Lee Wildgoose (yes that’s his surname!) has over 20 years of design experience and has worked with big brands like Disney and Netflix. His journey began in signage and specifically working in different printing companies. What sets Goose Creative apart is Lee’s background in design manufacturing. Not only can Lee produce quality visual designs, but his print background ensures that designs work both digitally and physically.
What was the initial spark that led you to opening Goose Creative?
I’d always wanted to do it for myself but it’s having the bravery to step out from working for someone! Just before Covid hit, my wife and I decided to go travelling. We packed everything up, sold our house and in January 2020 set out for Australia. By March we were back home again, having received the emergency messages that we needed to get back.
We lived with the in-laws for a bit, and I got a job as a print manager. We saved some more and as soon as we could travel again, we did – we ended up being gone for two years! On our way back, we were in Thailand and we started thinking about our next steps and coming back home. I’d always thought that I needed someone to employ me. Off the back of travelling, it was the perfect opportunity really, of having a fresh perspective and a fresh start, so I set up my website and started marketing.
The financial aspects of running a business had always scared me and while I felt confident in creativity and pitching, the accounting seemed daunting. Through travelling and working for others, I realised I wanted to work for myself rather than enrich others. Now I have to handle finances, it’s not as difficult as I initially feared!
Do you remember the moment that you realised your dream could become a reality?
While travelling for the second time, I took my laptop just thinking I could pick up a few freelance jobs here and there. I didn’t do a huge lot, but there was one job I did for a local podcaster in Sheffield, PunkChef41. I ended up doing the whole job out the back of a van in Australia. It was one of those moments of clarity, where I thought, why would I go back working for someone else? I could do this for myself.
Since you’ve been in business, is there a favourite project you’ve worked on?
As a child I would spend hours just drawing football shirts, so when I got the email from the band The Reytons asking me “Do you want to design a football shirt?”, I wasn’t sure whether to believe it! They’re from Rotherham, like me, and it was just a full circle moment really. In my first year of business to be sought out for a project like that was incredible, I just went crazy and had about 40 different design ideas. In the end inspiration was taken from the surroundings of Clifton Park, as the band put on a sold-out gig there. The final product was the home shirt boasting the iconic “50p Flats” in a classic white design, while the away top features a natural green, with leaves taken directly from the park itself.
What advice would you give to someone seeking their own “lightbulb moment”?
I think one of the hardest challenges with setting up on your own is self-confidence. It’s daunting, networking, selling yourself and getting yourself out there – even when you know you’re good at it. It’s important to remember that it’s daunting for everyone, and those networking communities also serve as great means of support. I would say if you’ve got an idea just go out and do it, because it’s never going to be as hard as you imagine it to be.
What does the future hold for Goose Creative?
The more work I can get, the more I could have the possibility to expand. I wouldn’t be against expanding and employing people, but as it stands my goal is getting myself established as a go to designer in Sheffield. I’m also open to a more collaborative approach, having a network of designers. It’s really helpful to have that community, that way if I get too much work, I could share it out and vice versa. As an independent, I don’t have anyone to bounce ideas off, but in a community I could. We can support each other’s work, respect our different abilities and offer criticisms or kudos! I’m quite open to which direction it could go in.
Goose Creative provide powerful branding to make your business stand out from the crowd. Book a discovery call via their website www.goosecreativedesign.com or visit
@goosecreative_design on Instagram.
