HELLO

After studying Graphic Design at Manchester University in the 80's I moved back to London and began a career as a magazine designer and art director. I was the second art director at UK Elle after Clive Crook, and then went on to be Design Director at Vogue under Robin Derrick in the 90's. After 4 years at British Vogue Condé Nast asked me to go to Sydney to art direct Vogue Australia. 16 issues later I returned to London to launch Red magazine for EMAP. (The logo is in my handwriting). In 1999 the first wave of VC money flowed into web start ups and I left to work on a major new womens website that sadly never went live. We were ahead of our time and with under 20% on broadband our creative hands were tied. With fortuitous timing I went back to print media & Condé Nast to launch UK Glamour in 2001, probably the most successful magazine launch in the last 30 years. We created the 'Glamour' handbag size look that would be rolled out across the world in over 12 countries. In 2005 I changed desks at Condé Nast and launched Easy Living where I was Creative Director for 4 years before going to Hearst UK and help revamp Good Housekeeping among other projects. Eventually deciding to go freelance full time again in 2015. Most recently I have been collaborating with Fortnum and Masons and created the characters for their Christmas 2022 windows as well as designing their Christmas catalogues

Over the years I have worked for many brands including:
FORTNUM & MASON
BODEN,
M&S,
GINA SHOES,
MONSOON,
CATH KIDSTON
& CLARKS Shoes among others.

Twice a year I design and art direct the arts and culture magazine PERFECT BOUND. A labour of love made with other industry professionals who like me found we were not getting the creative freedom in commercial magazines anymore so we decided to create our own.

I have lectured in Design and Photography at Goldsmiths, University of Gloucester and University of the Arts.

I have written and illustrated the Oscar the Cat series of award winning children's books published here and across the world, including the USA, France, Sweden, Taiwan and Korea.

For Book equities contact my literary agent:
Philippa Milnes-Smith: philippa@thesohoagency.co.uk

geoffreywaring@gmail.com