An Interview with Laura Whitehouse Founder of Mighty Fine Design
Can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your design studio Mighty Fine Design?
Hello, I’m Laura! I own and run Mighty Fine Design, a one-women agency (often with contracted help) that works mostly with small brands looking to grow, theatre companies across the UK, and occasionally on Film and TV projects. I cover everything from logos to full-scale brands, websites to marketing materials, and theatre posters to event brochures. Pretty much anything you need to communicate something visually in a nice neat package I can do.
What inspired you to become a designer and how did you first get started?
I initially studied Graphic Design at school. It popped up in the curriculum just before GCSEs, when our school had just received some funding for a couple of Apple computers and a slightly dodgy version of Photoshop. It all clicked for me then, really – I’d always been creative, but pretty terrible at drawing, so wasn’t sure where my skills really went. After that I went on to study it for my GCSEs (after initially being put into food tech and literally sobbing to the very baffled teacher to ask to move), and then A-Levels. While I didn’t carry it on to University (a long story, best summarised by very valid pressure to study something ‘more academic’) I did start to freelance while there, knocking up theatre posters for students, getting part-time work in the student union, and basically convincing anyone to swap me a design for pints. I guess that was the very start of a very hodge-podge freelance career. If I could invoice in pints right now, I would.
What led to you starting your own design studio?
It’s what I’ve always wanted, right from my very first agency job. After university I managed to con a very clever and talented woman, and owner of an agency in Oxford, to hire me as a junior designer in a role that was contracted out to a student housing company. I learnt lots, but the idea of a 9-5 forever and ever (staring at a man called Michael, eating a banana every day at precisely 10am, and telling me he was worried the traffic going home would prevent him from accessing his packed lunch, which he kept at said home) filled me with dread. Being creative full-time is pretty tricky, and my brain works best at slightly odd hours, when I’m able to nip to the post office or mindlessly scroll on my phone without worrying about being caught during the day. Since that very first job I’ve freelanced on the side, which really helped to build my skills and learn how to manage clients, and it just grew organically from there… right up until I handed in my notice at my second agency in March 2020. Great timing.
What do you enjoy most about working for yourself?
The flexibility! Not just in terms of aforementioned post office and avoidance of Michael’s 10am banana, but the flexibility to turn down work too. If I get a bad feeling about a job, or it doesn’t excite me, or I just don’t fancy it, I can say no. And I love that. It helps me to create the best work and work with the best people.
And what do you find hardest about working for yourself?
It can be lonely. I’ve grown and learnt a lot by working with other designers, and often the client is great in this way because they push you too – but sometimes, without a group to bounce off regularly, it’s hard to know whether you’re working to the best of your ability. That’s why I love getting in tried and tested designers I love to help me with some projects, when there’s budget – the result is often very exciting.
Knowing what you know now, is there anything you would have done differently when you were first starting out? Do you have any advice for creatives starting out now?
Gosh… I think I’d have done it sooner! I was so scared to take the leap, but it really did work out. My biggest advice would be to find a mentor. I had a great one, Owen O’Leary (https://owenoleary.com/) through Creative Edinburgh, and he really helped me to make the change and gave me the confidence to make it happen.
You are hosting a DIY Branding workshop for creatives for us on the 12th March, do you have any general advice you can share ahead of the workshop for creatives on how to build a consistent brand themselves/ on a budget? Any tools or software you would recommend?
People hate to tell me they use Canva, but I love it! Have a look around in there, just the free version to get started, and pull in any ideas you might have as reference images. Googling ‘font pairings Canva’ is also a great place to start – there’s no need to stare at a blank page, just enjoy having a play around – the aim is to work out what feels right (and what doesn’t).
You recently moved to Bangor from England, what inspired the move and how have you found it so far?
Very stereotypically… a boy (sort of!). I first moved here in 2021, I’d been living in Edinburgh when I got offered a six-month contract job on a film in the Titanic Quarter. I’d only been to Ireland once before, but it was a great opportunity, so I packed everything into my very tiny, very old Ford Fiesta Style and jumped in with both feet on about a week’s notice. While working on the job I met my now-fiancé, and after a couple of years of back and forth from London to Bangor I ended up absolutely loving the place. It’s such a great community here, and while it gets a lot of stick from born and bred Bangorians, I think they don’t realise what they’ve got! Seacourt and the Courthouse are amazing cultural hubs, and a Bangor Late Night Art event has just started once a month too. There’s always something to do, and everyone has been incredibly welcoming.
Are there any differences you have noticed between working as a self-employed designer in both countries?
Most of my work is remote, so not really! The biggest difference is my work-life balance. Living by the sea, with so much on my doorstep, means I get out a lot more – whether that’s for a dander by the sea with our dog, or for a nice overpriced black americano, it’s far easier to close the laptop and ignore emails when it hits 5pm. Or sometimes 3pm. Maybe even just after lunch. I am my own person hey leave me alone.
Is there a book or podcast or quote or piece of advice or anything else that has helped you on your journey as a creative entrepreneur you can share with us?
‘It’s better to admit you walked through the wrong door than to spend your life in the wrong room.’
Sometimes a job doesn’t go to plan, or it’s not a good fit. Be honest and speak up – if you feel like that, chances are the client does too. This also applies to taking the wrong full-time job. Just leave! (I say, with a mortgage to pay, a dog with a bottomless pit for a stomach, and an extortionate electricity bill at present… this is not an attitude my partner appreciates).
Finally, do you have any exciting plans or ambitions for the future?
Actually have a think about what I’m doing! I’ve booked to go on a weekend outdoors trip with likeminded business people who don’t like business, and I’m hoping to put together a plan for where I’m going – whether that’s growth as a team, growth as one, or no growth at all.. Who knows!
Laura’s workshop is on Wednesday 12th March from 7-9pm in our Hill St studios. You can sign up and get more info here
