What people say, who I work with...
Alastair Banks
Founder / Optix Solutions
Working with Paul has been one of the highlights of my career. As our Director of Design at Optix, Paul has consistently brought a rare blend of progressive thinking, creative flair and positive leadership to the table. He’s not just an exceptionally talented designer, he’s a design thinker, someone who instinctively understands how to align user experience with commercial goals and brand integrity. He’s equally comfortable leading workshops and coaching senior stakeholders as he is mentoring junior creatives, and he does both with humility and impact. Under his guidance, our design offering has flourished, earning the respect of both our internal team and some of the UK’s most recognisable organisations.Anyone lucky enough to have Paul on their team will gain not only a world-class creative mind, but a true team player, an exceptional listener and a thoughtful leader. I can’t recommend him highly enough.
Samuel Skinner
Creative Lead / Optix Solutions
I've had the pleasure of working with Paul for around four years.
Paul entered the business to drive quality and innovation across design and creative and had an immediate impact, growing the team and allowing us to deliver many brand services with confidence for the first time. Paul's direction has led to our business landing new work, building new client relationships and the business becoming known for its creative excellence among our client base and beyond.
I've learnt a huge amount from Paul during our time together, he's a patient and supportive mentor but also someone who is always striving and pushing for us to get better with every project we complete. Paul has helped me build both confidence and skill in the field of design and broader strategic brand thinking and I wouldn't be in the role I'm in today, or producing the work I am, without him.
Paul would be an enormous asset to any team looking to push their brand, design and creative thinking to new levels.
Thomas Haynes
Director of Strategy / Optix Solutions
I am writing to provide a reference for Paul Lawrence, who currently serves as Director of Design at Optix Solutions. I have worked closely with Paul over the past four years in my role as Director of Strategy and can attest to his exceptional capabilities as a design leader. Paul's greatest strength lies in his ability to think holistically about design challenges. He consistently approaches projects from the outset with a business-minded perspective, ensuring that creative work is grounded in solid foundations. Working together on strategic planning, Paul has demonstrated exceptional ability to integrate design and brand strategy with broader business objectives, bringing valuable creative insight to the planning process.
Paul brings a highly collaborative and positive approach to his work. His friendly and supportive nature makes him a pleasure to work with, and he is exceptionally well regarded by both colleagues and clients. Beyond his business acumen, Paul possesses excellent design skills and extensive experience working with large and complex brands. He has an intuitive understanding of how creative work can support business goals, consistently delivering design solutions that are both visually excellent and commercially informed.
His combination of creative talent, strategic thinking, and positive collaborative approach makes him an exceptional design leader who would be a valuable addition to any organisation. I recommend Paul Lawrence without reservation.
Lucia Hofstetter
Middleweight Designer / Optix Solutions
I had the pleasure of working with Paul during my time freelancing at Optix Solutions, where he played a pivotal role in not only integrating me into the team but also championing my transition into a full-time position. Paul’s belief in my work and his ongoing support were instrumental during a time when I was regaining confidence after previous experiences in less supportive environments. He played a huge role in helping me secure a permanent spot on the team.As a Creative Director of Design, Paul does not just lead, he uplifts. He took the time to mentor me personally, offering workshops and one-to-one sessions that significantly developed my creative skills and presentation abilities.
Through his guidance, I learned new approaches and techniques that have truly elevated my creative output. He also helped me build the confidence I was previously lacking, particularly in articulating and presenting my ideas clearly and effectively. Looking back over the past few years, I can see how far I have come, and much of that progress is thanks to Paul’s patient and insightful teaching.Paul has a rare ability to balance challenge with support. He gave me opportunities that stretched my abilities, while making it clear he was always there if I needed help.
His faith in me motivated me to grow, and his kindness and positivity made that growth feel safe, achievable and inspiring.Beyond his creative vision, Paul is a generous collaborator and a natural team builder. It was under his leadership that I joined the creative team, and I have seen first-hand the care he puts into nurturing talent and fostering a healthy, inclusive creative culture.Paul is not only a great designer who has worked on big brands, which is both inspirational and something I have always really looked up to, but he also brings that level of experience into every project in a grounded and accessible way. He applies that big-brand thinking while staying focused on team development and individual growth, which makes working with him both motivating and rewarding.Paul is the kind of leader who leaves a lasting impact on the work, the team and on individuals like me.
I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to work with and learn from him.Paul is someone I admire greatly. He's a very hard worker, lovely guy and gets down to business in terms of really putting in the hours, as and when it's needed. More importantly for me, Paul has become a real confidante and friend. I respect his opinion and advice on many matters. There's also no attitude with Paul. He gets we have to get things done and he goes about it with gusto. Just brief him correctly, keep him entertained with good briefs and you'll be greatly rewarded.
John Fountain
Freelance Creative Director and Creative Strategist
I'm writing to recommend Paul Lawrence, who is honestly one of the most talented and likeable people I've worked with in today’s world of brand communications.Paul has this rare ability to take a brand's story and make it come alive in ways that connect with people. He's worked with some big-name companies over the years, and more importantly, his campaigns do actually work – they drive real results for the business.What makes Paul special is that he thinks deeply about a project. He's creative, but he's also strategic about it. He doesn't just come up with flashy ideas that look good but don't deliver. Instead, he figures out what a brand really needs to say, who they need to reach, and then finds smart ways to make that happen.I've seen Paul handle everything from complete brand overhauls to quick-turnaround campaigns, and he always delivers quality work on time.
He's also great to work with – the kind of person who makes everyone around him better at their job. He explains complex digital stuff in ways that make sense, which is valuable when you're trying to get buy-in from leadership or coordinate with different teams.Paul never chases shiny objects just because they're new. He focuses on what will move the needle for the brand and the business. A combination of strong brand positioning combined with business sense, and digital expertise sum him up. Add strong leadership skills, and you've got someone who doesn't just execute great campaigns – he builds teams and drives results that make a difference.I'd recommend Paul without hesitation. He's the kind of person who makes whatever team he joins significantly better, and any company would be lucky to have him.
There are further testimonials featuring at the bottom of my CV page.
