Twenty years ago, armed with a Mac computer, a vision, and a spark of entrepreneurial spirit, Richard set up Spi-des-ign from the spare room of our first home. What started as a one-man mission to deliver better websites and branding has grown into a Suffolk studio with a talented team, long-standing clients, and a reputation for thoughtful, creative work.
This month, we’re celebrating 20 years in business—and taking a moment to reflect on the journey so far.
Back in 2005, the idea for Spi-des-ign was born from a desire to do things differently. After years of working in the design and print world, Rich saw a gap for high-quality, personal, and honest web and graphic design services. So, he took the leap, setting up shop (well, spare room) under the name Spi-des-ign. (Read more about how the name Spi-des-ign came about in our blog post - Brand & Logo History
Yes, the name took some explaining—but it stuck. Just like Rich’s passion for helping businesses grow through great design.
We then moved to Elmswell, Suffolk, converting the back of the Garage into an office, so Rich had his own space away from the children, even though he would occasionally get a knock on the door when he had been working too long. This was the point when Rich gave up working his full-time job to focus on Spi-des-ign as his main career.
The Brand EvolutionAs we supported our clients through brand refreshes, we knew it was time to do the same for ourselves. Our original hand-drawn-style logo had served us well, but as Rich was now focusing on bigger clients, we wanted something more refined—something that reflected who we are now.
So, we redesigned our brand identity, introduced a bold new colour palette, streamlined our website, and developed a tone of voice that better captured the Spi-des-ign personality: professional but friendly, creative but clear, confident without the corporate fluff.
Fast-forward to 2014, and the business had grown enough to warrant a move out of the house and into a proper workspace. We found the perfect spot at Ticehurst Yards in Tostock—a converted barn with just the right blend of character, calm, and creative energy.
The move marked a turning point. I (Kelly) joined Richard after leaving my job as a secondary school teacher, and we hired our first staff member (the wonderful Kim), took on more ambitious projects, and evolved from “just Rich” to a team (including Bella). It was here that Spi-des-ign really took shape—not just as a business, but as a studio.
We even outgrew our original unit in 2022 and expanded into Unit 4&5 (through a hidden door at the bottom of the stairs, behind a bookcase, very Narnia like) before returning back to just units 14 & 15, as we felt too disjointed in the new set-up and wanted to work together again, all in the upstairs studio.
We’ve always said we’re not a faceless agency—and that’s because of the people.
From Paul and Sharon joining in 2017 as our web developer and administrator to welcoming Neil and Jen, we’ve built a team that cares deeply about the projects and the people we work with. We’re proud of the fact that our clients often stick with us for years, not just for what we do, but how we do it.
And then there’s the extended Spi-des-ign family—our clients, collaborators, partners, and community. Whether you’ve had a logo designed by us, been part of a website launch, or simply joined us for a coffee morning, thank you for being part of the story.
Throughout our 20 years, we’ve remained committed to supporting our local Suffolk community. From discounted services for local groups and charities to sponsoring awards at Stowmarket High School and speaking at West Suffolk College, we believe in giving back wherever we can.
This isn’t just where we work—it’s where we live, raise our families, and connect.
So, what does the future hold?
More creativity. More collaboration. More clever design, thoughtful strategy, and websites that work.
We’re continuing to grow (carefully, intentionally), developing our service offering, and exploring new technologies and trends—while still staying true to what’s made us who we are:
friendly, honest, no-nonsense creativity
We didn’t just want to let this milestone slip by with a LinkedIn post and a balloon.
Twenty years in business is no small feat. It’s been hard work, a lot of learning, a fair bit of coffee, and an enormous amount of pride in what we’ve built. And we’re still loving it.
Thank you for being part of the journey so far. Here’s to the next chapter.
Whether you’ve known us since the spare room days or only just discovered us, we’d love to hear from you. Call: 01359 518060 or Get in touch via email
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