Peter Donohoe
Partner and Managing Director at Peter and Paul

http://www.peterandpaul.co.uk/

Interview (conducted via email)


Why did you decide to start your own studio?

I worked in 3 agencies over a period of around 10yrs and during that time had periods where I worked on 3 day week contracts. This part time position within more commercially minded studios gave me the time to experience other things like DJ¹ing and music production which all fed back into design commissions and producing self initiated projects. When I first met and then employed my partner Paul (whilst working at a design studio) we quickly formed a tight bond and working relationship this spilled into freelance opportunities as a duo. We both felt that we needed a new challenge away from the security of working for others and starting our own studio was away to keep things fresh and challenging. 

What were the main methods you used to build up an initial client base?

We really built up our own reputation working in other agencies ­ helping to produce great work and gaining recognition. The clients quickly followed and we managed to pick up enough small projects and relationships with people whilst working as a freelance duo to then move this on to setting up full time. We never took any clients or projects from the agencies we worked for we didn¹t win any really big accounts that would have made the transition easy ­ it¹s always been hard work and the knack or skill of turning water into wine. I would say for us that we¹ve always had a belief in making every piece of work as good as it can be and proving to be people how passionate and hard working we are ­ always being open to ideas from others in the process. Having a strong network of people around you to both support and also to help diversify the client base is also massively important. 

Have changes in technology impacted upon the types of jobs you receive?

I¹d say that we¹ve always had big ideas and have always mainly thought about realizing those ideas photographically so the next logical step from that was communicating via film and moving image this has only in the last 2-3 years become more affordable.
Online marketing communication tools if you work and think in a commercial environment just cant be ignored so we¹ve had to adapt quite rapidly. It¹s what people ask for ­15-20yrs ago the brochure was the thing that encapsulated what a company was all about now it¹s a website which obviously as a platform can do much more.

What do you look for when commissioning professionals from other disciplines i.e. Photography? Does this vary from job to job or are there general more qualities you look for?

I think it varies massively. It¹s more agree the idea or particular communication message/route and then look for people to help us achieve that ­ art direction has always been a huge part of what we do. But I guess people that can work well under direction plus bring their own ideas to the table and potentially challenge our own thought process is massively important.

Is there a difference when working on personal projects such Edict as opposed to projects for clients?

Yeah I think that we¹re so used to working under pressure and expectation of clients that we¹ve become less effective when left to our devices. But everyone wants freedom or the dream of creative autonomy - I guess the trick is to first achieve that and then apply it across everything you do - client or personal etcŠ Some of our best work for ourselves an clients has been instinctively driven ­ gutsy, ballsy and ultimately more fun and rewarding.


My Thoughts

Although I was disappointed not to get a response from Bankhead or Optigram I did find Peter's very interesting and highly relevant/enlightening to my own practice.

The fact that he had at times, prior to starting his own studio, worked on 3 day contracts seems particular relevant to my own practice as he states this was so as to pursue other creative outlets. In a similar way this could be a way in balancing my involvement both commercial design with a personal illustration practice by keeping the two separate rather than merging the two.

Changes in technology also seemed highly pertinent given that moving image and image creation for web viewing has also become a major part of illustration in general as well as my own personal practice.