What is optimism ~ an open mind
Our team
Nicki Lloyd - WP Staging Test
Director | Creative Strategist
Nicki is driven by a passion to make a difference, which shows in both her dedication to clients’ goals and her determination to get to the heart of every challenge. Her astute business sense, her innate positivity and her many years of design experience combine to nurture unique brands that achieve lasting business benefit.
She is the lead strategist for clients and is hands-on, running workshops and applying design thinking to every challenge.
From her early career with leading agencies in Australia and London, Nicki gathered broad experience, which was consolidated in her work as a brand mentor for the Queensland Government’s Ulysses Program (a Business Transformation-by-Design program to advance Queensland products and services). Her design-thinking leadership was further recognised with the Queensland Premier’s Smart State Design Fellowship award in 2011, and a position on the Queensland Design Council. She was also one of ‘Queensland’s A-listers’ invited to lunch with Her Majesty the Queen Elizabeth II on her last visit to Australia.
Nicki is Certified Executive Chair having completed the Advisory Board Centre Program in 2022.
In her spare time, Nicki is a keen photographer, and brings her creative touch to a range of other activities including cooking, watercolour painting and print-making. Since 2017, she has been a dedicated Pyjama Angle for The Pyjama Foundation.
Tim Grey
Director | Brand Strategist | Creative
Influenced by an education in art and design, and an early career working for design industry leaders in London, Tim brings a high level of design thinking and creativity to branding and communication design. His design excellence was recognised early with a D&AD Award for IBM, and a DBA Design Effectiveness Award for brand work on Centro, one of the UK’s major transport authorities.
Tim quickly understands complex problems and has inventive ways to use design to simplify, motivate and cut-through complicated explanations. He’s the champion of the design that’s worth a thousand words! He is also a craftsman who enjoys the opportunity to work hands-on to create beautiful typography, illustration and timeless artwork. His attention to detail is second to none and ensures impeccable results.
Tim has judged a number of design industry awards around Australia, and has been a guest lecturer and portfolio judge at Queensland College of Art, Griffith University.
Beyond work, Tim is a fine artist — recent paintings have won Highly Commended Awards in the Clayton Utz Art Award, the Lethbridge Landscape Prize, the Lethbridge Small Scale Art Prize, and he was also a finalist in the Brisbane Portrait Prize Salon des Refusé. Tim also paddles an ocean ski and is constantly developing his skills as a guitarist. You can view his art at Tim Grey Artist.
Julia Holland
Storyteller | Strategist
From advertising agency copywriter in the UK to positions as marketing manager for travel, finance and government corporations in Australia, Julia has real-world insight into what works and what fails in branding and communication. She is quick to get to the strategic core of a challenge and combines this with creativity to turn bland information into stories that touch and motivate people.
She is determined to rid the world of boring business jargon and has trained and mentored many people in effective communication. Her interest in the power of company culture has grown since she was a key member of QIC’s cultural development team.
When not writing for clients, Julia writes! She has had four children’s novels published and participated in the Nestlé Write Around Australia program running creative writing workshops for remote and regional schools. She also writes about her other preoccupation – life, the universe and everything. A keen traveller, especially in India, Julia is fascinated by psychology, myths and the philosophies that shape lives. She is also an amateur beekeeper!
Hugh Candy
Studio Assistant