Simon Hallows
Director
“If there’s one word that sums me up it’s passion!”
I still remember the day I discovered graphic design. At the age of 13, I attended an end-of-year degree show at a nearby college. It was a true lightbulb moment – a realisation that I’d found the thing I wanted to do for the rest of my life.
My career as a graphic designer has been an incredible journey. From establishing and managing an in-house design studio to serving as a designer and studio manager at an advertising agency, each step has brought new challenges, experiences and growth. But it was in 1998, when I joined Andi Parker, that I truly found my creative home. Parker was a young, dynamic, and exceptionally talented design agency that shared my passion for delivering outstanding design paired with an exceptional customer experience.
Initially joining Parker as a graphic designer, I was fortunate to have the freedom to build and nurture new client relationships. To this day, I feel humbled that many of the clients who began their journey with us all those years ago remain valued partners, continuing to collaborate with us to this day.
In 2003, I became a shareholding director of Parker. Over the years, Andi and I have worked together to grow Parker into what it is today: an agency with an enviable and loyal client base, a rich and diverse portfolio of work, and a reputation that continues to strengthen year after year. However, my greatest pride lies in the talented, inspirational team who surround us. They really are the heart and soul of Parker.
On a day-to-day basis, my role involves overseeing the operational side of the agency, working closely with our teams to help shape and support the delivery of projects, and spending time with clients—both long-standing and new—to understand their challenges and uncover ways Parker can make a meaningful impact on their businesses.
I can honestly say that four decades later, working in design still gives me that same buzz I first felt when I was 13!
Away from work, somewhat unsurprisingly design and creativity in one form or another fuel my hobbies. Whether it’s my passion for woodwork, or my new obsession with outdoor cooking (in particular perfecting my Neapolitan pizzas!) I get a huge thrill out of looking at something, be it a pile of wood or a pile of ingredients and seeing the potential to transform them into something so much more.