Workdays and Weekends: Gary Paterson of T'Go Creative

We caught up with the super busy dad, business man and Graphic Designer, Gary Paterson, the man behind T'Go Creative in Perth!

When we asked him about his typical hours he had this to say! 

"HaHa, that’s funny! There is no ‘typical’ in this job. What I would say is the studio is open 9am – 5pm but I can often be found at the desk until midnight or beyond, even over the weekends at times!"

1. What does a typical day at work look like for you?

I’m usually in the office at around 8am, so it’s switch on the equipment followed by a quick overview of our job booking system with a HUGE Cup of coffee. I tend to go to the gym in the morning so it’s pretty standard that I have my breakfast at the desk at the same time too.

The emails are next and, following the GTD method, if they are only going to take a couple of minutes to complete they are done there and then. Other emails are delegated, added to the system as jobs or actioned.

I’m responsible for the estimates, delegation of work, overall sign-off for sending proofs to clients, logo creation and website design and build. There are 4 of us in the team now and it is becoming easier for me to delegate (Read ‘Let Go’) now. We all have our own client and the jobbing system makes sure that everybody is busy working on something, this allows me to get on with what I like the most – the creative process.

Graphic Design is a very exciting, fast moving business and we will see last-minute jobs coming in the door every day and it’s often a balancing act to ensure deadlines are being met and we still have room for these last minute extremely tight deadlines!

A typical day at work is never boring that’s for sure, we have even recently been covered head to toe in paint!

2. What signals the start of your weekend / days off?

The start to the weekend is signalled by my 2 year old son opening the front door (normally in just his pants – it’s apparently a stage) when I arrive in the drive and shouting ‘DADDY’ at the top of his voice.

They are normally in the bath when I get back midweek so I try to get back a little earlier on a Friday to have play with them. The weekends are then mostly spent shuttling either of the children to something, Rugby Nippers, tennis, swimming, cycling etc.

That sounds like I don’t get much time to myself, however I have managed a snowboarding trip, a few long weekends away and quite a few nights out this year thanks to fantastic grandparents. A round of Golf is now on the weekends agenda.

3. What makes for a perfect night in?

Sitting at the dinner table with my wife and kids, a bottle of nice wine (or two) and a freshly prepared homely meal.

4. What makes for a memorable day or night out?

Laughs and smiles with friends and family.

5. Tell us about the weekend you’d love to live again?

My In-laws own a lodge that sits on the waterfront  at Lochgoilhead on the West Coast. We often head there on a Friday evening and come back on Sunday. It’s almost a mini-break for the kids and they are always so excited and feel at home there.

The views are stunning and there is so much to do outside and inside. If we were at home I would find some DIY to do and Liz would end up cleaning something, but arriving at the lodge is so relaxing! Plus I also get NO phone reception and there is NO WiFi so it’s back to basics – which is great!

6. And now your best ever day at work?

The first day I started on my own! I will never forget the feeling of the first day sitting in my converted garage. I get the same feeling back each time I employ a new designer and then also when we moved to a new much larger studio 5 months ago.

7. Any workday or weekend rituals?

Not really. Every day is generally different but much of it does involve juggling . . . juggling time that is! We always try to get some free time for ourselves in between taking kids to various activities though, and that will vary depending on the time of year.

I do tend to start most days in the gym, so that is becoming a bit of a regular thing.

8. What’s in the perfect day off breakfast?

I’m going to have to say a healthy grill-up. Sausages, Bacon, Tomato, Avocado, Scrambled Egg and Coffee – I like my coffee!!

9. Any words of wisdom for us?

Live life so you die with memories, not your dreams.

Gary is the owner of T'Go Creative Graphic Design, Website Design and Printing in Perth. www.tgocreative.co.uk