Meet Paul Lamb | Creative Director & Graphic Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Paul Lamb and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Paul, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I’m from Plymouth, Devon in the south west of England a really beautiful part of the country. You can be on the coast or in the countryside within a 15 minute or so drive. I had a fairly modest upbringing, my Dad was a shipwright in Devonport Dockyard and my Mum was a hairdresser. They were very family orientated and we had a lot of extended family around with our Grandparents and Aunts and Uncles. There was always some family event or get together and may trips in and around Devon. I very much cherish all those times we were a close nit family. I’m still incredibly close with them and love coming home whenever I get the opportunity to. The only thing I was ever any good at at School was Art. And the art studio was something of a haven for me as I didn’t really enjoy school much. I was always drawing and would spend hours with paper charcoal and water colour paints. My grandparents and Aunt and Uncle would have pieces I made framed on their walls. They big fans of my work! Along with my art teacher who really encouraged me and helped me believe in myself. I think he was the one who planted the seed that one day I would move to New York.

I think he taught me a lot and really lit the fire, I wasn’t sure that having an aptitude in art would lead to the career I have today. I think having that solid foundation and encouragement really gave me the confidence to pursue the path I did. I was also lucky I had an Uncle who had moved overseas to Canada, who I idolized and he was definitely someone who inspired the possibility of living and working abroad.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned over the years is to believe in yourself and to believe that you’re as good as your peers. When I look back I always had this huge love for photography and design. That was born of a love of fashion magazines, particularly layout and how image and design work together. The relationship between the two. I always just loved playing with type and image and ooking at how fashion magazines addressed that. When I realized it was possible to have a career in this as a Graphic Designer thats when I would start to critique layouts and look at how they were put together and the relationship between the imagery and the typography. How negative space worked. Thats when I became aware of Graphic Designers such as Fabian Baron and Saul Bass who massively inspired me. I do believe as Graphic Designers we see the world slightly differently from others in how we see shape and form. How visually aware we are and how we see details.

It wasn’t easy and there were many knock backs and challenges on the way. I never got into my first choice of university, and was annihilated by the tutor in my interview there. Which massively dented my confidence in my ability and definitely made me question my talent. But you persevere. I’m a great believer if you want something badly enough and you put the work in, you will get it. I got into Falmouth University in the UK and completed my degree in Graphic Design. After that I moved to London when I landed a junior graphic designer position for retail chain Debenhams which got me a foot in the door of the industry. From there I was like a sponge taken on bigger and more high profile projects which got me onto photoshoots which was where I wanted to be. I was very hungry to be involved in all aspects of a project from the concepts to the design and the photoshoots, seeing a project from beginning to end. Those first years I really learnt a lot. Then I made what some thought a crazy decision at the time to go freelance after 2 years into my first job.

After that I never looked back. Moving from there to working for the Arcadia Group, with well known UK brands such as Topshop, and from there being on retainer with Lingerie brands Gossard, Berlei and Shock Absorber. Berlei was a 70 year old brand, which I fully rebranded both designing the new logo and all the creative direction. One of the projects I’m most proud of. That led to several other brand identities I designed. After that I worked in Australia on 2 big women’s brands but for a UK creative agency. Spending quite some time in Sydney and Melbourne. Then I realized a dream and moved to New York, where I’ve been ever since.

During my time here I’ve art directed a number of big campaigns for Kenneth Cole, 2(X)1st, Walmart, Baby Phat, & NARS. As well as various projects for the likes of Lands’ End, Ralph Lauren, Bluefly, LOFT, Macy’s and Henry Bendell. And featured editorial work for publications such as Harper’s Bazaar Mens, Client magazine and L’Official Hommes. Building up an extensive list of clients. Through a small creative agency I started with photographer James Dimmock, called Flock Creatives. Where we’ve worked on a number big or smaller projects.

I’m really proud of some the projects I’ve got to work on, in particular the Kenneth Cole campaigns with photographer and oscar nominated director Sean Ellis. Also where I got to transform a brand, like Berlei aswell as building a brand such as Cooperfit for my friend Ryan Cooper. That one I’m particularly proud of, establishing the brand from the brand identity, to all the graphic design for all areas of content and the creative direction. I feel very fortunate that i’ve got to work on all areas creatively in my career. I think what sets me apart is that I’m easy to work with, I believe the art director has to set the right tone on set to get the best out of the crew, from models to the stylist to the photographer and to all in between. And that I’m decisive, I know what I want. I hear about art directors that can’t make decisions and I don’t understand it. Where design is concerned I have a very clean simple asecthetic, which I think permeates from all my work. I’ve also always been a huge movie buff and I’ve drawn a lot ideas from films, I think my work can be quite cinematic. All this stuff still excites me, I still love the process of coming up with the ideas and concept and taking the project through from beginning to end.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My favorite places to eat are Mogador both in the east village where I live and Williamsburg. Also love lavagne an incredible Italian restaurant and an east village staple. Two other favorites are Odeon in Tribeca and Bar Six on the cusp of the West Village. Tea and Sympathy for tea and some English dishes. On Sunday either Hawksmoor or Moonflower in the west village for an incredible Sunday Roast complete with Yorkshire Puddings! Drinks at old school bars Von and Proletariat. Obviously a long walk in Central Park and picnic. I’m a huge movie buff so it at least one trip to my favorite cinema on Essex street. A spa day at Bathouse either in Williamsburg or the flat iron area for a full decompress.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My old Art Teacher Mr Stuart Stephens, the one who really allowed me to believe in myself and my talent. He lit that fire.

Website: http://www.paul-lamb.com

Instagram: @therealpaullamb

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-lamb-31b9a611/

Image Credits
Kenneth Cole – Be Careful What You Wish For – Photography Sean Ellis Kenneth Cole – How You See The World Depends on how you look – Photography Sharif Hamza CooperFit – Photography James Dimmock Glamorize – Photography Gary Lupton 2(X)ist – Photography CARMELO DONATO Bluefly – Peter Buckiingham XOXO – David Oldham