Newcastle creative agency Vida Creative has promoted Design Director Chris Stephenson to Creative Director following a record year that saw revenue grow by 20%.
The independent agency, which marks its tenth anniversary in December, said Stephenson’s promotion follows its strongest 12 months of trading to date.
Stephenson has spent more than four years at Vida, working on branding, digital and campaign projects for clients including Soccer Aid for UNICEF, Elddis, Hoults Yard, Northumberland Cultural Education Partnership and the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme. During that time, the agency also supported a US business with a brand evolution following a $10m Series A funding round.
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In his new role, he will oversee Vida’s creative output across branding, campaigns, websites, UX and digital projects, while helping to develop the agency’s creative team and standards.
Ellen Hedley, Director of Vida Creative, said: “Chris has made an enormous contribution to Vida over the past four years. He combines original creative thinking with a real understanding of strategy, commercial objectives and what audiences need from a brand.
“He’s earned the trust of our team and our clients, and his promotion reflects both the quality of his work and the role he’ll play in Vida’s next chapter.
“Our 20% revenue growth and strongest year of trading to date give us real momentum as we approach our tenth anniversary. Chris’s promotion is an important part of how we’re investing in the agency’s future and continuing to raise the ambition of our work.
“As new technologies continue to change our industry, we’re actively exploring how AI can help us work more effectively and create better outcomes for clients. But technology can’t replace the judgement, curiosity and human understanding behind genuinely impactful creative work.
“Our clients come back to us because they value honest collaboration, strategic thinking and work that feels distinctive to them. Chris embodies that approach, and we’re delighted to recognise his contribution with this promotion.”
Stephenson added: “The strongest creative work comes from properly understanding the people, organisations and ambitions behind it. Technology can help us explore ideas, improve processes and open up new possibilities, but it still needs experienced people asking the right questions and making thoughtful decisions.
“I’m incredibly proud of the work we’ve delivered over the past four years and of the long-term relationships we’ve built with our clients. Taking on the Creative Director role at such an important point in Vida’s journey is a genuine privilege, and I’m excited about what we can achieve next.”
Founded in 2016, Vida Creative works with technology start-ups, scale-ups and spin-outs, B2B businesses, charities and community organisations across branding, marketing, websites, UX, product design and campaigns.
