![From Black and White to Full Colour](https://brycemennell.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/MeetAS.jpg)
From Black and White to Full Colour
Coming from a world of black and white pharmaceutical packaging and strict brand guidelines, the Bryce
Mennell portfolio of clients was unlike anything I’d worked on before. My first week as BM’s Creative Artworker
saw me setting up window stickers for Xscape Yorkshire, building GIFs to promote a student event and creating
a roadside banner for the personal training specialist brand, Exercise Prescription. That very roadside banner
went on to be the first piece of my work I’d seen as a finished, printed product.
Previously, I’d spent over 5 years working for a global packaging brand development company in a job that saw
me evolve as an artworker, as well as a person. However, the company was beginning to fall on hard times and
paired with a workforce who insisted on working from home, I had become very unhappy in my role. I took it as
the perfect time to push myself out of my comfort zone. Initially, I hesitated at the thought of voluntary
redundancy, but ultimately based my entire decision on one little interview I had bagged with Bryce Mennell. It
appeared to be everything I was looking for – a small agency, exciting projects and a role that wasn’t hybrid.
Fast forward a few weeks, I’d secured the role and I couldn’t have been happier. Admittedly, it did take me a
few weeks to come out of my shell and begin to learn the ropes of the role, including having a more ‘open’
approach to the work. It soon came to light, that this was the best decision I could have made.
As I look back over the last 18 months, I’m really proud of how much I have achieved. I’ve expanded my skill
set so much and on a daily basis, I’m picking up jobs I never thought I’d see myself doing. With the help and
constant support of the team, I’ve thrived in my role and everyone in my life has noticed how much happier I
am. Coming into the office every day is something I genuinely look forward to, plus I no longer have that sickly
Sunday feeling where you dread going to work! I love the challenges the work presents and the creative
freedom I now have (despite the fact my favourite job is going back to my roots, setting up tables in InDesign!)
My most favourite thing of all is, of course, the BM team. I am incredibly lucky to work alongside this small
group of talented, passionate, kind and insanely funny people – who I now consider my best friends. I hope my
loud laugh, bad jokes, silly Hull’isms and annoying Dan (my work dad) everyday continue for a long time to
come!
Some of the main things I’ve learnt over the 18 months:
- If you don’t like your job, you don’t just have to put up with it.
- You don’t have to be squashed into a corporate box if that’s not your thing.
- There are companies out there who develop your skills, encourage you and treat with care and respect.
- Nothing good comes from staying in your comfort zone.
Toni Stark – Creative Artworker