I work alongside your team on a retained basis, setting the creative direction, keeping the work connected to the brief and providing practical design support. You work directly with me, David Haigh, for an agreed amount of time.
Start a conversationHiring a full-time Creative Director is a big commitment, and not every team needs one every week. Fractional Creative Direction gives you that senior perspective on a schedule that fits: a regular half-day, a project sprint, or cover while you recruit. You get someone who has run studios and shipped brands, plugged into your team, accountable for the quality of the work.
When a project needs additional expertise, I can bring in trusted specialists. Their role, scope and availability are agreed with you before the work begins.
Four ways to get senior creative leadership. Here is the honest version.
| Consideration | Fractional Creative Direction | Freelance designer | Creative agency | Full-time hire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | £500 + VAT a day | £250–400 a day | £15k+ per project | £60–75k plus on-costs |
| Start date | Within days | Within days | Four to six weeks | Three to six months |
| Sets the creative standard | Yes | No: works to a brief | Yes, but theirs | Yes |
| Independent of who delivers | Yes | Yes | No: sells its own hours | Yes |
| Scales into full delivery | Specialists by agreed scope | No | Yes | No: needs suppliers |
| Commitment | Monthly, rolling | Per project | Contract term | Permanent |
| There every day | No | No | No | Yes |
| Hands over to a permanent hire | Yes, by design | No | Rarely | Not applicable |
I can bring in trusted designers, developers or other specialists when the project needs them, with the scope and responsibilities agreed with you.
Setting and holding the creative standard across brand, web and product work, so everything that goes out is coherent and considered.
Reviews, critique and mentoring for in-house designers and marketers, plus a second pair of eyes on work before it ships.
Leading the thinking on new campaigns, propositions and launches, from first sketch to a direction the team can run with.
I start with a short onboarding to understand your brand, your audiences, your team and the projects on the horizon, so direction is grounded from day one.
A set amount of time each month, booked in advance: regular sessions, project blocks, or a mix. You always know what you are getting.
I set briefs, steer concepts, review work in progress and unblock decisions, keeping projects moving and on-brand.
When a project needs design or development support, I help define the work and identify any specialists required. Scope, timing and responsibilities are agreed with you before proceeding.
£500 + VAT a day
Half days are £250 + VAT. Most engagements settle at one day a week (£2,000 + VAT a month). Some run at two days a month, some at two days a week. Published rate, same for everyone.
3 months then rolling
You book the time in advance and you know exactly what you are getting. No notice period games, no minimum spend, no charge for the phone calls in between.
David Haigh
Creative Director, Beatnik Studio
Twenty years leading creative teams and directing brand, digital and product work. Creative Director on projects for Vertu Motors, Northumbria University and HM Coastguard. Based between Newcastle and Edinburgh.
No pitching. No free creative. No rate card that changes per client.
The things people ask before the first call.
£500 + VAT a day, half days at £250 + VAT. Most teams settle at one day a week, which is £2,000 + VAT a month. Published rate, same for everyone.
Three months, then rolling monthly. Three months is long enough to be useful and short enough that you are not stuck with a decision that isn’t working.
My role includes shaping the brief, setting the creative standard and reviewing the work as it develops. I agree with you where you need direction and where you need practical design support.
No, the opposite. Most of the value is in making the team you already have better: reviewing work, mentoring, giving them a senior second opinion before things ship. If you have good people who have never had anyone to learn from, that is usually where the gain is.
I can help with design and delivery, bringing in trusted specialists where needed. I agree the scope with you and check availability before adding work to the engagement.
Yes, and it is often the reason people call. Someone on your side of the table reviewing the agency’s work, holding them to the brief and asking the questions you do not have time to ask.
Me. Beatnik is an independent studio and I remain your main point of contact. When a project needs additional specialists, I agree with you who is involved and what they will do. The direction stays with me.
I help you hire them. Writing the role, sitting in on interviews, handing over the systems and standards so the new person starts on something solid rather than a blank page. Working yourself out of a job is part of the job.
Most of the work is public sector, heritage and cultural. Frameworks, procurement, purchase orders, reporting: all familiar, none of it a surprise.
A short conversation about the work you have got coming up. If it is a fit I will suggest a shape and a rate. If it isn’t, I will say so.
Trusted by startups, councils and cultural organisations
See if it’s a fit
Tell me about your team and the work you have coming up. I’ll suggest a way to work together.