Chimney Design, who created the Sussex Learning Network’s (SLN) brand identity, is a thriving Brighton-based design business set up three years ago by two talented University of Brighton graduates.

Louise Harvey and Emma Willoughby, who both graduated in 1998, teamed up in 2004 and now have a varied portfolio of work, much of it Sussex-based. Although they have similar skills, each brings to the partnership their different experiences of work in a range of organisations and agencies.

Louise graduated with a BA (Hons) degree in Interior Architecture and first worked as a project designer for a Lancing-based furniture company. But she became increasingly interested in graphic design (in which she had acquired some skills during her degree course) and decided to change direction. A move to the Brighton design agency, the Electric Pencil Company, gave her the opportunity to develop her graphic design skills, especially in typography. By the time she left four years later to set up Chimney with Emma she was Senior Designer and responsible, with the creative director, for running the company’s studio.

Graphic design was also not Emma’s first career choice. She graduated with a BA (Hons) in Illustration and first worked as a pre-press artworker with a Brighton print company. There she gained a comprehensive knowledge of print that has proved invaluable to Chimney’s work. She later joined the Crawley-based travel company First Choice, where she designed and produced holiday brochures. Working on large-volume holiday publications she developed a set of new skills, including experience of photo shoots. After three years Emma moved to a large design agency in Brighton to work on high profile advertising campaigns for travel, tourism and other sectors.

This combination of experience and skills makes for good teamwork, as Louise explained: “When we take on a new project we first brainstorm and do some research together to come up with initial concepts and ideas. We allocate work equally between us but each of us is fully briefed on the whole job. The only areas where we have different skills are web-based projects, which I tend to do, and illustration, which is Emma’s area of expertise.”

Emma and Louise aim to deliver “quality design that works” and like to build a good working relationship with each client. Emma said: “The message we get back from clients again and again is that they really like the fact that we are friendly and approachable, very flexible, and respond to every client’s individual needs. We’re keen that our company retains this approach and we enjoy dealing with our clients direct and not through an account executive.”

The young designers say they both love working in Sussex: “We’ve made a concerted effort to target local companies and organisations because it feels good to be a part of the local area and feel you are making a difference. We have clients across the UK but always enjoy the rapport we have with our local clients. Working locally can be more effective as we can discuss things face-to-face whenever we need to.”

Chimney Design has worked with SLN since the network was established. “Our first project was to produce the network’s 'identity’ and we have enjoyed working with the team since then as we have continued to develop their 'brand’,“ said Emma.

Both designers believe that: “One of the reasons we work so well with SLN, and can tune into their requirements, is that we have seen the network’s progression from the beginning. We find the SLN staff a really approachable, positive and professional team to work with.”