Starting your own business

Interview

Owen Turner (Graphic Designer) tells us about his job and setting up his own design agency, United by Design.

What job do you do?

"I am a trained graphic designer, who has recently started my own company."

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

"The wide variety of clients I work with, creating solutions for them that communicate and engage others. I can be working with a client who owns and runs a brewery one minute, working with a head of a large department in a utilities company the next or working with a charity. Not only are the clients different but what they require for their business can range from a brand identity, packaging, printed matter, photographic art direction to interactive design."

What qualifications did you take at school/college?

"My education started at school. I did my GCSEs, 3 A levels and 1 AS and then went on to do a BTEC Foundation course in Art and Design. After completing the year course I decided to go to Bath Spa University College to study a BA (Hons) Graphic Design. During my time at uni I managed to do some work experience with Dyson Appliances in-house design team. On finishing university with a degree I worked as a Junior Designer and then a Middle weight designer at a company in Bristol. After working for 5 years I freelanced for a number of companies followed by working for a top agency in Leeds. I left in August 2007 to set up my own business."

What advice would you give to someone deciding what options to take at 14 and 16?

"Never be afraid to ask questions. Asking questions about yourself or of others will help you to find out more knowledge to achieve your goals. Always look to gain experience however removed from your desired career path to help you gain more character, personality and passion for what you want from life. This might mean playing a team sport to help you work with other and be competitive, it could be working in a restaurant to help you deal with the general public and work for a boss or it may be taking a course in drawing or maths to expand your mind and look at things differently."

Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?

"I hope to be running a successful Design Agency based in or close to York. Be healthy, happy and passionate about what I do in work and in life generally."