A bit about me, the designer behind the madness
Hi I'm Robin - a Bristol-based graphic designer with over 15 years of experience across agencies, in-house teams, and freelance life. I started Hi Top Design in 2020 to throw myself into the projects I genuinely love, and I haven't looked back since.
How it all started
Design has always been part of how I see the world. I originally wanted to go into animation (thanks, Disney!) but realised it was the design and visuals that had me hooked. I started spotting clever logos, creative packaging, and beautiful layouts everywhere - and I still get that buzz today. Especially when it comes to theatrical posters - if there's a great one, chances are it's going up in my office.
After gaining top marks at college, I landed a junior designer role at a small company on a fixed-term contract. That gave me a solid grounding, and from there I moved to an agency specialising in pension communications. I know - not the most glamorous sector - but I ended up staying for eight years. It taught me everything from working with large corporate clients to handling complex brand guidelines, and gave me a real appreciation for consistency, refinement, and professionalism in design.
What I do now
Alongside my role as a senior graphic designer at an agency where I work across multiple industries, I run Hi Top Design - where I get to pour my energy into the projects I'm most passionate about.
I specialise in branding, print design, and event design - with a particular love for theatre and live events. I create everything from bold poster artwork and beautifully laid-out programmes to full event branding packages for festivals, Pride events, and theatre productions.
One highlight was creating all the branding and visuals for People's Pride Southampton. Seeing my designs out in the wild, helping bring a major Pride event to life, was something I'll never forget. I'd love to do even more show artwork and large-scale event design - it's where I'm happiest.
How I work
I'm all about collaboration. I like to work closely with clients to make sure we're on the same page, suggest ideas that strengthen their brief, and - most importantly - keep the process fun and friendly. No jargon, no ego, just good design delivered with a smile.
The name (and the sneakers)
The name Hi Top Design actually came from my brother, and it just stuck. I have a bit of a thing for sneakers (I own... more pairs than I care to admit), and the name felt like a perfect mix of my passions. It's also a quiet nod to high quality - which is always the aim.
When I'm not designing
Outside of work, I'm a big musical theatre nerd (Wicked was my first West End show and I was hooked), I sing in an A cappella choir who were National Champions in 2023, and I even earned a performance diploma in... the recorder. Yep. The recorder.
What I've been thinking about
As a graphic designer who works with all sorts of creative people—performers, event organisers, small business owners—I’ve seen first-hand how much of a difference good branding can make. But not just good branding. Cohesive branding. The kind that ties everything together with a clear, confident identity.