
An Interview with Ian Pitt Founder and Creative Director of Me,Him&Her Design Studio
Can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your design studio Me,Him&Her?
My name is Ian. I’m originally from London, but I’ve been living and working in Belfast for the past two and a half years. I’ve been working as a designer for nearly 30 years (time flies!!). I started designing within the retail sector and then co-founded my own studio, Me,Him& Her, in 2007.
As a studio, we’ve always worked across a wide range of media, including digital, print, and physical. We’ve designed identities for retailers, charities, artists, and galleries; signage for restaurants and workspaces; and packaging for artisan delis and craft beer makers.
We’re a small team that loves collaborating with other creatives and specialists to deliver projects with both creative and commercial impact. Our client list is incredibly diverse, ranging from well-established multinational brands to SMEs and startups.
Since moving to Belfast, the studio now has two addresses. While we continue to work for our existing clients in London, we’re also starting to connect with some fantastic new clients here.
What inspired you to become a designer and how did you first get started?
I always loved art, but I was never great at it – but from an early age I liked the idea of doing something creative as a career.
When I was about 10, my dad took me to a design studio one weekend. He worked in sales for the computer company ICL and had to proof a new brochure. Back then, they still made the brochures by hand, gluing together pages as paste-ups (I’m so old, I know!). I can still remember the cover – it was black with a painted orange neon electrical pulse running across it. I think that really set me on a path – that was tangible vision of creative role that stuck with me.
I hope they don’t still do this, but at school I remember getting asked a random set of questions which then spat out a job they thought you should do. It was like a weird fortune-telling careers adviser. The ‘crystal ball of employment’ said I should be a car mechanic at the local Ford garage. Luckily for me and car mechanics, a teacher pointed me towards Graphic Design instead.
So, I went to art college for a quick foundation year to make sure the art world wasn’t missing out on anything. Then, I went on to a graphic design degree. I was really lucky to get a job right after graduating, working as a designer for Marks and Spencer. That was a brilliant place to start out.
I was surrounded by a really supportive team of people who gave me plenty of time to learn and grow as a designer. Plus, I had the privilege of working with some incredibly talented creative professionals. The role was in the Store Display studio, where we were responsible for designing all the window promotions and in-store POS. This experience started my passion for designing in spaces and environments, and creating brand experiences in a three-dimensional context.
What made you decide to start your own design studio?
I had worked as a designer for two big retail brands (M&S and French Connection) that I absolutely adored, but by 2006, I was itching to explore other sectors. I felt a bit stuck, you know? There are only so many sale campaigns you can come up with. So, I decided to take a leap of faith and try something new.
My initial plan was to go freelance and see where it took me. I’m sure that would have been a total disaster, but luckily, my boss at the time was feeling the same way. We had always worked really well together, and he’s still the most creative person I’ve ever worked with – infuriating at times – but always brilliant.
In 2007, we decided to start our own agency – Me,Him&Her. The name was something of a response to the Ad agencies we’d dealt with over the years that all sounded like law firms, all name checking the egos of the founding partners.
As the name suggests there was supposed to have been three of us, hence the ‘Her,’ but it didn’t quite work out. We were so in love with the name that we kept going as a slightly misnamed partnership for a while until we were finally joined by a couple of ‘Her(s).’
Has your business changed at all since you started back in 2007? Have your priorities changed?
The business has never stopped changing. I would say at the beginning we were very much making it up as we went along. I don’t think we really had a plan beyond enjoying our newfound creative freedom, creating the best work we could, and paying the bills. We had a mantra of ‘Loving your work’ which we had on all our stationery and comms – I still use that to this day – it really matters that I do love all the work we produce – as a priority for me and the business that has remained constant.
We started out focused on the retail sector – that’s what we knew and we had a great portfolio of work within that to attract clients – and we were really successful at it.
A year or so in, I got introduced to a young architecture firm, spacelab_ (now award-winning), and collaborated with them to design some graphic interiors in a workspace for a client of theirs. That opened up a whole new sector for us and created an enduring creative friendship with spacelab_.
I think when we started out I was really naive about what having your own business was going to be like. We grew pretty quickly. Our first studio was a pop-up we designed. A brilliant photographer and friend Martin Wonnacott was generous enough to let us build it within his photographic studio. Our address was the ‘The Set in the Corner’ and that’s exactly what it was – a bonkers timber-framed office, built like an exhibition stand looking like something you see on a film set. It had space for 3 of us to work and a storage area at the back. Brilliant.
A couple of years in, we realised we needed more space and staff. We rented another studio above the unit of a print supplier we worked with. That was a big change – as soon as we had more people, I felt overwhelmed. We weren’t designers anymore; we were directors. I was designing less and less, spending more time in client meetings, trying to find new work to keep our new team busy and managing people.
I think we got caught up in the idea of what a design studio should be, not what we wanted it to be. We continued to be successful, but I wanted to enjoy it entirely.
We ended up splitting the original business – then I realised the original ‘non-plan’ was actually pretty good.
“Enjoy the creative freedom, create the best work you can, and pay the bills”.
I would say for the last 10 years I have now developed the right-sized studio. Me,Him&Her works with an amazing team of designers, collaborates with other creatives, specifically in the art sector, and continues to deliver projects I love.
What do you enjoy most about working for yourself?
Running your own business is an incredible feeling – you know that it’s ultimately up to you to make it a success or a failure. There’s definitely pressure that comes with that – not least the need to make money – but after almost 18 years of running my own business, I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Freedom is a big thing – a lot of my friends still think I’m ‘living the dream’, doing whatever I want whenever I want. That’s definitely not true. I do have a bit more flexibility with my time than most people with ‘real jobs’ do. At the end of the day, deadlines have to be met and work has to be done, so it’s just about time management.
The biggest freedom I’ve gained as I’ve gotten older is that I can now say no to some projects. You start to get a feel for what kind of work you like and how it might turn out. And you start to care more about how a relationship with a client will develop. That matters more and more to me – I want to do work that I’m really passionate about and with people I like. It can’t always be the case, but 85% of my time is spent doing just that.
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?
No. I work doing the job I wanted to do since the age of 10. How cool is that? I have worked with some inspirational people, for some amazing clients, and delivered work I’m really proud of – doing something I absolutely love. Being a creative is a vocation. That old maxim, unusually for what I like to call ‘tea towel’ philosophy; ‘Find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life’ is actually true for me.
There are days you want to bang your head against the wall – days you think you’ll never have another idea in your life – days you’ll think you’ll never get another client – endless days you feel sick with worry and stress as you think about delivering the next piece of work – and days and days while you wait to get paid. But despite all that, having the opportunity to create something daily I think is genuinely such a privilege.
I don’t really like giving advice; what the hell do I know?
But… to be successful as a designer relies on so much more than just your visual talent. Learning about client relations. Learning out how best for you to present your work. Playing nicely with others. Taking on feedback and learning how to not throw your creative toys out of the pram if it’s bad. This is all best done with a supportive team around you to hold your hand through the multitude of mistakes you are undoubtedly going to make.
I’m going to also recommend a book: Do/Fly (Find your way, Make a living. Be your best self.) written by Gavin Strange – it’s from the stable of the Do Lectures (set up by the incredible David Hieatt, if you don’t know him or them go and find out about both) – it is for me a really inspirational read and a book I turn back to all the time when I need a creative pep talk. My favourite piece of advice (now it seems I’m on a roll of giving it!) though is the beautifully printed words of Anthony Burrill which hang in the studio.
“Work hard and be nice to people”
It might just be that simple. Sermon over.
You recently moved to Belfast from London, what inspired the move and how have you found it so far?
So, the most memorable thing that happened during my time at Marks and Spencer was that I met my wife there! She was working at M&S during her placement year from her marketing degree at the University of Ulster. After finishing her degree, she moved back and we settled down in London. After 30 years living there, we just wanted a change. We’d spoken about moving over the year prior to Covid, and actually put the offer in on the house we now live in two weeks prior to the first lockdown !! A pandemic and a full house renovation later and we were finally able to make the move in April 2022.
I’m loving living here. It wasn’t a total shock – I’d been coming back and forth for years, but now having the time to really explore Belfast and the whole of Ireland has been great. There’s a really good creative energy about the city. People think London is unfriendly – it’s not, but the warmth and generosity from everyone I’ve met here has been really lovely – thanks to everyone who has taken the time to have a pint(s) and a chat with me.
Are there any differences you have noticed between working as a designer in both cities?
Scale, I suppose. I still spend a lot of time working for clients in London, which is awesome, but I’d love to grow my work here more. 95% of my work has always come through a network of clients, colleagues, and friends I’ve known over the years in London. It’s always going to be tough building that from scratch here, but we’re making progress. This is a smaller pond to fish in, and there are already a lot of very talented studios doing great work here already.
Finally have you any exciting plans or ambitions for the future?
As anyone who has had the misfortune to listen to me banging on about this for the last two years, I would love for Me,Him&Her to open a print gallery here.
We have worked with some amazing artists and galleries in London, putting on shows and promoting work. I love wandering round Late Night Art once a month here and I’ve found some great galleries, but I miss the opening nights at somewhere like Jealous or the sort of shows we’d put on at the depot_. Nudge, by Patrick Colhoun and Hallerclarke at Riddell’s Warehouse last year was hands down the best put-together show I’ve been to in Belfast.
I’d love to have a commercial space selling accessible and affordable art. Celebrating the art of the printed, painted, and sprayed by some of the hottest UK and Irish artists, whilst also providing a space for the new and emerging. Anyone else wants to get involved, let me know. 2025 is the year I’m going to stop banging on about it and make it happen !!
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Thanks to everyone who joined us last Wednesday evening for our creative talk with the wonderful Ian Pitt founder and creative director of @mehimandherdesign
We have loads of great talks and workshops coming up over the next few months, keep an eye on our website and socials for more info!
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Feb 14
AVAILABLE WORKSPACE
We currently have 2 dedicated adjacent deskspaces available in our Cotton Court Studios £125 per calendar month all inclusive (rates, utilities, broadband) per desk or £225 for both desks. Email christine@blickstudios.org for more info or to arrange a viewing or visit our website for more info
Feb 11
Creative Skills Workshop – How to DIY your brand (and the common mistakes to avoid)
Join us on Wednesday, 12th March, for this free creative skills workshop all about branding your creative business. This workshop will be hosted by Laura Whitehouse founder of @mightyfinedesign
ABOUT LAURA:
Hello! I run a small graphic design agency (read: one person, a dog, and lots of lovely contractors) based in Bangor. I specialise in work for arts organisations, small businesses looking to grow, and a smattering of TV and Film projects, with clients across the UK ranging from garden designers, marketers, and voiceover artists through to behemoths such as Sky, Netflix, the BBC, and Marvel.
I graduated in 2012 with a BA in Archaeology and Anthropology, not exactly, a natural path to becoming a designer, and so my relationship with design began as illicit rendezvous with internships and local theatre productions, tinkering with posters and bothering people for work. I snuck my way into a Proper Grown-Up Agency after university in 2015, and another a few years later, working with bigger fish, bigger briefs, and balancing freelance work on the side until going fully self-employed in the glorious year that was 2020.
I’m now known as Mighty Fine Design, and alongside my own skills I’ve got a little black book of talented Junior Designers, Copywriters, Marketers, Social Media Whizzes, Photographers, and Set Designers to bring jobs to life: no matter what the size.
You can find out more about Laura on her website: https://www.laurawhitehouse.com/ or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mightyfinedesign/
EVENT DETAILS
Event Date(s): March 12, 2025
Event Time: 7pm - 9pm
Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill St, Belfast, BT1 2LB
Cost: Free
Sign up now for your free ticket! Link below and in our profile ✨️
https://blickstudios.org/events/nurture-creative-workshop/
Feb 10
�Really looking forward to Ian Pitt �@mehimandherdesign�`s talk this Wednesday evening! Just 2 tickets left which you can book for free on our website!
Feb 4
Just a few tickets left for our creative talk this Wednesday evening with Ian Pitt, founder and creative director of Me,Him& Her Design Studio!
With nearly 30 years of experience in design, Ian’s career began in the retail sector before co-founding his own studio in 2007. Over the past 18 years, Me,Him&Her has developed a reputation for its multidisciplinary approach, crafting brand identities that come to life across digital, print, and physical spaces.
Their client base spans multinational corporations (ASOS, Virgin), SME’s and startups, all with a focus on creating meaningful, engaging brand experiences. Across branding, graphics, signage, interiors, or exhibitions, the studio balances creativity with commercial impact.
In this talk, Ian will share insights from his creative journey, exploring key projects, lessons learned, and the realities of running an independent design studio — from the highs of creative freedom to the challenges he’s found running his own business.
Discover more about Ian and his work at mehimandher.com and follow the studio on Instagram at @mehimandherdesign
EVENT DETAILS
Event Date(s): February 5, 2025
Event Time: 7pm - 8pm
Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill St, BT1 2LB
Cost: Free
Sign up now for your free ticket (link below or in profile)
https://blickstudios.org/events/nurture-creative-talk-2/
Feb 3
Some weekend reading part 2! Ahead of his talk for us this Wednesday
evening Ian Pitt, founder and creative director of Me,Him&Her Design
Studio has done a brilliant interview for us that you can read now on
the blog on our website link in profile or below ✨️
https://blickstudios.org/blog/an-interview-with-ian-pitt-founder-and-creative-director-of-mehimher-design-studio/
You can also still book a free ticket on the events page of our website!
EVENT DETAILS
Event Date(s): February 5, 2025
Event Time: 7pm - 8pm
Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill St, BT1 2LB
Cost: Free
Sign up now for your free ticket!
https://blickstudios.org/events/nurture-creative-talk-2/
Feb 2
Some weekend reading! Ahead of his talk for us this Wednesday evening Ian Pitt founder and creative director of Me,Him&Her Design Studio has done a brilliant interview for us that you can read now on the blog on our website (link in profile) or over the next two days here on Instagram ✨️
You can still book a free ticket on the events page of our website!
EVENT DETAILS
Event Date(s): February 5, 2025
Event Time: 7pm - 8pm
Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill St, BT1 2LB
Cost: Free
Sign up now for your free ticket!
https://blickstudios.org/events/nurture-creative-talk-2/
Feb 1
It`s the last day of January. There`s still time to reflect on your plans and ambitions for your creative practice for the year ahead. Here`s some journal prompts to help you get started!
What would the best next year look like for you in your creative practice?
What would you create, experience, and accomplish in your creative practice over the next 12 months to make it the best year of your life? Dream Big, but also include the details
Also available as downloadable Word and PDF documents on our website link in profile and below 🌼 🌸 🌻
https://blickstudios.org/resources/12331/
Jan 31
Ahead of Ian Pitt, founder and creative director of Me,Him&Her`s creative talk for us next Wednesday evening, we are sharing with you some examples of his work for clients, including:
�- �Promotional work for The English National Opera gallery show “Under The Skin”
�- �Branding for the depot_ a mixed use gallery/work and event space, East London
�- �Interior work for Sony Music
�- �Branding, placemaking, and wayfinding for Leavesden Park, Watford
�- �Show catalogue for “Change Everything - Art as Protest” curated by Anthony Burrill and the depot_
- �FCUKFM. Live radio station installation broadcasting from French Connection store windows Regent Street
With nearly 30 years of experience in design, Ian’s career began in the retail sector before co-founding his own studio in 2007. Over the past 18 years, Me,Him&Her has developed a reputation for its multidisciplinary approach, crafting brand identities that come to life across digital, print, and physical spaces.
Their client base spans multinational corporations (ASOS, Virgin), SME’s and startups, all with a focus on creating meaningful, engaging brand experiences. Across branding, graphics, signage, interiors, or exhibitions, the studio balances creativity with commercial impact.
In this talk, Ian will share insights from his creative journey, exploring key projects, lessons learned, and the realities of running an independent design studio — from the highs of creative freedom to the challenges he’s found running his own business.
Discover more about Ian and his work at mehimandher.com and follow the studio on Instagram at @mehimandherdesign
�EVENT DETAILS��
��Event Date(s): February 5, 2025
Event Time: 7pm - 8pm
Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill St, BT1 2LB
Cost: Free
Sign up now for your free ticket!
��https://blickstudios.org/events/nurture-creative-talk-2/�������
Jan 30
We currently have 2 dedicated deskspaces available in our Cotton Court Studios £125 each per calendar month email christine@blickstudios.org for more info or to arrange a viewing or visit our website for more info!
Jan 29
As we approach the end of the first month of a new year here are some journal prompts to help you refine your creative idea by reflecting on your current creative practice over the past year.
Reflect on the area of your creative practice you have experienced the most growth this year. What have you learned, and how have you evolved in that part of your life?
What are you proud of or deeply grateful for this year in your creative practice? List everything that comes to mind big or small
You can also download the journal prompts as a PDF or Word document on the creative resources section of our website (link in profile)
Jan 28
What a miserable Sunday, but for anyone working on a new creative business idea, or looking to change their current creative business model or make some changes in their life it`s the perfect weather for staying indoors and doing some gentle reflection. We have put together some (hopefully) useful journal prompts to help you get started!
You can also download this exercise as a pdf or word document from the resources section on our website ✨️(link in profile)
Jan 26
Looking forward to our first creative talk of 2025 on Wednesday, 5th February with Ian Pitt, founder and Creative Director of the London - and Belfast-based design studio Me,Him&Her. @mehimandherdesign
With nearly 30 years of experience in design, Ian’s career began in the retail sector before co-founding his own studio in 2007. Over the past 18 years, Me,Him&Her has developed a reputation for its multidisciplinary approach, crafting brand identities that come to life across digital, print, and physical spaces.
Their client base spans multinational corporations (ASOS, Virgin), SME’s and startups, all with a focus on creating meaningful, engaging brand experiences. Across branding, graphics, signage, interiors, or exhibitions, the studio balances creativity with commercial impact.
In this talk, Ian will share insights from his creative journey, exploring key projects, lessons learned, and the realities of running an independent design studio — from the highs of creative freedom to the challenges he’s found running his own business.
Discover more about Ian and his work at mehimandher.com and follow the studio on Instagram at @mehimandherdesign
Event details:
Event Date(s): February 5, 2025
Event Time: 7pm - 8pm
Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill St, BT1 2LB
Cost: Free
Book your free ticket on our website ✨️ (link in profile)
Jan 22
Creative Skills Workshop – Branding Your Creative Business
Join us on Wednesday, 12th March, for this free creative skills workshop all about branding your creative business!
Event Date(s): March 12, 2025
Event Time: 7pm - 9pm
Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill St, Belfast, BT1 2LB
Cost: Free
Full workshop details and facilitator info coming soon!
Sign up now for your free ticket! (Link in profile)
Event Date(s): March 12, 2025
Event Time: 7pm - 9pm
Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill St, Belfast, BT1 2LB
Cost: Free
Jan 21
Blue skies & loads of light & amazing shadows in our Great Northern Street Studios on this lovely sunny Friday 💙 🌞 ☀️ 🌤
Jan 17
Great workshop yesterday in our Great Northern Street Studios on - ``creative purpose, values, vision and mission` with our Nurture Program participants @verahylands and @bethanysmillican . Many thanks to @itsaullovin founder of @yeomagazine for being our guest and sharing his thoughts and experiences!
Jan 16
We are super excited to have Ian Pitt, founder and Creative Director of the London – and Belfast-based design studio Me,Him&Her. sharing his creative story at our next Creative Talk on Wednesday 5th February!
With nearly 30 years of experience in design, Ian’s career began in the retail sector before co-founding his own studio in 2007. Over the past 18 years, Me,Him&Her has developed a reputation for its multidisciplinary approach, crafting brand identities that come to life across digital, print, and physical spaces.
Their client base spans multinational corporations (ASOS, Virgin), SME’s and startups, all with a focus on creating meaningful, engaging brand experiences. Across branding, graphics, signage, interiors, or exhibitions, the studio balances creativity with commercial impact.
In this talk, Ian will share insights from his creative journey, exploring key projects, lessons learned, and the realities of running an independent design studio — from the highs of creative freedom to the challenges he’s found running his own business.
Discover more about Ian and his work at mehimandher.com and follow the studio on Instagram at @mehimandherdesign
EVENT DETAILS
Event Date(s): February 5, 2025
Event Time: 7pm - 8pm
Location: Blick Shared Studios, 46 Hill St, BT1 2LB
Cost: Free
Sign up now for your free ticket on our website (link in profile) 🌟 🌟 🌟
Jan 14
Happy Monday from our cosy Cotton Court studios in the Cathedral Quarter where we have this lovely dedicated deskspace available immediately! £125 per calendar month all-inclusive and no VAT, email christine@blickstudios.org for more info or to arrange a viewing
Jan 13
Our next Creative Talk will be on Wednesday 5th February with a local creative sharing their story!
Speaker details coming soon!
Sign up now for your free ticket on our website (link in profile)!
Jan 10