Growing up with a Graphic Designer as a dad, Maisie Benson loved visiting his studio and decided to follow in his footsteps and pursue a creative career herself. During her time studying at Falmouth University, Maisie completed several placements which helped her take her first steps in the industry. These included working at the London based B&B Studio where she secured her first job role as Junior Designer. She is now Senior Designer at design and branding agency Jones Knowles Ritchie.
Spending time working on challenger brands and start-ups early in her career was a steep learning curve for Maisie, one that helped shaped her strategic approach to design projects. As well as learning from creating her own design work, presenting to clients, and running projects, she has developed her skills set by mentoring junior members of the team.
As she’s gained more experience and confidence, Maisie’s has learned to “take all criticism objectively”. Early on in her career she often felt afraid to ask for feedback; however, it was a request for feedback that helped secure her current position at JKR. As she tells us, a key learning point has been learning to create “ creating actionable designs that solve the client’s problems… If it happens to look incredible, change the discourse of design and be award-winning too then all of that is a bonus!”
During the pandemic, Maisie collaborated with Holly Kielty on their ‘Think Food Bank’ personal project. The project received significant recognition online and gave her the confidence to put herself out there more and embrace every opportunity. Maisie tries hard not to be “precious” about the work she shares on social media,as she tells DbyW, “practise as much as you can and don’t be afraid to share the process”.
We talked with Maisie to find out more about how she progressed to her current role as Senior Designer at JKR, challenges she’s overcome along the way, and what her typical workday looks like.
What initially inspired you to pursue a career in design?
My Dad was a graphic designer, so I’ve been very fortunate to grow up knowing it was a career option. I always loved visiting his studio in Leicestershire. It had such a creative feeling when you stepped inside and the smell of pro markers can still send me back to that time growing up!
I was around GCSE age when I really started considering a career in the creative field, but it was advertising that I was drawn to at that time. My parents fully supported this, I would get the D&AD annual each year along with many incredible books on design and advertising. As much as it’s a cliche, it was by reading Smile in the Mind that I first realised that design could be just as idea driven as advertising and my ambition to become a designer really ignited.
What were your first steps into the design industry?
My first real steps into the design industry came whilst I was studying at Falmouth University. It was an incredible course and had amazing connections to the industry, which helped me to secure several placements during my second year. I spent time at four different agencies during my term breaks, including a week at B&B studio where I got my first job after graduating, and two weeks at JKR which is where I am now!
How did you progress to your current role as Senior Designer at JKR?
After graduating I spent seven years working at B&B studio, an amazing agency based in Shoreditch. While I was there, I spent a lot of my time working on challenger brands and start-ups which was an incredible opportunity and a very steep learning curve! I progressed from junior, to mid-weight and then to senior designer, each time developing more skills from mentoring more junior members of the team, to presenting to clients and running projects. When the pandemic hit, I think like a lot of people, it came as a bit of a catalyst for me. I felt that it was time for a change, to learn from more people and develop new skills, and so I applied for the job at JKR to stretch my thinking into global brands. I’ve been here for almost a year now and it was definitely the right move for me!
Have there been any pivotal moments in your career that have helped you progress to where you are now?
A key moment for me was, again, during the pandemic when Holly Kielty and I collaborated on the ‘Think Food Bank’ project. Up until that point I’d been quite resistant to ‘side hustles’ – I think mainly because I hate the language associated with them so much!! However, it was a huge boost of confidence for me and led me to the place I’m in now, where I really try to embrace every opportunity that comes my way. Like a lot of people, I’m not immune to imposter syndrome and feeling out of my depth sometimes but the support for that project from the design community really gave me the courage to continue putting myself out there.
“Like a lot of people, I’m not immune to imposter syndrome and feeling out of my depth sometimes but the support for that project from the design community really gave me the courage to continue putting myself out there.”
Are there any barriers or challenges that you have faced during your career and how have you overcome them?
When I applied for the job at JKR I didn’t initially get the position. I asked for a feedback session and they explained that my portfolio was too packaging focused for the direction of the agency. So, I spent a few weeks rejigging my projects and luckily another job came up which I got! I think if this had happened earlier in my career, I probably wouldn’t have had the confidence to ask for feedback or reapply. A major lesson I’ve learnt during my time as a designer is to take all criticism objectively. Designing is an incredibly personal thing and it’s not easy to create something and then have people critique it, which is essentially what we do every day. It definitely took me a while to develop a thick skin and not see my design work as a reflection of my worth!
“A major lesson I’ve learnt during my time as a designer is to take all criticism objectively. Designing is an incredibly personal thing and it’s not easy to create something and then have people critique it, which is essentially what we do every day.”
What does a typical workday look like for you?
We have a team stand up every morning at 9.30 which is a lovely opportunity to catch up with our hub and chat about what we’ve been up to, workwise and socially! After this I might have a briefing or a check-in on whatever project I’m on that week. If I’m on a project with a more junior member of the team I will make sure they’re happy with what they need do that day and see if they want to chat through what they’ve been working on. I still spend most of my day designing but over the past few years I’ve definitely seen a big increase in the number of meetings I’m in! I work through until 1pm when we all have an hour lunch break. In the studio this often means grabbing something delicious, but very unhealthy, from Camden Market and sitting on the sofas or balconies while we eat.
After lunch I might have a client meeting or a catch-up with other specialisms working on the project. At JKR there are different teams for motion, production, voice, strategy, cgi, interface and visualising, which took a lot of adapting to after working at a relatively small agency! A big part of my role is juggling all these people to ensure everyone has what they need and is clear on their brief. I then generally continue designing through ‘til 6 when we finish for the day!
What do you know now that you wished you’d known when you’d started out?
I wish that I’d known to be more patient. I came out of uni wanting to create the next award-winning design instantly, and the reality is quite different from that. It takes a lot of time to create great work, and the best work for the client isn’t always the best work for awards. This is actually something that came up in a chat I had recently with my old Design Director from B&B and close friend (Jennie Potts). She reminded me that blogs, awards and the design bubble aren’t the things that really matter and creating actionable designs that solve the client’s problems should be our focus, something I think we can lose sight of in this industry. If it happens to look incredible, change the discourse of design and be award-winning too then all of that is a bonus!
“…blogs, awards and the design bubble aren’t the things that really matter and creating actionable designs that solve the client’s problems should be our focus, something I think we can lose sight of in this industry. If it happens to look incredible, change the discourse of design and be award-winning too then all of that is a bonus!”
What’s a case study of your recent work that you’re most proud of?
The last project I did at B&B for The Vegan Kind is one that I’m really proud of. I had left before the final stage of design so credit to the B&B team, especially Amy Joslyn for pulling it all together! I particularly liked the three icons we created for humankind, animal-kind and planet-kind, using the ‘v’ from the logo each time – and who doesn’t love a flag-carrying avocado with legs!?
You advocate learning new design skills and regularly share your work on Instagram. What advice would you give to anyone interested in developing their skills?
Practise as much as you can and don’t be afraid to share the process, even if it looks terrible! I’m really trying not to be precious about what I share on my Instagram as, for me, when I think something has to be perfect, I have a bad habit of never getting started! No-one becomes an expert in something without putting in time, effort and dedication. Personally, I love seeing people develop and improve their skills!
“Practise as much as you can and don’t be afraid to share the process, even if it looks terrible!”
Do you have any advice for women and expansive genders looking to kick-start their career in design?
Take up as much room as you want to take up!