About us - Cobo Creative

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A creative agency for science

Cobo Creative was founded in 2015 with the idea of designing communications for science, technology and engineering.

Our mission is to make complex ideas simple to understand. We come at every problem from two directions, one visual and one structural.

We work with organisations where there is a gap between technical expertise and clear communication. We aim to close that gap.

Over the years, we've had opportunities to apply our skills in a range of complex markets, from the pharmaceutical industry to the public sector. Every project has sharpened our approach and shaped who we are.

How we work

We are a senior two-person team, which means clients work directly with experienced people throughout the project. That helps us move quickly, stay responsive and maintain consistency from early thinking through to launch.

Where specialist input is required, we work with trusted partners under Cobo’s direction: developers, scientific copywriters, photographers, medical journalists. They’re experts in their fields, we’ve worked with them for years, and we name them on the work they did. We remain accountable for the overall process, quality and client experience throughout, without handoffs to junior team members.

We do it this way on purpose. An agency with a fixed team has to fit your project to whoever it happens to employ that month. We’d rather go and find the person who has spent their career on exactly this.

Whoever is on the team, every project runs through the same four stages.

Clarify.

We begin by tightening the structure: audiences, priority calls to action, content types and what success looks like. This stage is about simplifying complexity before design begins.

Design.

We then establish a clear visual and creative direction, building a system that feels confident and distinctive, with accessibility considered from the outset.

Build.

Once approved, we move into production, working with our specialists where the project needs them.

Refine.

We review collaboratively, QA thoroughly, and prepare training and documentation so the work is robust, polished and manageable after handover.

Our values

We’re not just a creative agency, we’re also a family business. This means we’re guided by an important set of values that influence the way we approach our work.

Open

You’re human, we’re human, and we’re all in this together. So sharing is important – whether that’s ideas or knowledge.

Curious

We’re a bit geeky, we like to ask questions, and we always want just a little more knowledge than we currently have.

Honest

We believe the truth is important. We’ll always tell you what we think, not what we think you want to hear.

Reliable

We’re here for you and your business. If we say we’re going to do something, you can trust that we’ll do it. Likewise, we know that important ideas need to be protected. Trust us to be a discreet ally.

Future-focused

We’re interested in the latest technologies and exploring innovative ways of doing things. It’s not only about what’s new, it’s about what’s coming next.

Core Crew

Meet our tight-knit team.

Emilie Fontaine

Managing Director

Project leadership, content and UX direction, client communication, project management and delivery oversight.

Emilie is a digital strategist who understands exactly how the various elements of the digital world fit together. Her pragmatic approach and flawless project management skills have been sharpened at agencies in three countries. Emilie is most at home walking the line between Cobo’s clients and our creative specialists, where she manages expectations and translates ideas for both sides. When she’s not running Cobo, Emilie lectures in digital marketing and entrepreneurship at Falmouth University and is developing Peelback.ai, a venture focused on making research more accessible and useful.

Barney Chandler

Creative Director

Creative direction, client communication, visual system development, page design, design QA and brand rollout.

Barney’s conscientious work ethic and ability to turn complex concepts into captivating, easy-to-understand visual ideas is a huge factor in Cobo’s success. And just one of the reasons he is so highly regarded by long-term clients. Before Cobo, Barney worked as a freelance graphic designer for over 15 years across international agencies, building deep experience in branding, digital and print design. His work has featured in AdWeek, been published by Victionary Hong Kong and awarded by VICE and CSS Winners.

Matthew Dixon

Senior Web Development Associate

Matthew is a web developer with 10 years of agency experience and a passion for building beautiful and robust websites. His career started in Bristol, where he trained in front-end development. Since then, he’s delivered several high-quality projects and founded MGHD. Matthew is particularly skilled at finding pragmatic solutions for our clients.

Are you on the lookout for an exciting new adventure in your career? Whether you’re flying solo as a freelancer or eager to embrace a fresh role, we’re keen to hear from you! Feel free to shoot us an email at [email protected].

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