35 Years Later

Still Designing, Still Curious, Still Not Robots

Thirty-five years ago today, Hambly & Woolley opened its doors. Yep, April Fool’s Day— definitely an auspicious start for a studio built on creativity, curiosity, and a willingness to embrace the unexpected (I mean, our logo is a pig and sheep). As we celebrate this milestone, we’re taking a moment to have a look at where we came from, acknowledge the present, and look toward the future with an excitement that has stayed with us since day one.

Paste-up to pixels

The world of graphic design has transformed since our early days on King Street East. In the late 80s, design was hands-on—rubber cement, X-Acto knives, and wax machines were our daily tools. It was not totally old school, we had two Mac Classics. The studio grew across this decade from three to 12 employees.

As we moved through this time, we were hyped to really embrace the introduction of the internet and, with it, entirely new ways of thinking about design (even though some called it a fad). Print had been our passion, and our bread and butter, but Web Design (capital W, capital D!) became an area for trying some things out. How do you bring the strong fundamentals of design thinking onto a screen? We loved adapting, evolving, and found new ways to bring clarity and impact to our clients’ messages, while navigating this new landscape.

All this millennium!

Through the 2000s and 2010s, the design industry—and all industries, really—saw huge waves of change. Social media revolutionized communication (what is the Facebook?), mobile-first thinking became essential (hello, iPhones), and brands needed to be more flexible than ever. The rise of UX/UI design, motion graphics, and accessibility in digital experiences pushed us to innovate continuously.

Throughout these decades, one thing remained constant: our belief in the power of thoughtful, intelligent design. If it was crafting a brand identity, developing a digital experience, or helping an organization communicate complex ideas, we stayed true to our core principles—clarity in our communication, creativity before anything else, and open collaboration with ourselves and our clients.

Hey, what’s next?

Reaching 35 years in business is no small feat. We are pretty proud. We’ve seen trends come and go, technologies evolve, and the role of designers shift in ways we never could have imagined back when Alannah Myles’ Black Velvet was No.1. As we start the next 35 (gulp!), we’re playing with an explorative process we are calling “Anatomy of Design.” It’s about digging deeper, questioning assumptions, and pushing the boundaries of what great design can be for our clients’ best outcomes. Stay tuned for more. 

Though sometimes it is difficult, we are looking forward with optimism. This world is about embracing the changes that lie ahead. We know that great design will always be about more than just tools. It’s about people, ideas, and meaningful connections. It is about you, our valued clients, our inspiring partners and our constantly-impressive team. 

So, here’s to 35 years of designing with curiosity and passion, and to the exciting possibilities ahead. Let’s go!!!