{"id":14747,"date":"2025-09-26T15:37:20","date_gmt":"2025-09-26T08:37:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cstc.vn\/blogtsk\/deisgn-leader-conran-design-groups-lee-hoddy\/"},"modified":"2025-09-26T15:37:20","modified_gmt":"2025-09-26T08:37:20","slug":"deisgn-leader-conran-design-groups-lee-hoddy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cstc.vn\/blogtsk\/deisgn-leader-conran-design-groups-lee-hoddy\/","title":{"rendered":"deisgn\/leader: Conran Design Group\u2019s Lee Hoddy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lee Hoddy is creative partner at Conran Design Group<\/a>. The global brand and design agency works with clients like Reckitt, Sofitel and Peugeot.<\/p>\n

Design<\/h4>\n
What would your monograph be called?<\/h5>\n

Brand EVangelist: How EV sparked a new era in experience design. <\/em><\/p>\n

We\u2019re seeing the EV revolution redefine the automotive sector \u2013 brands like Tesla, Polestar and Rivian are showing up with innovative, immersive brand ecosystems and demonstrating a really progressive use of film and digital. And experience design is playing a leading role.<\/p>\n

What recent design work made you a bit jealous?<\/h5>\n

The recent Heinz work by JKR<\/a> and Wieden+Kennedy<\/a>, with Studio DRAMA\u2019s<\/a> typographic refresh. They called it a \u201cquiet evolution\u201d \u2013 it\u2019s anything but. They\u2019ve modernised a classic without losing its iconic edge.<\/p>\n

The latest It has to be\u2026<\/em> campaign is pure class: restrained, confident, and unmistakably Heinz. It\u2019s such a joy to see iconic, crafted creativity in play \u2013 stripping things back to bold ideas and beautifully executed brand assets.<\/p>\n

Distinctive, memorable and totally ownable \u2013 a welcome standout in a sea of inauthentic, AI-infused noise.<\/p>\n

Studio DRAMA\u2019s type work for Heinz<\/p>\n

What\u2019s an unusual place you get inspiration from?<\/h5>\n

It\u2019s not really a place \u2013 it\u2019s more of a balance between two opposing states. On one side, there\u2019s sociability \u2013 the buzz of a good chat in the studio, ideas bouncing around and growing into something bigger. A democratic, energising atmosphere where everyone\u2019s in it together. Feels electric. I love that.<\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s solitude. Not so much a physical space, more a headspace. It usually shows up in the in-between moments \u2013 on the Tube, during a quiet 15 outside the office, in the middle of a mindless chore.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s when the day\u2019s noise fades, and the background distractions become oddly welcome. It\u2019s a different kind of clarity.<\/p>\n

Both are inspiring in their own way. One\u2019s loud and collaborative, the other quiet and personal. And somewhere between the two is where the good stuff lives.<\/p>\n

Name something that is brilliantly designed but overlooked.<\/h5>\n

Automotive infotainment UX is a bit of a masterclass in clarity and utility. At its best, it\u2019s invisible. The design isn\u2019t shouting for attention \u2013 it\u2019s whispering just loudly enough.<\/p>\n

An elegantly designed map, intuitive iconography, minimal design distractions. It balances real-time data with calm, intuitive, thoughtful design \u2013 always adapting, never overwhelming.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a good reminder that simplicity isn\u2019t about taking everything away \u2013 it\u2019s about making sure that what\u2019s there actually matters.<\/p>\n

What object in your studio best sums up your taste?<\/p>\n

Michael Sodeau\u2019s Bob stool, an elegant little perch made from wine cork waste. It\u2019s a reminder that good design balances function, personality and responsibility.<\/p>\n

I also love our own brand\u2019s playful illustrations, dotted around the studio. They\u2019re a visual reminder that design doesn\u2019t always have to take itself too seriously, and that sometimes a bit of wit can go a long way.<\/p>\n

The Bob Stool. Photo courtesy Modus Furniture. Photo by Jake Curtis.<\/p>\n

Leadership<\/h4>\n

What feedback felt brutal at the time, but turned out to be useful?<\/h5>\n

Back in the days of Apple Macs, I remember showing some early concepts to my creative director. I was deep into that David Carson, rule-breaking, West Coast design anarchy phase.<\/p>\n

He looked at my work, took a drag on his Marlboro Red, and said, \u201cStyle over substance. Get back to making ideas.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the time, it felt harsh. But it was exactly what I needed to hear. He wasn\u2019t knocking the energy or the experimentation \u2013 he was reminding me that it only matters if it\u2019s in service of the idea. That style without substance is just noise. And that good design starts with the idea \u2013 you can\u2019t post-rationalise after the fact.<\/p>\n

It stuck with me. Still does. Creativity should always be rooted in the brief, shaped by the problem, and driven by the desire to make something that connects.<\/p>\n

That moment taught me to strip it back and keep it simple. And it\u2019s something I\u2019ve carried with me \u2013 stay curious, embrace the new \u2013 but always come back to the central idea.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s an underappreciated skill that design leaders need?<\/h5>\n

For me, it\u2019s the ability to balance confidence with humility \u2013 and to recognise that both are needed, often at the same time.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a delicate balance, and it\u2019s easy to tip too far in either direction.<\/p>\n

As leaders, we\u2019re expected to provide clarity, make the tough calls and navigate uncertainty. That kind of confidence can be incredibly reassuring for a team. But it can harden into overconfidence, and lead to rigidity, blind spots, and a resistance to change.<\/p>\n

The truth is, we don\u2019t always have the answers. We make mistakes. And that\u2019s ok. What matters is being open about those moments, sharing what we\u2019ve learned and creating space for others to do the same.<\/p>\n

In a nutshell, lead with confidence but keep your ego in check\u2026<\/p>\n

What keeps you up at night?<\/h5>\n

The shape of the future studio \u2013 not in a \u201crecurring nightmare\u201d kind of way, but in a way that keeps me alert, engaged, and creatively restless.<\/p>\n

We all know that traditional agency models and structures are under the spotlight. And with that comes a healthy dose of self-reflection.<\/p>\n

What do clients actually need? What will facilitate, accelerate and inspire the best possible creative work in the future?<\/p>\n

Curiosity, collaboration and beautifully crafted ideas are still everything. But the way we create, connect and bring those ideas to life has definitely evolved.<\/p>\n

What trait is non-negotiable in new hires?<\/h5>\n

Genuine curiosity and the energy needed to chase down an idea.<\/p>\n

Skills evolve, and tools change, but that hunger is non-negotiable \u2013 it\u2019s the metronome of a creative career. It\u2019s what leads to the best work, builds trust with clients, and keeps the job exciting.<\/p>\n

Complete this sentence, \u201cI wish more clients\u2026\u201d<\/h5>\n

\u2026 appreciated the power of bespoke typography \u2013 and more face-to-face time with their agencies!<\/p>\n

\nWhat to read next: <\/strong>design\/leader: Dixon Baxi design director Libby Tsoi<\/a> | design\/leader: LOVE\u2019s design director Leanne Watkinson<\/a> | design\/leader: Gensler design director Megan Dobstaff<\/a> | design\/leader: Jolie founder Franky Roussell<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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Brand EVangelist: How EV sparked … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[145],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\ndeisgn\/leader: Conran Design Group\u2019s Lee Hoddy - Blog TSK<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cstc.vn\/blogtsk\/deisgn-leader-conran-design-groups-lee-hoddy\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"deisgn\/leader: Conran Design Group\u2019s Lee Hoddy - Blog TSK\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Lee Hoddy is creative partner at Conran Design Group. The global brand and design agency works with clients like Reckitt, Sofitel and Peugeot. Design What would your monograph be called? 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