To Affinity and Beyond?

Last week, there was a mighty disruption in the design space when design app company Canva released the latest version of its newly acquired professional design software Affinity, for FREE. The day after the announcement Adobe, the big dog of design tools (and makers of Photoshop), saw their shares almost halve.

Hands up, I'm a card-carrying Affinity user; I left the Adobe ecosystem and its cloud-based subscription service in 2019 and haven't looked back. Back then, it felt like something to stay quiet about to be considered a professional designer, a bit like the term 'working from home' before the pandemic.

What's the catch?

I used to be a big Adobe fan, most designers my age are (40+...ish). I'm old enough to remember how game-changing Photoshop was when a boxed copy cost £2,000. I sympathised with their move to the locked-in subscription model thirteen years ago, knowing before that just how rife piracy was among young design students to get hold of it on CD-ROM.

Also, when Adobe released InDesign, a desktop publishing package that was so good that rival company Quark Express disappeared without a trace in two years. Quark was so big it didn't see Adobe as a threat, and when they did, it was too late.

The new Affinity has paid options. It comes with Canva's AI tools (urgh, no surprise) as a subscription extra, but you don't need that to use the tools. The App, the tools, are free.

So what's the play? Canva's have openly said they want to take on the 'locked in, cloud-based, big brother' subscription model, and have even taken a jab at Adobe AI training practices in a recent promo video. Well, the most obvious hook of 'free' is access.

Student loans

Consider design students. Most are taught with Adobe, leave university (hopefully) with a lovely degree, but then lose access to their student account. If they want to keep designing with the software they've been trained on, even before they get a job, they need a new paid Creative Cloud Adobe subscription. A great deal for Adobe to get 'em early, not so great for students. Now, young designers have a valid alternative at a time when the cost of living is high and rents are high. I'd be surprised if many don't turn to Affinity.

UK-based Affinity has been around since 2014 as a paid app (£150 for the lot), slowly making a name as a legit software alternative. When Canva bought them up in 2023, designers were worried about Canva's plan, expecting a locked-in subscription. To understand why Canva has gone the other way, we can look at what their goals have been so far.

Adobe's have the excellent drawing tool Fresco app for free, everything else is subscription-based, which is understandable as a biz model. This applies to anyone, regardless of their role, from pro designers to marketers and social media managers.

Canva has made headway in the 'non-designer' Giving teams of marketers and social media managers tools to help get work out the door faster.

For years, professional designers have baulked at Canva's simplistic tools. I've been a very reluctant adopter of Canva. As a designer, I don't like it. From a client's point of view, however, I totally get how accessible it is. It's not intended for professional designers. Affinity then, is Canvas' gateway drug of sorts - professional tools that segues into the marketer's ecosystem. As Canva said in last week's launch, 'Affinity is for designers, Canva is for teams'.

This has happened before.

Video editing app DaVinci Resolve put up posters in music venues in the US and UK. Quite a move. It had a download QR conde on it and was also given away free. The owning company (Black Magic) makes video editing hardware, cameras and desks. They decided to release the accompanying software for free to coax users into their hardware ecosystem. DaVinci Resolve started as a simple video editing tool, and due to its success, it's now an industry standard option and a very good mascot for the brand.

Canva have been upfront in their recent launch and seems to understand it's not how good Affinity is but how much they can be trusted not to backtrack or bait and switch.

I don't think we'll see an sudden change (apart from the sudden drop in Adobe shares last week), but in the next couple of years, I suspect more young designers going freelance due to the lack of jobs, will design in Affinity to get themselves started.

What's the point of a one page website?

Is it worth getting a 'one-page website' in 2025? What can a simple website do that your social media isn't already doing?

Reading online news, I think it's the fifth time I've come across an article on the 'death of social media', which I doubt it is. Also, what if you're using a tool like Linktree? Would a website do that job better? I'd say yes to that too, but first, here are a couple of examples I've recently built;

Divergent Sparks
Divergent Sparks the consultancy of Chris Tavner, a personal coach specialising in people with neurodiversity.

Lil Sanderson Studio
Lil Sanderson is an award-winning ceramics and heritage craft artist.

With both of these simple website projects, the aim was to make them hassle free.
The clients chose the domain name, and I did the rest. From the website design, build and support to answering questions and providing a solutions as they grow. it's a simple package creating the site and hosting with an annual fee, all using WordPress and it's tried and test features.

So why consider spending time on your website over social media? Here are my following reasons;

Trust. When people see you have a domain (www.) they can see you're serious, professional and accountable. You've invested in what you do.
Likewise for emails, having your own @mywebsite address is much more professional.
It can be a very low-maintenance 'set it and forget it' marketing tool.
Once it's set up, it stays up. You're not competing for your content to be seen in a feed in the same way as posting on social media.
The cool part. You can decide how it looks and the experience viewers have.
Ok, you'll need to advertise it, but once you have people on your site, you can engage the way you want to and let them connect with you without giving away your contact details
It can do what linktree can do, but better.

One page websites are perfect for start-ups, SME's and personal brands. They are ideal for those who don't always have time to update their website, but need a presence on the web where they can be found and contacted.

Trusted and professional.

Above all these reasons, I would say the most important aspect of having a one-page website is trust. Once you have a domain name registered and an email set up, you're more likely to receive enquiries using Gmail or Outlook. Your own domain shows you are serious and accountable

With the two sites I did recently, they're actually two-page websites, with the second page being the contact form. These are what we can 'evergreen' pages, where the content doesn't need to change.

So if this sounds like a solution that might work for you, get in touch.

More Live Scribing

Updated Oct 2025.

What is Live scribing?

'Live scribing' is art created during a live event. It has other names like visual minutes, sketch noting, graphic recording and graphic facilitation.

It's capturing an event as it happens with engaging, dynamic and colourful visuals. More than that, it's a great way to engage, educate audiences and support team learning.

Live scribing is;

Capturing a speaker's words as visuals as they deliver their talk at a conference
Working with a team at a company away day, turning feedback into posters
Visualising a company's core values from spoken notes, turning them into highly polished illustrations

Live art is a great way to create more engagement, helping teams or attendees retain information once an event has taken place. As you may know, 90% of information transmitted to the brain is visual.

A great way to enhance the impact of an event, helping attendees retain what they have seen and heard.

With the live art I create for clients, all artwork is owned by the clients once it has been created, and can be reused however they like. Often on office walls or social media.

Get in touch

Clients include:

How does live art work?

Traditional

Large format paper
and marker pens.
Very flexible for most events.

Digital

Digital pen tablet
connected to a stage
screen or projector.

Remote

Connecting virtually
to an online meeting.

Get in touch

Above are photos from a diverse range of events; a nursing lecture, a team building day and a conference on tech research at Newcastle University for the National Institute for Health and Care Research.

Live scribing is used for a wide range of events, and I'm always happy to suggest ideas on how best it can be used. If you think it might be useful for your event but are not sure how, I'm always happy to chat and offer suggestions.

Some photos from an event at Z-arts & MADE in Old Trafford. 'Exploring The Creative Potential for Manchester to become a UNICEF Child-Friendly City'.

Get in touch

Other images from live art events;

Previous clients I've created live art for include;

Biffa
Digital Manchester
Roche
Hologic
NIHR - National Institute for Health and Care Research
UK BCorp Conference
National Fire Chiefs Conference
National Deaf Society
North East Combined Authority
Manchester City Council
University of Manchester
Willmott Dixon Construction
Z-Arts

Get in touch

photos by Lizzie Henshaw / NIHR

Brand design for Salford Child-Friendly City

Updated Sept 2025

Wonderful to see a project I've invested a lot in come to life. Hot off the press, the brand guide for Child Friendly Salford. Massive thanks to Salford City Council for all their support. The guidebooks are being sent out to communities around Salford later in the year.

This weekend saw the opening of Salford Youth Zone, a venue dedicated to kids' activities. It was also the launch of the Salford child-friendly City initiative that I've been collaborating on for the last 2 months, to come up with the brand, design and illustrations that capture the voice of children of Salford.

We've run workshops and art sessions, and with the help of Salford Council and the Youth Council Steering Group, developed the style and identity for the brand. I'm really proud of what we've achieved.

We pitched back in March, and I was pretty sure the combination of illustration skills and performing family-friendly comedy made me the right guy for the gig. I showed my stuff to the children, and they seemed to agree. Caroline Boyd took charge of logo, colour and typography while Pauline Johnson was on child engagement for the workshops. I project managed and did the illustration work.

Going forward, community groups wanting two run events as part of the child-friendly will get the brand guide book which includes artwork by the children, design instructions (brand guide) written from a children's viewpoint making them easy to read and understand, as well as a whole library of illustrations (seen here) to use however they want.

Some of the images here are very loosely based on children I met during the project, and my eight years living in Salford. Others are made completely up :)

Salford has a unique personality and feels very much like the North East, where I'm originally from. It's been an amazing experience and I've thoroughly enjoyed finding the voice of a Child Friendly Salford.

June 2025

Over the last couple of months, I've been working in a team, listening to children, finding out what they want to make their city safer, to create the brand design, assets, and illustrations for Child Friendly Salford.

The 'Child Friendly City' is a UNICEF global initiative to make cities….well…. child-friendly. Many cities in the UK have begun this process and this was Salford's opportunity as part of a wider 'Greener Healthier Salford' incentive.

These photos are taken from last week's children's workshop. The venue is Salford GRIT, the new art studio in Salford shopping centre that's only been open a few weeks and is already bursting with creative folks. Handier still is that it's a 5-minute walk from the equally new and impressive Salford Youth Zone.

Who's we? Well, that's the freelancer's day connection. Myself, Caroline Boyd (from Boy oh Boy Design) and Pauline Johnson (Civic and Social) pitched ourselves to Salford as a collaboration. Three folks, experienced independent creatives, coming together with the just the right set of skills to make this project pop. A few agencies pitched, and we got the commission.

It's been a long time since I project managed or art directed, as I'm very hands-on, and the division of work has been split between design, illustration and workshops.

In the interview, we were grilled by the Salford Youth Council, and one child asked, "What makes you different from the other people we're talking to?". I think my answer was the right one.

Here's also a sneak peek of the illustration sketches, and all will be revealed next month. I'm really proud of what we've achieved so far; it's been an amazing project to take on.

Links

Salford Council
Unicef Child Friendly Cities
Salford Youth Zone
Onside Youth Zones
Illustration
Brand Design

Creative Social Engagement

Over the last few years, more of my work has included social engagement. Not only creating final design and illustration pieces, but also going into communities to deliver workshops, empowering others to be more creative and have a voice on what's being designed.

Whether it's the branding for Salford's Child Friendly City incentive, Q and A's with attendees at a live scribe event or running a session at the opening of Stockport's Stockroom, social engagement has now become a part of Rocket Steps overall offering.
Since joining GRIT studios in late 2023 I've been able to combine these skills much more often, and I thank them for spotting new opportunities for me to do so too.

You see - full disclosure - when I'm not designing and illustrating, I'm performing and teaching. I've performed and taught comedy and improv on and off for almost twenty years. I'm also involved in TEDx Warrington. I consider myself a 'creative generalist' and have for a long time. It's a slow burn to skill up in a few different areas, but the career rewards, I think, are much greater.

Having an eclectic skill set offers a few different ways into a project. My involvement can involve helping to spark curiosity, build trust, and create a space where people feel safe to express themselves. It's not just the 'what' of a projects outcome, but finding the best 'how' to get there, where everyone feels invested.

Art can be a catalyst for change, and I see my role as helping others tap into that potential. Whether it’s sparking joy, raising awareness, or building community, I’m there to make creativity a shared experience—one that lingers long after the workshop ends.

Previous clients for this work include:

Salford City Council
Trafford Council
Stockport Council
Grit Studios
Sickfest
Stockroom
Greater Manchester Youth Network

Inspired by Cyan Lines

Get in touch here

Cyan Lines - Connecting 100 miles of nature in Greater Manchester

I've always wanted to walk the full length of the Irwell River in my home city. From Old Trafford, through Manchester and Salford. So I was inspired recently to attend a full room at Factory International for the launch of CyanLines. It's a bold goal to make the canals of Greater Manchester accessible, connecting the green and blue spaces together. 100 miles of nature walk in 10 years.

It's a pretty audacious idea, and would need a lot of cash, but I was inspired enough to live-scribe it, and also needed to run out my new drawing tablet.

Looking for a live scribe (live artist) for your event? Get in touch.

Start your new project

Links:

The Cyan Lines project
Bruntwood
Urban Splash
Andy Burham

Graphic Medicine - comic strips that educate

Ever heard the term Graphic Medicine?

It's not a drawing of a bottle of cough syrup, it's more helpful than that. As described on Graphicmedicine.org it's where healthcare and science meet comics.

It's a term that's been around for almost twenty years, referring to how the visual language of comics can explain complex issues or offer a light-hearted on a serious subject. There's an annual conference too, where professionals discuss how best it can be used.

Here are some illustrations excerpts from a comic strip I did recently, on the subject of scientific samples. I worked with the author on a script that was provided and added the humour where it would fit best. I'm happy with the results, and clean line is my preferred style.

More about Graphic Medicine.

Unlike standard pamphlets or medical texts, illustrated narratives make complex ideas clear and memorable.

For healthcare and med comms organisations, it provides a way to communicate with empathy. A comic steip or visual narrative can highlight patient voices and build stronger trust between providers and communities. Educators and medical professionals also benefit: illustrated stories make sensitive topics easier to discuss, and aid conversations and learning.

For patients, custom illustrations can transform intimidating medical info into something more approachable, helping them feel supported by seeing their own experiences reflected in visual form.

Links:

John's Illustration

Festival Live Artist at Side by Side

Here are a couple of slices of the work I did last week for the Side by Side in Rochdale, a new Festival of culture and the arts.

I couldn't make all of it, but I was in on the feedback session, and there was an incredible buzz. A session called 'No Such Thing' where people were invited to have conversations with folks they didn't know sounded right up my networking street.

My diary is slowly filling up for live art and portraits in November/December, but I still have space in Sept/Oct for folks in the events space looking for something a bit different.

Links:

Rochdale Council
Touchstones Rochdale
Side by Side Festival
Live Scribing

2025 Showreel, motion graphics, illustration and more.

New showreel time! 15 Project squeezed into 36 seconds. I didn't update it last year, so there are plenty of highlights to stuff in.

Motion graphics, live scribing, illustration, branding and WordPress development. Often, but not always, served with a side order of light-hearted humour.

That's a few different things for one person to do, isn't it? Well, not really. I started my business back in 2010 after ten years in agencies, and the backbone of my approach was to go where the work is, explore niches and always be learning new things.

"Jack of all trades and a master of none?" eh?

I did hear this when I first started, however, the full qoute is "Jack of all trades, master of none, though oftentimes better than a master of one."

It can take years to build up a diverse skill set; it doesn't happen overnight, but I think it's important to cultivate right now in the creative space. I believe it's important to experiment and take risks to discover new skills adjacent to those you already have.

And it's not just me. While working on the new showreel, this article dropped on Creative Boom from Tom May about the 'creative generalist'. I couldn't agree more.

Start your new project

Rocket Steps is a 'one stop shop' for design, motion graphics and illustration.
Established in 2010 by John Cooper.

Links:

Creative Boom

Live Scribing Social Values

In May, I was hired to live scribe social values at 'A Greener, Healthier Salford' for an organisation focused on equality and sustainability in cities and communities.

As someone who lived in Salford for seven years, I've seen the prosperity and the challenges the city faces, and understand how very different a place it is from its neighbour, Manchester.

There was a lot to digest and translate, and I think understanding the people and the challenges helped me capture the key messages for the organisations and charities who were present, to have their voices heard and recorded. The Mayor of Salford was in attendance

Little did I know this would be a warm-up for a bigger project involving Salford's bid to become a Unicef Child-Friendly City, but more on that in a later post.

Links:
Live scribe social value
Fairer, Greener, Healthier Salford
The Lowry at MediacityUK
Salford City Council
Mayor of Salford
More Live Scribing

Making Art at Stockport Stockroom

This weekend I had the pleasure of hosting an art session at the opening of Stockport Stockroom, a new cultural centre and art hub in the city centre. It's a revitalisation of the library too.

Many of the locals I chatted too said it was much needed and very welcome. The revitalization of Stockport has been ongoing for the last few years, and they really know what they are doing by bringing a creative community space to the centre of the town, top work there.

The council kitted the space out with easels and paint pens, and within a few minutes of getting started folks were appearing, keen to get stuck and make marks.

The space was designed by Dave Sedgwick from StudioDBD, and reminded my very much of SeeSaw and HOME in Manchester.

When I'm in creative spaces like this I ask myself a question: would I get my sketch pad out here? If that's something I can do comfortably, without feeling odd of like I'm being watched, that that space passes the test. Moreso with something like my Surface, that I draw on all the time (my windows iPad - I'm not an apple person).

In other news I've also been invited to join the advisory board at GRIT (who recommended me for this gig - thanks guys). It's a bit of a humble brag, but I'm incredibly honoured to be asked as they go from strength to strength.

Links

Graphic Design for the Greater Manchester Fringe Festival

Just a couple of month until the next Greater Manchester Fringe Festival and it looks set to be a great one.

I've been helping the team with graphic design since the festival came back in 2020, listening and tweaking, iterating the design every year to improve on what went before, and they now have a really strong recognisable identity.

Here's a sample from the design guide;

I try to be as helpful as I can. As a graphic designer I'm told I'm quite 'sympathetic', I'm not going to say 'You need these colours' or 'it has to look like that'. I've been around enough to know that a good designer is just a guide, leading folks up the mountain, helping them visualise their own idea, not the designer's own whims.

One of the main advantages I have is that I'm multi-disciplined. I can do graphic, web and illustration, to cover all the bases that a project might need. Also motion graphics when needed. Certainly with this one, the character of 'Liza Beenelli' had be revised and re-designed a few times over the years.

Manchester Graphic Design

There are some amazing apps out there that really help speed things along in terms of getting works done. I'm now offering canva for slide decks and some other design services.

If you've heard of it, Canva is a way to let a designer do wth design work, while giving a client access to make changes without breaking the overall design of a piece - similar to how websites work, but for offline media like slide decks and print.

Links:
Greater Manchester Fringe
More branding samples