Toby named Young Contender

It’s been an exciting week in the TMC Studio with our Founder and Director, Toby being named a Young Contender at this year’s Transform Awards. The Transform Young Contenders were recognised at the Transform Awards Europe, held at the Truman Brewery in London, sharing the stage with the companies and agencies setting the benchmark in brand transformation.

The Young Contenders category looked at those who are making a great contribution to the industry across Europe, with the judges stating they were impressed by the young creatives and strategists nominated for this year’s awards.

“The Young Contenders recognised this year are the flag-bearers for an exciting, talented and creative future for brand transformation. We are proud to celebrate all of this year’s Young Contenders and we will be excited to see what they are able to achieve for their companies and their industry in the future,” said Brittany Golob, editor in chief of Transform magazine.

Brittany also went on to say of Toby, “Toby’s admirable commitment to design and his entrepreneurial spirit impressed the judges. They said his “exquisite illustration,” and ability to pursue the challenge of founding his own agency as a self-taught designer were admirable. Toby has made an impact on clients as well, with long-term relationships yielding work that has helped startups and established businesses alike communicate more effectively.”

Being recognised as a ‘Young Contender’ will allow me to take a moment, reflect and celebrate all that TMC has achieved, something that many of us often forget to do.

Toby Marsh

Read more from Toby’s interview with Transform Magazine:

What do you consider your greatest accomplishment to date?

Starting Toby Marsh Creative. Opening my own Studio so early in my career was, of course, a huge risk, but I have always had a vision of the way in which I wanted to work and the environment that I wished to create. The most important factor for me is the development of the TMC team and our reputation within the industry. The relationships that we have built with our Brand Partners are not solely about the quality of our work but the way in which we operate. Naturally, it has also been a massive learning curve for me but one that I am incredibly proud of.

What will be named a ‘ Young Contender’ mean for you and your career?

For the best part of a decade, I have had my head down, trying to build something meaningful. (There have been many sleepless nights!) Being recognised as a ‘Young Contender’ will allow me to take a moment, reflect and celebrate all that TMC has achieved, something that many of us often forget to do.

I hope that this acknowledgement affords both myself and TMC the opportunity to engage with like-minded people on a larger platform within the industry, opening up valuable conversations.

What do you want your role to be in the future of the brand industry?

I would love to develop both the studio’s and my own positioning within the industry, offering value-driven and intelligent design to brands of all shapes and sizes. Importantly, I feel a responsibility both as a creative and an employer to help recalibrate how we, as an industry understand and support wider issues. Currently, the conversations around mental health and the studio’s Not-for-Profit initiatives are a priority for me. I hope that TMC can continue to promote and engage in projects in a way that reflects this.

What kind of impact can young designers and strategists make on the brand industry?

We have the power to help break habits, shift perspectives and design with more compassion. Designers and strategists help brands communicate to consumers, and we have an opportunity and responsibility to actively support positive change as part of that conversation.

Who is your dream client? Why?

I have never had an ideal client list. It has always been about the specific project and its purpose. Ideally, it would be with those who believe in what they are doing and care about how they do it.