What it’s really like running a design studio in West Wales

People think it’s quieter here.
That things move slower.
That running a creative business in West Wales must be peaceful – simple, even.

Sometimes that’s true.
And sometimes, it isn’t.

There’s less noise – and less passing traffic

We don’t have agencies on every corner.
We don’t meet new clients over beers in Soho.
There are fewer networking events, fewer big-budget briefs, fewer pitch invites.

But the flip side?
There’s more focus.
There’s less fluff.
You get to build something at your own pace – without watching your competitors’ every move.

The work becomes more intentional.
Less reactive.
More about fit than flash.

The work has to travel further

In London, it was easier to stay “in the mix.”
You meet someone who knows someone who’s building something.
You go to a talk and leave with a contact.

In West Wales, you don’t have that proximity.
So the work has to do more of the talking.
It has to earn trust on its own.
It has to be good enough to go beyond the region.

And that’s the challenge.
But also the opportunity.

Because if you can build something sharp and honest here –
and it resonates with people out there –
you’re doing something right.

The view’s better – but the signal’s worse

Yes, the coast helps.
Yes, the pace is healthier.
But the logistics still test you.

Printing takes longer.
Deliveries get delayed.
Sometimes your call drops mid-client review and you have to start again.

You learn to plan ahead.
You learn to laugh it off.

And you learn that the work still matters most – not the Wi-Fi.

You find different kinds of ambition here

Not everyone’s chasing scale.
Not everyone wants to triple headcount or get acquired by WPP.

There’s a different energy here.
People still want sharp design. Clear ideas. Real strategy.
But they want it in plain English.
They want it from someone who’ll pick up the phone.
They want design that reflects who they are – not who they’re trying to impress.

So, is it harder?

Sometimes.
But it’s also more grounding. More rewarding.
And more yours.

Running a studio in West Wales doesn’t look like a studio in London.
It shouldn’t.
And that’s the point.

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