My name is Billy Stagg and I’m a designer based in South London. Ever since I was a young boy I have always been very creative. I’d sit for hours designing anything and everything from vehicles to fictional characters and loved every second with a passion. Although I wasn’t bad at other subjects, I never really enjoyed them and knew I wanted to design. As long as I was able to think up and illustrate new ideas I was happy.
I was already using a computer to create designs and artwork at the age of 12 using, the industrial standard of its time, Delux Paint 5 for the Amiga 1200. With hardly any colours and through a time consuming pixel by pixel process I was able to create designs and artwork that anyone would be proud of.
It was at secondary school when I first got my hands on Adobe Photoshop 4. My work placement in 1998 introduced me to many more techniques in Photoshop and increased my hunger to become a designer. A statement I wrote the following year reads “It has always been my dream to reach the top of this profession and I am determined not to let anything get in my way”. Nothing has changed to this day.
After secondary school I progressed to college where I advanced my skill set studying Art & Design and Design & Communication and from college I went on to study a BA(Hons) in Interaction Design at Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication. In my final year I received an award from the British Design and Art Direction. This gave me the exposure needed to launch my career in the right direction.
In 2004 I started working for one of the UK’s top new media agencies, Lightmaker.com. It was an important stage in Lightmaker’s history and during my time there I saw them grow from one studio to a handful around the world. They were a great company to work for and through hard work and dedication it wasn’t long before I was taking on large projects and leading them from concept to delivery. Adobe, Samsung, EA Games, Warner Brothers, Manchester United FC, Nintendo, IBM, Bacardi, and the NHS are just a few of the brands I have had the pleasure of working with.
In September 2006 after non-stop studying and working I decided I wanted to learn more about the business side of the industry and incorporated my own company. It hasn’t been easy in it’s first year but I have learnt so much and as the company enters its second year running smoothly and I look forward to working on new contracts in the future with the same passion I had as a child.
I hope this has given you some insight into what I do and why I do it. Please be sure to check out the rest of my site and if you would like anymore information please feel free to contact me.
Take care,
Billy
PS One of my greatest influences to this day is my Granddad, Norman Stagg OBE RIP. He was a truly inspirational character. Without having had the pleasure of hearing his speeches in front of thousands and seeing the pictures of his work around the globe I would never know what it was on a personal level to be successful.
