STCKMN

I finally got my hands on @thedieline trophies, awarded for The Only Drop project for Scotch Malt Whisky Society. It’s no exaggeration to say that receiving these awards has had a truly positive effect on my confidence as a creative. Coming from a working-class background and being self-taught in many of the services I offer, it felt like being accepted—like I was told, “You’re part of the club, you’ve made it.” Sharing the win with family and friends and seeing how proud they are of me was an emotional experience (see Caleb in the photo—he approves!). I know the topic of awards can split the room within the creative industry, but for a small studio like mine, competing to be seen in a sea of other creative studios can be tough. The exposure associated with winning an award has had very positive effects: reinforcing client trust, establishing relevance, gaining global recognition, and opening up new project opportunities and inquiries. From an experience perspective, I got to travel to NYC for the ceremony, rub shoulders with giants of the industry, make new connections with other talented folks in the global design community, and push myself out of my comfort zone by learning to speak confidently about Stckmn and my story. My ultimate goal with every project I work on is to ensure the client is delighted with the outcome and that the work performs as we set out. Getting an award is like the cherry on top—a pat on the back that motivates me to keep creating. So while adding “award-winning” to my bio might seem boastful or up my own arse, I’m extremely proud to have received recognition for the work, and it was nice to take a moment to stop and reflect on all the hard work that went into making it happen.

I was interviewed by the fine folks over @thedieline to talk about my recent award winning project ‘The Only Drop’. You can read the full article, link in the bio.

I’m still buzzing from my @thedieline awards win two weeks ago! I was fortunate enough to travel to New York City for a few nights to attend the ceremony and celebration evening hosted at @pearlfisherlive Hq. Running a one-man studio, who’s services are predominantly self-taught and have been navigating the industry for 18 years, I’ve always aimed to create great work for my clients and gain respect from my peers. So, getting these prestigious awards means a lot and is really special for me. It was amazing to be in the company of like minded creatives, make new contacts and be part of the global design community. Cheers to everyone who made it a special trip.

Five Under Five Community Focus Design media has a habit of lifting up an elite minority so we are on a mission to champion the freelancers, founders and teams from our directory with less than five thousand followers on Instagram including: @_stckmn @likelystory_mcr @bmidd.design @carriemarklandillustrator @made.by.simon Go give them some love because we think their work deserves to be seen by more people. We also want to hear your recommendations. Drop them in the chat below so we can continue to lift–up those that need it most! #design #rightaligned

My contribution to the #logoarchive trend @logoarchive.now As a fan of the Logo Archive it's nice to see a celebration of modern designers in the same way they have showcased established designs from the past. It's an amazing source of inspo when tackling designing a new brand. Created by @designerrichardbaird back in 2015 as an instagram page it's now grown into the world's largest logo book collection of curated modernist mid-century style logos. Alongside the site there's zines, publications and a newsletter sign up with articles celebrating modernist design. Go check it out @logoarchive

One of the highlights of my trip to @offfest this year was ‘The Daring Forever Community Dinner’ hosted by @radim.malinic An intimate dinner at @galanteborn , a long table, incredible endless tapas, flowing wine (the liquid icebreaker), and a room full of kind, curious folk. We moved around throughout the night in a ‘speed dating’ style format, leading to open conversations, shared stories, and genuine connection. There was something really refreshing about it all. No expectations, just people showing up as they are, lots of laughs, and the kind of chats that go from “what do you do?” to “life is wild, right?” it was great to find little moments of common ground. I left feeling full in every sense, good food, good energy, and a reminder of how powerful it is to spend time with thoughtful, inspiring humans. Grateful to Radim for having me along.

OFFFFT!! What a blast it was @offfest last week! Just what the creative doctor ordered. Some time away from the desk to get recharged, motivated and spend time with lovely creative folk.

Still blown away by the ingenuity of @_stckmn to use the cask shavings in the paper wrapping of this distinct whisky bottle. Full episode on my YT channel. _ #productdesign #whisky #whiskybranding #packaging #packagingdesign #graphicdesign #graphicdesigner

Guess who’s back, back again? STCKMN’s back, tell a friend... I’ve been appointed for a second year as a judge for the @thedieline Awards 2026! The awards celebrate some of the most thoughtful packaging design work from around the world, so it’s always a pleasure to be involved. I was on the jury for the ‘Limited Edition’ category last year, and this time I’ll be reviewing the ‘Design for Good’ category. You can still enter up until 28th Feb. Having experienced it from a few angles, including submitting work myself (and being fortunate enough to win a couple of awards back in 2024 🏆 ) it feels good to now help spotlight work that’s doing something meaningful beyond just looking nice. Excited to dive into this years entries and connect with the other international jurors. P.S. I’m not open to bribes 🤣

🚨Podcast Alert 🎧- I had the pleasure of guesting on the WiseNoise podcast, hosted by @pearseohalloran of @wiselove.studio With a background in stand-up comedy and radio, it was only a matter of time before he started his own podcast. No “journey so far” chat, instead, a very funny nod to my recent @creativeboom Boom episode, mini violins at the ready 🎻 🤣. Pearse’s format included ‘blowing smoke up my arse’ where we dive into some of his favourites projects of mine, a quick-fire round via the ‘Bingo Wheel of Wisdom’ with a real bingo set, each number corresponding to an assigned question, and finishing strong with the ‘heavy dessert menu’ where I chose an industry topic to chew on. Best watched on YouTube for the visuals, or just listen along. Link in the bio... Cheers to Pearse for having me on, it was a blast. - Interested in having me come speak at an event? be on a podcast? or just wanna hear my story? get in touch, I’d love to come share my ramblings.

Going deep deep down with @stickmanchris tomorrow. Subscribe via the links in the bio ✌️ — #podcast #design #graphicdesign #designpodcast #east17

🎧 PODCAST Part II. If you listened to the recent full episode on @creativeboom podcast, things got a little bit heavy at times, but in this half-hour bonus episode ‘The Spark’ things get a lot more playful and light-hearted as I answer some quick-fire questions about quirks, guilty pleasures, the creative advice I ignore, and what really happens behind the scenes when I’m out of my depth. Me and @katylcowan talk parenting, music, creative identity, and my inner critic ‘Steve’. There are seaside amusements, mosh pits and broken toes! Link in the bio 🎧