About Us

Design Distillery is an award winning marketing and design agency based in Chichester, West Sussex. We work for a wide range of clients including multi-national organisations such as Boeing and Thales, but also for many businesses local to us on the south coast from Southampton, Havant and Portsmouth to the west, and Worthing, Crawley and Brighton to the east.

Our team's experience is as broad as it is specialist.

We've worked in leading London ad agencies, communications consultancies and for blue-chip brands, such as Microsoft, Texaco, Mercedes, United Biscuits and Kodak. And because every business can benefit from good communications, we're experienced across almost all sectors - from aerospace, defence and financial services, to IT, medical and leisure.

To some of our clients we are a surrogate marketing department, to others we are a design studio. However you chose to use us you can be certain that you will receive an excellent level of service along with stunning design work that will be on-message and on-brand.

Meet the key members of our team:

Guy Tillyard - director

Gt2 After twelve years with London agencies, (including DMB&B) working with blue chip brands such as McVities, Scottish and Newcastle, and Microsoft, Guy moved to the South coast and set up Design Distillery in 2005. Guy has a wealth of strategic planning and project management experience, but it is creative direction where his real strength lies.

Sarah Harris - account director

Sarah Harris As Design Distillery’s most recent recruit, Sarah joins us with a unique set of skills. After starting her career as a graphic designer, she left the jumpers behind and put on a suit in 2005 when she became an account manager.

With a creative approach to everything that she does, Sarah is a detail person and has brought with her skills and knowledge in strategic campaign planning and delivery. She’s a confident and effective communication specialist with a ‘can do’ attitude.

Nick Simmons - senior designer

Nick Simmons With seven years agency experience, kicked off with a first class degree in graphic design, Nick has worked with a wide range of clients including Kuoni and Elite Hotels. Whether designing for press, large format or digital, Nick's creative, out-the-box approach ensures a great result every time. Add to this a sharp eye for detail and an in-depth production knowledge, you can be certain that your job will look every bit as good as the initial visuals did. Frequently in direct contact with our clients, Nick can confidently manage as many aspects of the process required. From taking an initial brief and brainstorming with the creative team through to delivery of the final result.

Jono Oswin - strategic planning

Jo2

Jono is a past master reviewing a brand, and identifying the correct positioning and brand values that enable us to ensure that your marketing material is both relevant and effective. With nearly 20 years of working in the marketing industry under his belt, Jono has a wealth of experience gained through his time within London agencies, client-side companies and running his own consultancy. He has worked with Blue Chip organisations such as Esso, Texaco, United Distillers & Vintners and Toshiba.

Susie Howling - account manager

Susie Howling

As an account manager at Design Distillery, Susie is responsible for the day-today running of several key accounts, overseeing creative and technical work, and ensuring deadlines are met, on spec and on budget. With three years at London agency, The Red Brick Road, where she was no stranger to the accolade, 'Account Manager of the Month', Susie has plenty of agency experience under her belt, and approaches work with enthusiasm and care.

Rachel Evans - account manager

Rachel Evans After three creative years at the "all singing, all dancing" music media and arts academy charity "NGM", Rachel went on to study Linguistics and Marketing, furthering her passion for communication and the language of advertising. Rachel joined Design Distillery in 2006 and has since become a highly regarded and accomplished account manager.

Alex Stanhope - Web design and programming

Alex Stanhope Alex offers an unusual combination of artistic and technical expertise. He is equally at home with graphics packages and dynamic Web technologies. But Alex's skills are not just limited to the realm of the Web as he has acquired considerable experience in professional photography in a range of fields.

Katie Hughes - PR

Katie Hughes has more than twenty years' experience of corporate communications and public relations; amassed with national clients such as Marks and Spencer, Coutts Bank and the Independent, together with regional names such as Gales Brewery and the Portsmouth News. She is also a feature writer for national and local press; writing on a range of subjects, including travel, finance and health.