Who the hell is Jason Flynn?

Get to know some of the brilliant minds behind our work. We’re chatting with members of the DixonBaxi studio about what makes them who they are. From the professional to the personal, nothing is off limits here. Introducing: Jason, our senior brand designer who loves cycling and fishing, but never both at the same time.

Who are you and what do you do?
Hi! I’m Jason. I’m a senior brand designer here at DixonBaxi. I get to create and design brands and identities that challenge expectations, helping brands connect with people in new and exciting ways.

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What’s your story?
I grew up in the North (Preston in Lancashire that is) and, no, don’t believe what they say, it’s not as grim as they say it is. Preston has an impressive bus station, no joke! Check it out.

I didn’t know what graphic design was when I was younger. My dad used to work as an engineer in newspaper printing presses, and he also used to race bicycles. The exposure to layout and type, ink and engineering combined with cycling kits full of logos (and him being a frustrated graphic designer) probably subconsciously led me down this path. I studied Art & Design and Graphic Design at college (and Music Technology for a while!). I went to university but dropped out to take my first job in the industry. For me, this helped shape my career early on and was probably one of the better decisions I’ve made. I tend to throw myself into things as you can probably tell.

I’ve been a designer for over 10 years now. Halfway through my journey, I started to focus on brand and identity design. I’ve been lucky enough to work at a mixture of small and large agencies. I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s the people you meet along the way that shape you, the way you think and create, not the work.

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What are you working on right now?
I’m helping a company attract some of the greatest future talents by designing an identity that encourages people to embark on a career with them.

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"Good design gives you something you never knew you needed but now can’t live without. It should look and behave beautifully."

Describe your working style in 3 words.
Instinctive. Empathetic. Chaos.

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Tell us about some of your interests. What are you into?
I love cycling. Riding, watching, consuming all things bicycles. I have a lot of love for a certain Mr Cavendish - what a come back right?! When my heart rate isn’t at a constant 180bpm you can find me focused intently on watching the surface of rivers… Yes, rivers. And getting in them. That’s because I quite enjoy a bit of fly-fishing (when I can). There are some beautiful places to fish, particularly in Yorkshire (yes, it pains me to say that). Both cycling and fishing give me the opportunity to get outside, back to nature and recharge.

I’ve developed an unhealthy interest in Egyptology and conspiracy theories. Where? How? What? Why? That reads like a strategy document actually. I think exposing yourself to things that challenge your thinking is important and I get a lot of that from travel. You don’t realise the impact a trip has until you get back and reflect. A lot of the time I feel reassured that the world and the people in it are, on the whole, good!

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Do you think design can change the world? How?
Yes. Don’t underestimate the power of design. It can literally change the world around you. It’s how we as humans solve problems. It can influence people, bring people together and make people ask: 'Why? Can we do this better?' It gives people an opportunity to challenge the norm. I think good design should create positive change.

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If you could change one thing about the world, what would it be?
Free drinkable water for everyone. It blows my mind that so many people don’t have access to it, and we in developed countries pay for it in plastic bottles. What the F are we doing…

What’s the last song you listened to?
Tastes Like Freedom - Chaos in the CBD.

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Why do you do what you do? What motivates you?
I think there is a part of us, as humans, that wants to create. Leaving something better than it was before is a powerful motivator. I also believe that working with intelligent, brilliant humans really motivates me too. I think as a designer you get to learn about loads of different industries, businesses and brands - it feeds the inquisitive mind.

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What’s your definition of good design?
Good design creates positive change. It should improve the lives of people. Good design gives you something you never knew you needed but now can’t live without. It should look and behave beautifully.