Interview with Stephen and Kate Page

Ahead of their appearance at our Inspiring Briefs event on March 18, we spoke to Stephen and Kate Page.

Stephen’s answers:

The best advice I ever got
Lucky enough to work with Dominic Negus in my first ever job as a designer. Dominic was from the 70/80s design group Negus & Negus (once famous for the British Airways Identity, the original identity)
. Dominic advised not to let money become the primary focus of anything. Not in a project, not in life not in business. He advised making the work, the stuff you care about the focus – do that and (by all means be sensible with money) and your fortunes will look after themselves.

The worst advice I ever got
I was once told by the Chairman of an organisation in which I was an MD there has to be one alpha male in charge, and just one, and yes male, or an organisation falls apart. Ironic for someone heading up a healthcare communications agency dependent on multi-disciplinary creative teams and where a large part of the target audience is female.

Don't underestimate

People’s sense of identity. It’s generally a good thing and it adds a richness to any process if you can learn about it, tune into to it and challenge it in a way that you learn from. If you confront it and threaten it, it is the one thing people will defend at the cost of everything else.

Don't over estimate

Don't over estimate how much people understand the point you’re trying to make. We all have our own constructs and our own universes and sometimes seeing out of one to another is challenging.

My golden rule

Two ears, one mouth, listen twice as much as you tell.

My biggest influence

Kate. Kate is always all about the work. The quality of what we do. Sometimes the best we can actually do is make the work beautiful.

The smartest business idea I’ve ever had

Apart from working with Kate. Within the healthcare marketing and communication sector we championed med tech. Prior to this any awards or innovation in terms of communications were always assumed to come pharma. Pharma dominated awards, think tanks, any healthcare agenda etc. etc. Med tech is more agile and can add just as much to the future of healthcare. We were the first to start winning awards for med tech. Now it is core to our business.

The experience that taught me the most

Being taught as young designer to not think of ideas as something you add to a situation but as something you find by looking inside a brief or situation. Unpack a brief, dig into what is going on, learn about the market space and the people and the germs of ideas start to present themselves.

The leader I most admire and why?

Difficult, Bill Clinton for relentlessly being interested in other people and making other people feel special. Generally I go for the lower profile people though. I admire people who actually make stuff and use their heads and hands – even if, but not always, it is all via a keyboard. People who craft things, people with new ideas that push the level of quality.

What I am reading and book(s) I would highly recommend?
Tipping Point: Malcolm Gladwell.  Start with why: Simon Sinek.  The new Leaders: Daniel Goleman.

Kate’s answers:

The best advice I ever got
Don’t give up, keep believing in what you want to achieve.

The worst advice I ever got
Stay within your comfort zone.

Don't underestimate

The control you yourself have over your destiny.

Don't over estimate

The control other people have over your destiny.

My golden rule

Slowly, slowly catchy monkey.

My biggest influence

Stephen Page my husband.

The smartest business idea I’ve ever had

Going into business with Stephen.

The experience that taught me the most

Returning to university in my 30s.

What I am reading and book(s) I would highly recommend? 
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