Jo Marchbank
Creative Director for Hallmark Cards plc, Jo Marchbank, completed the Foundation in Art & Design at Bradford College in 1991.
“I knew I wanted to work in design but I didn’t
know what side so the Foundation was perfect as
you sampled all the different areas. I loved doing
photography and print. I remember Lecturer Chris
Broughton illustrated everything in pencil crayon
and I rushed out to buy my own crayons. He was
quite a big influence on me. I always wanted to
work in creative and as time went on I became
more interested in graphics.
I met a lot of new people and built up a group
of new friends. I remember we had a course
weekend trip to London to visit the Design
Museum and various galleries as part of our
graphics work. We stayed in a dodgy hotel but the
trip was fantastic and I still have the photos.
I was still not sure what I wanted to do so I did
the HND in Graphic Design at Bolton as it was
interdisciplinary and covered photography, textiles
and graphics. While I was still a student there I
spent my 6 week vacation doing work experience
at Unique Images. After my HND I applied for
jobs back in Bradford at greetings card companies
Unique, Sharpe’s, Field’s and Carlton Cards and
was offered jobs by them all. I accepted the
position at Sharpe’s and joined them in 1994 as
a Studio Assistant, doing paste up, mock ups and
a little Mac work.
After I had been there a year
Sharpe’s and Andrew Brownsford merged with
Hallmark and I moved to Bath with Hallmark. I
became Design Manager after 6 months and
stayed in Bath for 4 ½ years. I chose to move back
to Bradford for personal reasons and I became
Creative Manager of a small studio for the
company.
Reorganisation then saw the old Sharpe’s building
redeveloped and I was made Creative Director.
I now oversee our Christmas team, looking after
the Hallmark Christmas brand as well as exclusives
and the Next account. My team consists of 4
creative managers, 16 designers and 2 design
managers and I love it. There is such a variation in
the job I am never bored.
I do a lot of recruitment informed by my own
experiences as a student. Because I have been a
student at Bradford College I know the quality of
the work and come to the College to talent spot.
This is an important connection that I am keen to
develop. I am from Bradford and I want to see the
city do well and the College and its students play
a big part in that.”
Photograph by Shelagh Ward