About

Table of Contents

Tinson in ten seconds

I’m a senior creative leader, living and working where the disciplines of brand, design thinking, design craft and marketing converge.

Tinson in two minutes

As a player-coach with over 20 years’ experience, I’ve helped ask the right questions and find the right answers for diverse public, private and third sector organisations around the world—from plucky startup ventures to established household names.

My empowering approach to leadership puts people at its centre, conceiving ambitious new ideas and combining them with an attention to detail that builds charismatic brands, creates successful products, and delivers valuable services.

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Calm, creative, innovative and a master of detail… His support for and influence right across the organisation cannot be underestimated. When (not if) we reach our goal of becoming a world class brand, much of the credit will go to Neil.

Staff awards nomination

Your leadership of [our] team is a breath of fresh air. Thanks for creating a space where we can learn, share, collaborate, have fun, stretch ourselves, make mistakes and try again.

Current team member

Neil is without doubt one of the most positive, respectful and encouraging people I’ve ever worked with… He is very skilled and experienced but never lets that become overbearing; interested in people and caring… a team player, preferring others to get the credit… he helps us lift our eyes and standards.

Staff awards nomination

Your creativity, thoughtfulness, dedication and leadership have been instrumental in driving our success.

Current CEO

Tinson on a napkin

Career path

My career path hasn’t followed a straight line through the centre of any given field. But its dynamic turns have made my skills and experience all the richer for it.

What is constant is the natural DNA of my approach. Happy juggling big picture and fine detail. Balancing abstract ideas with concrete data. And seeing things through the eyes of others, as well as my own.

Plus I’ve learnt how to put my commercially-minded curiosity to good use by asking “What opportunities can we identify to do things better?”—before rolling up my sleeves to turn right thinking into right action.

2021–present. Head of Design, LifePlus
2018–21. Marketing Manager, Hope and Homes for Children
2016–18. Marketing Manager, Moorlands College
2013–16. Associate Lecturer (BA Graphic Design, BA Creative Advertising), Falmouth University
2007–16. Founder and Creative Director, Guild of Sage & Smith
2001–06. Graphic designer, Thirteen and Gendall

Clients

Some of the more familiar names I’ve helped include the Arts and Humanities Research Council; the BBC; Barclays; Bristol Old Vic; Conflicts Forum; Defra; Dyson; Faber and Faber; the Labour Middle East Council; Orange; Pendennis superyachts; Red Bull; the NHS; the Objective One EU funding programme; Stop The Traffik; the Syfy channel and Tate.

Extra-curricular

ILM Certified Business Coach

Fellow

Trustee

Councillor

Member

Previous

  • Cornwall Design Forum (Chair)
  • Design South West (Board member)
  • Falmouth University AIR Advisory Board (Board member)
  • Ilminster Arts Centre, Somerset (trustee)
  • International Society of Typographic Designers (Board member)
  • RSA Student Design Awards, 2019–20 (judging panel)

Publications and speaking

My work has featured in…

  • Colour Impression 2 (Dopress)
  • Design Week
  • Eye magazine
  • Icon (Counter-Print)
  • Logotype (Laurence King)

I’ve been a guest speaker for…

  • Falmouth University
  • Institute of Fundraisers
  • University of Gloucestershire
  • University of Plymouth

Academic

MA dissertation topic:
Design Thinking in Leadership of the Local Church (awarded distinction)