Re:cognise #6 - Exploring inspirational individuals

Emberson Marketing is powered by brilliant people. When you are a remote-first business, your team are your most valuable commodity. We invest in their skills, talents and individuality – and in return we get to spend our working weeks watching them thrive. 

Our new Re:cognise series explores the inspirational individuals we’re lucky to work with every single day – and the people that inspire them. 

Today we check in with Art Director, John Buck.  

What makes a positive role model for you?  

Someone who holds a clear set of values and remains unwaveringly committed to them, no matter the circumstances. These values often align with my own, or reflect aspirations I strive to achieve. 

Who is your role model and why?  

Aside from members of my family, I often think back to a seasoned design director I worked with at the start of my career, back when I was a wide-eyed junior designer fresh out of university and ready to take on the world! 

He took me under his wing and taught me not just the basics of design principles, but lessons that continue to shape my approach to work and life. His guidance was peppered with wisdom that’s stuck with me to this day, including: 

• Always aim to over-deliver. "I’ve never been in a client meeting where someone said you’ve done too much,” he would say. That philosophy taught me the power of exceeding expectations.
• Design must succeed in the real world. Anyone can make something look good on a blank white page, but true success lies in creating a brand that thrives in practical application. 
• Understand the value of every role in the agency. Everyone plays a vital part in the process, and their work is just as important as your own. 
• Don’t forget to have fun. He believed that creativity thrives when you enjoy the process. Whether it was sharing a joke, celebrating a win, or finding joy in solving a design challenge, he taught me that enjoying the experience is the best fuel for great work. 

How do you try to be a role model to others?  

Looking back, the lessons I learned from my first design director shaped not only my design philosophy but also my outlook on collaboration, creativity, and professionalism. He wasn’t just a mentor to me - he was a role model, teaching by example and encouraging me to aim higher. 

And that’s what I try to bring to the table as a role model for others - I try to encourage everyone to aim higher. 

Keep checking back for the next edition of our Re:cognise Series.