An insightful and entertaining Q+A with Ben Millar - Design Director, Brand Communications Not got time to watch a video? Then check out the main points below... What motivates you? "I like making something really easy to understand. If someone comes to me with a really complicated problem or something they’re trying to communicate and by the end of the project anyone else can look at the work and immediately see the idea or how you’ve solved that problem – that’s when you know you’ve done it. It’s that moment." What inspires you? "It’s an old one, but I think – looking around at everything, just every day chance glances, as may things as you can see. That could come from work, but it could come from anything. I supposed that means I’ll probably just rip off a load of other ideas and change them enough so no one notices but hopefully most of the time it comes out as something fresh and original." How do you keep up with industry trends? "Well, the web’s almost replaced our library. Every morning I spend a few minutes looking at a few choice blogs and a few emails that I’ve signed up for. That could be stuff that other agencies are doing, work other people have done, but equally, what’s happening in the news." What are the big challenges for your sector? "I think agencies tend to specialise a bit too much still. I think we’re still a bit of a “cottage industry” in the design sector. I think when a client comes in with a communications problem, the best agencies are the ones who approach it broadly, as a business issue." What trends are you seeing in your sector? "Every year has a recipe book of style but rather than concentrate on that, I think the main thing I’ve noticed is we’re getting used to seeing a good idea come to market quite quickly. Printing, self publishing – a lot of things are able to get noticed quite quickly via the web or even print. So I think it’s a lot easier to get noticed and that could be an agency’s point of view or a candidate’s. And there’s been quite a few start ups and break aways that have benefitted from that. So I think that’s quite interesting – you don’t have to rely on your client list any more." What excites you about what you do? "I think when I compare it to 99% of other things I could be doing." What would you be doing if you weren't doing this? "I’d like to think I’d be an international marathoner, but I’d probably still be working at the chocolate factory where I worked as a student." What's getting the most play on your iPod at the moment? "I’m listening to Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip – The Logic of Chance." Search for the latest design jobs or to find a new superstar performer for your team, contact us on 020 7836 4041 or upload a brief here.