Doug Main is co-founder and creative director at The Bigger Boat, a Yorkshire-based integrated marketing agency.
Founded in 2010, The Bigger Boat (TBB) works with both B2C and B2B businesses and recently secured four new client wins with Reality+, Hunter Safety Group, Aptvision and EDNX.
The Bigger Boat also acquired global B2B communication specialist Scriba PR for an undisclosed sum back in 2023.
Here, he shares a bit about his career journey and life so far…
How did you first get into your industry?
I have always loved drawing, painting from an early age and apart from drama and making my classmates laugh, it was the only thing I was ever any good at. I also watched a Rough Guide to Careers documentary on BBC 2 I think, about advertising and design, and was hooked at around 15 years old – I always think i was very fortunate to know what I wanted to do from a very early age.
What do you love about your job?
Coming up with an idea or a design and then seeing people’s reaction when I present it – as long as it lands well! I love the process as well, working an idea through until it’s fully crafted.
Who – or what – has inspired you in your career?
I had a creative director when I worked at The Family in Farringdon called Andrew Robinson who made me reconsider how I looked at graphic design in general and particularly typography. A lot of my non-negotiable comes from Andrew! Another would be my art teacher from Earlsheaton High School – Mr Bennet. At that age (14-16) you cannot underestimate the value of encouragement from someone in that role.
What are the biggest challenges about your job?
As a creative director, one thing I really struggle with is making sure I maintain the creative standards that have got the business to where it is today and also allowing designers to have creative freedom… if I manage to crack how to do that I’ll let you know!
What skills have been the most crucial to you succeeding in your career so far?
Being able to draw and just a sense of what looks right and attractive.
What was your first salary and what could someone getting into the industry expect to earn nowadays?
£5,000 per annum! I think you would start at around £25k per year these days.
What education or training would be most useful for someone looking to follow your career path?
I didn’t do a degree, just a BTEC and post BTEC diploma, but you should definitely do a course that allows you to understand the basics. So, type and typography, hierarchy of elements on the page, study grids and some of the classic exponents of design like Müller-Brockmann and Brody.
What advice would you have for someone looking to follow your path?
I like to see a designer who has their own kinda style – and that you can see it throughout their work.
