This October marks a special milestone for us at Spi-des-ign—10 years since we first moved into our beautiful office space at Ticehurst Yards in Tostock, Suffolk. Reflecting on the past decade, we’re reminded of just how far we’ve come and the incredible journey that led us here.
Back in 2006, Richard started Spi-des-ign alongside his full-time job, working late nights from our home, often holding client meetings around the kitchen table. But in 2012, he made the big leap—leaving his job as a graphic designer at a greeting card publisher to fully focus on growing the business. We soon realised that working from our garage-converted office was no longer enough, and in 2014, we knew it was time to find a dedicated space for Spi-des-ign.
After viewing several locations, we stumbled upon Unit 15 at Ticehurst Yards, a first-floor, open-plan office in a charming converted barn nestled in the Suffolk countryside. It was love at first sight! We signed the lease in October 2014, Just after I left my teaching job at a local secondary school to join Richard in this exciting venture. With our open-plan layout, the upstairs became our creative space, and we set up a cosy meeting area on one side of the room. It was also the moment we welcomed our first employee—Bella, our Jack Russell, affectionately known as Head of Security. Having a dog-friendly office was one of the little perks that made the move feel even more special!
Our time at Ticehurst Yards has been filled with many memorable moments and growth. In 2015, our wonderful landlady Diane introduced us to her granddaughter, Kim, who was studying graphic design and looking for experience. Kim joined us part-time while completing her studies and worked with us until 2018. She’s now thriving in videography, and we’re so proud of the role we played in her career development.
By 2017, we had grown enough to take on the unit downstairs, allowing us to create a dedicated meeting room while transforming the upstairs into our full-fledged design studio. Around this time, we officially brought Paul, our web developer, on board as a full-time employee after years of freelance collaboration. Sharon, our admin assistant, also joined the team, helping us run smoother operations until she relocated this past summer.
Although we sadly lost our beloved landlady Diane in 2020, her daughter Jane has continued to look after us, keeping the welcoming atmosphere at Ticehurst Yards alive. For a brief time, we expanded into Units 4 & 5 through a secret door (yes, hidden behind a bookcase!), but we soon realized that we missed the closeness of our open-plan environment. We returned to focusing on Units 14 & 15, redecorating and creating a refreshed space that feels just right for our team.
In the last couple of years, we’ve welcomed new talent to our growing team. Neil, our Graphic Designer, joined us in 2022, and just last month, we added Jen, our Digital Marketing and Social Media expert. This summer, our oldest son, Reilly, got his first job with us, helping with admin work. We wouldn’t be the business we are today without our current team, but also the fantastic staff members who have come and gone over the years, including the many work experience students from local high schools, colleges, and universities who’ve spent time with us.
Ten years on, we couldn’t be happier with our decision to call Ticehurst Yards home. With its picturesque views, warm atmosphere, and perfect layout for our team, it’s hard to imagine being anywhere else. As we celebrate this milestone, we look forward to many more years of creativity, collaboration, and growth in this wonderful space we’re lucky to call our office.
Here’s to another decade of design, teamwork, and community at Spi-des-ign!
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