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Stuart graduated back in 1997 with a BA in Media Studies which led to an obvious career path where he worked as a creative professional in his first few jobs. “At the time, my career was limited to design agencies around Manchester until I learned web design,” Stuart says.

He fell in love with animation design and it’s where his love for computers and design converged. He went on to learn the basics of development, including coding and flash. “When I started, designers were universal problem solvers. I went into agencies as a designer but also got roped into wireframes and building a lot of other assets.”

Stuart went freelance about 12 years ago, starting with simpler contracts and soon getting invited to projects at a much earlier stage. “Pretty soon, I was involved in strategy calls, wireframing, and prototyping, over and above design. I’d find myself handing over what was essentially a UI kit of graphics. And all of this is before design systems were a thing.”

Over time, Stuart worked with all kinds of clients, from startups to large organisations. In 2019, a friend of his approached him to consider taking up a design contract with Shell. “Shell needed to structure from the ground up how the brand could be used on digital products. Shell had the graphics kit and code and required a guide that would tie it all together in a way that external developers could intuitively leverage to build new products. Putting that together became my foremost task for Shell Design Systems,” Stuart recounts.

Eventually, Stuart decided he was going to convert to a full-time role. “To me, the stability that comes with hitching your wagon to something else feels nice. Shell is a huge organisation, the likes of which I’ve never worked in before. It seemed like a great opportunity to try. It’s an engineering company at heart, and it does that spectacularly. It needs a strong digital vision and the opportunity to try and help improve that is an exciting one.”

Stuart realises that design systems are constantly evolving and never complete. His decision to join Shell was to take the opportunity to participate in a design transformation. “We’re providing a single location for references and assets, as well as a shared language for a consistent design. We want to put in guidance so anyone that comes in can have a quality benchmark to match.”

When asked what his favourite thing about his role at Shell is, he says it’s the people around him. “I’ve met some of the most talented, lovely people here. Shell has some truly gifted people under its roof. My hiring manager has been fabulous and my current boss is always available and supportive. I truly believe that good work starts with good work culture, and that seems especially true for Shell.”

He also appreciates the work-life balance he’s able to achieve at Shell. He sees himself working efficiently without burning out and he finds himself with plenty of time to spend with his kids and indulge in his passion. “I have a gaming console, a handheld device, and even a VR headset that see plenty of use,” he laughs. 

In the future, Stuart wishes to branch out and try new things. “I have a bit of a spread of skills already including engineering, strategy, and design. I’ve always hesitated about moving into management because of how much I love doing the groundwork, but I guess I have to be realistic and step into that kind of role eventually. That would give me a larger say in Shell’s future design direction,” he admits.