Haddington & Haddington: Reimagining the Creative Industry with a Fresh Perspective

 

Imagine an agency that truly gets its clients. That prioritises creative quality and long lasting connections over conveyor-belt quantity. That’s what drives Haddington & Haddington’s partners, husband and wife team Emily & David.

These seasoned professionals and value-driven creatives aim to shape the landscape of creative services in the UK with their new agency through quality work and honest communication.

As long-time supporters of our work, Emily and David have consistently wowed us with their creative brilliance. Their unique blend of passion and expertise infuses every project with a distinctive touch. As they embark on this exciting new venture, we had the pleasure of sitting down with them to explore their journey and uncover the bold visions they have for the future.

How did the journey of H&H start?

David: Emily and I have been working in the creative industry for a long time now. We first crossed paths as colleagues at a company where I was a graphic designer and Emily was an editor. Over time, as we invested time in evolving our skills for industry demand, we started to focus more on digital products, UX design and web. We both eventually became freelancers, working for clients who often needed both of our services at the same time. At the start of 2024, after plenty of clients telling us to do so, it finally seemed like the right time to join forces and pursue our dream of launching an agency together.

What are your key services, and how are they different from other agencies?

Emily: Our agency was built on a clear vision –  we want to be a one-stop solution for creative services on the foundation of building a trusted, value-driven partnership with our clients. We’ve worked for plenty of agencies in our time as freelancers, and too many overcomplicate the way they communicate with clients, almost to blind them with science. There’s a lot of jargon being spoken, and a lack of transparency over pricing and how the work will be done.

We view all our clients as partners, regardless of their size or scope.

We aim to produce work for them that is simple, beautiful and intuitive. We want to be transparent, honest, and fair in our approach. So there’s no hidden costs or nasty surprises – the client knows exactly how and what we will deliver for them. Our approach is driven by a passion for our craft rather than chasing quantity or profit.

For us, helping clients solve creative problems is more than just business – it’s an art form.

How did you become a partner of Spring ACT?

David: I became an ACTivist at Spring ACT in 2023 after seeing an announcement from the company. They were looking for UX experts for developing the website of Chatbot Sophia. When I heard about the cause it just resonated with me, and I believed the product could help people facing domestic abuse. So, I went in and started working with the Tech Lead and the Founder and CEO. When Emily heard about Spring ACT’s work, she also wanted to support the cause.

Emily: I recently read online that 1 in 4 women in the UK experience domestic abuse, so David’s work with Spring ACT inspired me to contribute as well; we truly believe in supporting the cause.

Which projects have you worked on, and how has the experience been?

Emily: David’s first project was the website of Chatbot Sophia. Then we both joined the Hackathon for Comeback CatZ – a new app Spring ACT is launching this year to combat sexism and imposter syndrome.

It was one of our best hackathon experiences. Despite the virtual format, the hackathon brought together some talented and passionate people, and individuals we loved working with. We completed the task of creating as many high-fidelity wireframes as possible in just one weekend, and while it was intense, it was a rewarding challenge.

We’re excited about the app getting launched in October this year. David is currently focused on fine-tuning the UX wireframes and user flows, while I’m closely involved in the copywriting side so the copy is clear and understandable for users. It’s a cause we care deeply about, and we can’t wait to see its positive impact.

For people aspiring to build a career in the creative industry, what are your suggestions?

Emily and David: Our advice is to diversify your skill set as much as possible within the creative industry. For example, while understanding digital design and development is crucial, newcomers of the industry should also have understanding about packaging and print, because these skills will always be needed.

They’ll also need to keep up with fast-moving trend changes within the UX, AI and Big Data sectors. In creative copywriting, a person should be open to writing about different topics. It not only helps you to attract a broader range of clients, but can also expand your skill set. For instance, I (Emily) studied law as a result of offering legal writing services to clients.

How do you see AI shaping the industry these days?

David: We tend to hear two varying opinions about AI when speaking to people in our industry. Some people are being too reliant on it, overlooking the limitations and biases it has, while others avoid it out of scepticism. We believe a balanced approach is essential. AI definitely has value across many sectors, but it’s important to be realistic about how far its accuracy can be trusted.

AI can surely streamline certain tasks and reduce resource demands, but it’s crucial to infuse our independent creativity to ensure the quality of work. AI lacks the human touch that’s vital in creative work.

In addition, the existing biases of AI cannot be overlooked. There’s no equal representation of voices in AI yet, and as an industry we cannot afford to ignore it. We hope it will improve with time, and will eventually become a more reliable tool.

 

In essence, Emily and David are not just shaping a creative agency, but also championing meaningful causes and embracing new technologies with a thoughtful approach. We wish them all the success in their new endeavours and look forward to continuing collaborating to help end domestic violence.

 

 – Interviewed by Ahona Azad Choyti for Spring ACT