An Organised Life With... Tess Robinson from Smack Bang Designs
I'm beyond excited to be featuring Tess Robinson from Smack Bang Designs in my latest 'An Organised Life With....' feature.
A long time fan (naturally with my graphic design background) I have followed Tess's design + web studio from the get go and find her beautifully curated Pinterest boards extremely addictive to follow! (see here)
I chatted to Tess to find out how it all began, what her biggest piece of advice would be and (of course) how she stays so organised as her business grows from strength to strength.
Did I mention her HQ is an absolute dream? More below...
Name: Tess Robinson
Occupation: Creative Director + Owner, Smack Bang Designs.
How it all began…
I grew up in a creative family, was blessed with a strong education and parents who led me to believe I could literally do anything I dreamed of. A total born design lover, I tried my hand at university, and after a few failed attempts, decided to drop out to start Smack Bang Designs. I started this dream on a whim, the smell of an oily rag and an old desk I found on the side of the road in 2011, aged 22. After six years in business with a brand driven by the creation of simple, meaningful, modern design for businesses all around the world and a team of 15 outrageously talented legends, I now feel completely at home.
Biggest pinch me moment to date...
There’s been a lot of high points and it’s certainly been a wild ride but I’d have to say moving down south (out of Sydney) recently was a huge high. This was the point that I realised I’d fulfilled my dream of not only getting paid to do what I love, but creating a team that allow me to step back and choose lifestyle over the grind full-time. This high point is closely followed by our most recent studio move into our new Surry Hills digs. With bum-space for 20 and some seriously amazing interiors, that has been quite the thrill.
Biggest lesson I've learnt along the way…
Along with a myriad of life lessons and exponential mind backflips, the most important thing business has taught me is that there’s no such thing as an overnight success. What might look like an easy accomplishment in the glossy world of Instagram is actually years in the making - years of hard work, late nights and no doubt, countless hours spent learning, failing and finessing. The old adage ‘Nothing worth having comes easy’ certainly rings true for me.
I'm inspired by…
My team. They are a bunch of the most committed, talented and treasured team who understand the vision of the business and bring their A-game to work every day. Although we have an insane workload, often working with 80 clients at any given time, each of them bring a unique skill and flair to the team, and they make going to work each day an absolute pleasure. Every day they teach me something new and inspire me in some way or another.
My biggest piece of advice would be…
Back yourself and surround yourself with great people. My biggest achievement has been curating a team of talent and a support network like no other. To be able to rely on an insanely supportive and incredibly talented group of people that I happen to get on with like house on fire has saved me from going completely insane.
My career goals for the next 2-5 years is…
We are in the process of working out what Smack Bang 2.0 looks like. Whilst it’s been a super fun and crazy journey so far, I truly do feel that this is only the beginning. As a business, we are more focused, more excited and more hungry than ever. My mind spins at a million miles per hour, so right now I’m just taking stock and working out which of those billion ideas are best suited to our next level of expansion.
Organised to me means….
Starting with the end in mind. If you have a clear vision for what you want your life and your everyday to look like, it helps ensure that you’re always heading in the right direction. If you know where you want to get to, you can easily take each step forward with efficiency, clarity and care.
The top 3 ways I organise my life is....
A morning routine that sets my day up and creates a mood of calm. Prioritising my tasks and working from top to bottom. A Google calendar that probably looks more like the blueprint of a large town plan than a schedule. Oh, and going to bed early (for me, sleep = clarity).
At the moment you’ll find the below on my desk…
A notepad and pen (always). A bergamot scented candle. My Contax film camera. The latest Cereal Magazine issue. My Frank Green coffee cup, (that I’m wishing wasn’t so empty).
My workspace style is…
I was born and bred by the beach, so my aesthetic is reflective of my laid back lifestyle which flows through to our the relaxed style of our studio. It was really important that our workspace matched the aesthetics of our brand - simple, beautiful and as close to nature as possible. I’ve always been drawn to fresh white walls, timber textures and the idea of bringing the outdoors in. I set out to design a space that not only communicated our ethos, but felt like home for my staff.
The first thing I do when I get to the office is…
Coffee. Chats. Tunes. Emails. (usually in that order).
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ABOUT AN ORGANISED LIFE WITH...
Featuring a curated edit of inspiring people with amazing careers, we chat to them about how they organise their lives, what they are inspired by and what their essentials are at their work-spaces. And... of course, we go behind the scenes around their homes & offices to snap their creative & inspirational spaces.