Q&A with Scott Walker

For over 20 years, Scott has worked with leading UK brands, helping them deliver marketing communications with big ideas, planning, strategy, creative direction and design execution.

At LEWIS he works closely with marketing teams, brand specialists, digital strategists, UX consultants and technical teams to design, develop and deliver innovative, creative solutions for National Museums Scotland, Scottish Power, Royal London, See Me Scotland, Santander and Dynamic Earth and more.

We caught up with Scott ahead of his appearance at Amplify 2018. Book your tickets now.

Where does your love of design come from?

A niggling instinct from the age of 5. It’s always bothered me when something is out of place and delighted me when it’s not. Everything from a ruffled dishcloth to a poorly kerned headline bugs me. While a polished nightclub flyer or minimal shelving gets me excited.

How did you end up Creative Director at LEWIS? What drew you to the company?

After five years in London, I took a year off to travel and returned to Edinburgh to spend some time at home. I didn’t expect to find an agency that would excite me as much as one in the big smoke, but LEWIS was a hidden gem. 8 years later, I’m still here.

LEWIS have some pretty incredible clients. What have been your favourite projects to work on and why? 

ScottishPower Race for Life was definitley one of the best. For the last five years, we’ve helped raise brand awareness and £15million for charity; it gives us an opportunity to push the brand and raise money for a great cause. What’s not to like?

The See Me Scotland rebrand was really rewarding and exciting to work on. Ending the stigma for mental health is essential, so is making the brand approachable and positive. That’s what we did, and more people are talking openly about mental health as a result.

What are the fundamentals of a good Client/Agency relationship?

The relationship. Be friends, respect each other and work together.

Any particular brands that have caught your eye recently?

Mucho by Australian agency ForThePeople. It has excellent type, colour and animated iconography. Shakespeare in the park 2018 by Pentagram. Loving the intimated type, it’s such a great evolution to the Public brand by the legendary Paula Scher!

The agency is 46 years old, that’s pretty impressive. What do you think is the key to its success?

We’re never boring, and we’re never bored. It's such a great, exciting and positive place, and we ensure that. 

What’s the vibe like in the office?

Cool! So cool that we’ve just topped the table of SME culture leaders list by real business.