Sam Dallyn
I’m Creative Director at Ditto and a freelance CD/AD. Previously, I was Senior AD at R/GA and Blast Radius.
I live in Oxfordshire where I practice interactive, print, and identity design. Despite my location, I’ve had the privilege of working with great brands around the world: Apple, Nike, Nokia, Starbucks, Vodafone, and Crate & Barrel, to name a few. I’ve also been lucky enough to have my work included in publications such as Communication Arts and SHIFT Magazine, as well as receive awards from Cannes, The Webbys, and FWA Awards.
10 questions for Sam Dallyn:
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What did you do before becoming a designer?
I’ve always been a designer. I did want to be an architect initially, but didn’t want to copy my brother, who had already started in the field.
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Where do you turn for inspiration?
Everywhere and anything. Life, in general, is inspiring. Beyond that? I do fancy interior design.
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Which are your favorite studios, designers or agencies?
Mark Ury, Marcus Eriksson and Lúcio Rufo are three design people who have inspired me. Stockholm design labs has always been my favorite agency.
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Is your city a good place for designers?
Well, it’s been good to me. Oxford may be small, but it’s beautiful, full of history, and houses Radiohead.
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Which technologies are you excited about?
Like everyone, I’m curious about Apple Watch and whether they can make wearables stick.
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Do you listen to music while you work? Describe your playlist.
Natch. I work in a shared studio and we use Sonos to manage group playlists.
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What are you cultural influences? (Music, books, films, ideologies, etc.)
My work tends to reflect the tension of two distinct themes: tradition, which is reinforced by my schooling and where I live; and modernism, which is reflected back to me through contemporary culture. I do my best work when I fuse those two together—ideas that feel fresh but can stand the test of time.
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Have you got an academic background or are you self taught?
I studied Typography at Reading University.
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What do you do in your free time?
Football and walking my dog.
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Where do you see the industry in 5 years?
There has been, and always will be, in-house teams and consulting agencies. But I think the pendulum is swinging towards in-house given the rate of change that is expected by companies. But in- or out-of-house, the best work is done by people who understand their mission.
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Are you working on any personal projects?
I always have a few personal projects on the go.
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If you could give one piece of advice to newbie designers, what would it be?
You are only as good as the people you surround yourself with. Seek out the most talented people you can find, build strong relationships, and hold onto them throughout your career.
