and innovation. This certainly has proved to be the case!
Before working with HMA, I was a Business Development Manager at Smith & Nephew PLC, a global medical device company. Prior to this I held positions in sales and marketing at Manchester-based biotechnology firm Epistem Ltd, and in knowledge transfer at the University of Manchester’s technology commercialisation company. My academic training includes a PhD in molecular biology and postdoctoral research experience in laboratories in the US and UK, and in 2007 I was awarded an MBA from Manchester Business School.
Which are your most successful projects?
Two that stand out are an animation project for a university and a website for a medical consultant. The animation project is helping a research group at the University of Sheffield to explain their work on new methods for delivering medical treatments. For the consultant, we created a website so that he can be more easily reached by GPs and patients.
What was your first job?
I was a Saturday girl at Mothercare’s main UK store on Oxford St, London, where my role was to demonstrate the pushchairs and car safety seats. My favourite thing about it had to be going shopping in the West End in my lunch hour! I also did a stint at McDonald’s where I became a master at cooking Chicken McNuggets and Fillet-O-Fish.
If you weren’t in your present job what would you like to do?
At school I was in a lead role in some of the theatre productions – my co-star in ‘Dracula Spectacular’ and ‘Sweeney Todd’ is now an actor in lots of big movies and TV productions. So, like Diane, maybe the stage beckoned!
What are your interests outside of work?
Socialising, walking, photography, and I’m a beginner at golf!
How did you get into digital marketing?
I graduated from De Montfort University, Leicester with a 1st class Honours degree in Design Management. I’ve always had an appreciation for good design so I went to university knowing I wanted to do ‘something’ design orientated but wasn’t sure what!
Whilst studying, I was lucky enough to win a Royal Society of Arts Student Design Award for a project which analysed the creation of the HBOS plc brand identity after the merger between Halifax and Bank of Scotland – who are now a client, funny how things work out! Anyway, as part of the prize, I was awarded a British Airways travel voucher to go anywhere in the world – the only catch was that my trip had to be design orientated as I had to produce another report at the end of it! My travel voucher took me to Australia first of all where I met with various people in the design industry including the design manager of the Sydney Olympic Games! I then travelled to Chicago to attend a Design Management conference where high profile companies such as Maytag provided a great insight into the industry. It was on this trip that I decided to embark on a career in project management/account handling within a design agency.
Entering into a ‘client’ company wasn’t really an option for me – I wanted the variety and experience that an agency offered and so, on my return from travelling, I had various work experience jobs at traditional design and marketing agencies before landing a role at HMA as an internal account executive. Although the business had a traditional arm at the time, my focus was purely on the digital projects and I was thrown in at the deep end!
6 years later and here I am – things have changed in the last few years as new technologies have emerged and although I am not a particularly technical person – I do see digital marketing as the future and the subject will only get more and more interesting with more scope for development.
Which are your most successful projects?
Everybody judges success using different parameters, particularly as technology and trends change which forces benchmarks to vary on a regular basis. Some of our more recent projects such as MEPC and Lingfield Point have been particularly challenging but also very rewarding.
What was your first job?
When I first started working, I was a workaholic (it might have had something to do with the fact that I had to fund my shopping habit!) so I had three jobs...
- Secretary/Sales Negotiator at my dad’s chartered surveyors
- Waitress at a local pub
- Dancing Teacher
I was a busy girl!
If you weren’t in your present job what would you like to do?
The decision I had to make when I left school was whether to go into the design industry or become a dancer (having danced since I was 3 years old!) so I would have to say dancing I think! (or a lady of leisure if I won the lottery!)
What are your interests outside of work?
Socialising & Entertaining, Going to the Theatre/Concerts, Dancing, and of course Shopping!
How did you get into digital marketing?
I joined HMA in 1997, my first job straight from university where I had studied for a BSc in Industrial Product Design. During my time at University we had always been encouraged to use computers for presentation and as part of the design process and so my interest grew. My role at HMA was initially as part of the multimedia team working on CD-ROMs and New Media projects, from the early days I took more of an interest in 3D animation and illustration and got very involved in the newly developing field of architectural visualization; taking architects designs and turning them in to virtual reality. During the late 90s the architectural illustration side of the business really took off and in the summer of 2000 I moved down London to develop our 3D services further.
Which are your most successful projects?
It’s difficult to pick an individual project but I would say any of the projects we have done as part of the planning process. It can be very rewarding working with an architect and developer to help them achieve their vision and get through the often tough planning permission process. It’s also great when you finally after what can be numerous design tweaks get that final permission granted.
I also think recently some of our most successful projects in terms of quality and end result have been on the interior illustration and animation of buildings. New technologies have meant we can now create much more realistic lighting and through our experience of architectural illustration can create some great internal images of a clients developments that can really bring the scheme to life.
What was your first job?
I worked in the Aquatic department of a garden centre at weekends for about 4 years. Anything you want to know about fish, I’m your man!
If you weren’t in your present job what would you like to do?
I think I would probably look at something in architecture, but I have always liked photography and if I had the time would love to do more and I can imagine it would be a great job.
What are your interests outside of work?
Swimming, Indoor Climbing, Exploring London’s many attractions and trying the many types of ale on offer (I’m trying to develop a taste for ale as I grow older!)
How did you get into digital marketing?
My role at HMA is largely looking after the financial affairs of the business plus implementing Health and Safety policies and making sure the company has as little negative impact on the environment as possible.
My first full time job was working for a local firm of Chartered Accountants and then, on moving to London, I took a position in the sales office of a large print and publishing business. After a short period of working in The City I moved back to Yorkshire with experience that proved to be very useful when Hill Meyer Design was formed in 1988.
Which are your most successful projects?
Any where invoices are paid on time!
What was your first job?
Working at Woolworths in the sweet department. Not the best placement for someone with such a sweet tooth!
If you weren’t in your present job what would you like to do?
I used to dance when younger and still do out of office hours – I just can’t seem to hang up my dance shoes! I would have dearly loved to have performed professionally.
What are your interests outside of work?
Theatre, musicals and dance. I am a member of an amateur theatre group.
I have recently become a council member of the newly merged Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce and I hope to use my experience to good effect.
+ View LargeThe HMA Team
