Since April, Teletubbies have taken over the historic city of Gyeongju in South Korea, integrating the brand across public spaces, tourism assets and local commerce, including exclusive “Gyeongju Edition” merchandise.

The Teletubbies is also partnering with Korea’s National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Gwacheon from June through August, as part of the museum’s 40th-anniversary celebrations. The partnership will reimagine the Teletubbies through a curated exhibition featuring large-scale installations across the museum and outdoor spaces, complete with exclusive giveaways for guests.

The brand will continue its celebrations in Korea this summer with a Tubby takeover of the Starfield Balloon Festival through a partnership with Pepper&Salt, which will see Teletubbies-themed photo zones, character appearances and pop-up stores featuring products from Korean licensees.

Additionally, Spacetoon will launch the first Teletubbies appearance at the Qatar Toy Festival, running July 1st through to August 2nd at the Doha Exhibitions and Conventions Center.

In collectibles, Pop Mart will roll out new Teletubbies blind-boxes, ELSKA will launch new figurines to retail in China, while Monogram International is launching new Teletubbies figural keychains for fans around the world.

In apparel and accessories, Handcraft is set to launch Teletubbies underwear and loungewear, while ABG is on board for print-on-demand headwear and cold-weather accessories launching on Amazon. Additional partners for the US and Canada include Jay Franco and Sons for home and bedding, Isaac Morris Ltd. for apparel, and Centric Brands for launches across sleepwear, accessories and health and beauty.

In Japan, Moririn’s Beck and Call will launch a collaboration featuring bold graphics, while in Korea, a new partnership with Diadora will introduce a Teletubbies-branded sportswear collection for both kids and adults. Additionally, in the UK, Aykroyds & TDP Licensing Ltd will expand the brand’s presence with new products this year for children and adults across daywear, swimwear, dressing gowns, underwear and nightwear.

In food, Namu International will launch Teletubbies-themed confectionery across Korea this year, while in skincare, a collaboration will land in Korea this year. Across digital and gaming, a new partnership with Tencent in China will expand the franchise into mobile gaming.

“As we build towards the Teletubbies’ 30th anniversary, we’re significantly accelerating our content pipeline, licensing collaborations and a digital‑first strategy designed to connect with today’s preschool parents and young audiences across key global markets – particularly on platforms like YouTube, where the brand continues to engage millions of families each month,” said Erin Morris, VP Global Franchise Strategy & Retail at WildBrain.

“This always‑on approach is driving fresh discovery and sustained relevance for a new generation, while celebrating the joyful heritage that has made Teletubbies a global icon for three decades. With momentum building ahead of this major milestone, now is the time for partners to get on board the ‘Tubby train’ and unlock bold, colourful collaborations that tap into cultural nostalgia and celebrate 30 years of Big Hugs.”

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The Zsiga x Care Bears range merges ‘Zsiga’s signature cheeky personality’ with the Care Bears across 12 figures, while the six-piece Teletubbies ‘Say Hello’ collection translates the characters into Pop Mart’s popular vinyl plush bag charm format.

The Care Bears range includes one secret figure with a 1/144 chance of being drawn, while the Teletubbies series includes a secret figure with a one in 96 chance of being unboxed.

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Game studio Smobler is launching the Teletubbies: Custard Chaos digital game on The Sandbox this month, while POP MART collectibles landed in over 500 POP MART stores worldwide this Spring.

In South Korea, MISSHA launched Teletubbies-themed ampoules and eye shadows, with further collections on the way, while streetwear brand Laugher has launched apparel and accessories. Also, plush partner Bbyong Bbyong has new launches in the pipeline for South Korea, while Photosim launched the first two of its Teletubbies-inspired photo frames.

Elsewhere, Loungefly is set to launch its newest range of Teletubbies inspired accessories this month, while Cakeworthy recently launched apparel and accessories. In addition, a collaboration with Trixie Mattel will see a co-branded Teletubbies cosmetics line arrive soon, while LA artist ONCH is set to debut wearable art accessories and novelties later this year.

Five Below will launch a direct-to-retail apparel and accessories range in the US, as well as supporting The Loyal Subjects line of Teletubbies collectibles at retail this summer. In addition, Tee Turtle is unveiling reversible plush available from June, while Jay Franco is onboard for home décor, beach and travel.

“As we drive towards the Teletubbies 30th anniversary, we’re focused on bringing ‘big hugs’ with big ambitions to fans around the world,” said Erin Morris, VP, Global Franchise Strategy & Retail at WildBrain.

“We’re tapping into the nostalgic roots of Teletubbies as we harness cross-category licensing growth in broader markets across North America, Latin America, Asia and Europe. Supported by an expansive content offering and robust social media following, the love for Tinky Winky, Laa-Laa, Dipsy and Po continues to grow. We have great plans in the months and years ahead, with more new content in development, fantastic licensing partners signing up in all major territories and celebratory brand activations.”

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For anyone new to the House of Teletubbies Art Takeover, can you talk us through the initiative?
WildBrain’s Teletubbies are officially entering their ‘Art Era’. This September we invited fans to embrace the colourful quartet in an entirely new way at our House of Teletubbies London: Art Takeover. 15 Bateman Street, Soho was transformed into a captivating celebration of creativity, nostalgia, and artistic expression with iconic characters –Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po – stepping into the world of fine art! The event sparked inspiration for a new generation of artists and reconnected fans of all ages with the joy and imagination of childhood.

“At each location, new artists and fresh interpretations will be added to the collection.”

The young and young-at-heart were able to get involved in workshops, interactive installations, Teletubbies-themed activities and even meet the Teletubbies themselves! With activities ranging from doodling on giant canvases to creating Teletubbies-inspired accessories, the event offered fans the chance to reconnect with their own childhood while experiencing the whimsical joy of the Teletubbies in a new and inspiring context.

What steered who you approached to create art for the London event? And will new artists be added as this travels?
We partnered with a host of internationally acclaimed and emerging artists, with the exhibition featuring a curated collection of Teletubbies-inspired artwork across a variety of mediums. Some of the incredible artists, illustrators and designers featured we’ve previously collaborated with – such as Christian Cowan, ONCH, Will Marsten and MurWalls. Others were new partners who were fans of the Teletubbies already, such as Austin Call and Ben Gore – or those who we felt could bring the brand to life through art in a new and fresh way, like Stella Lin.

The next stop on the tour sees the Teletubbies head to Art Basel in Miami this month, followed by more cities still to be announced. At each location, new artists and fresh interpretations will be added to the collection, ensuring a constantly evolving experience that keeps fans engaged and inspired.

“This tour is about more than just nostalgia.”

It’s striking how varied the pieces are. What is it about these characters that you feel lends itself to this broad scope of artistic expression?
For the past 27 years, the Teletubbies have continued to engage new audiences, reminding us of the universal desire to connect, play and explore. The exhibition aimed to celebrate this timeless connection by merging the worlds of art and heritage, reminding us that the creativity we held as children never fades – it merely evolves.

The Teletubbies are the perfect muses for reinvention through art, and this multi-sensory experience invited fans to step into a world where whimsical characters meet bold artistic vision – a place where our favourite childhood friends come to life in ways we’ve never imagined.

This tour is about more than just nostalgia; it’s about bridging the gap between generations, using art as a medium to celebrate wonder and discovery. As the Teletubbies evolve alongside modern culture, their universal message of friendship, curiosity and play remains timeless. Whether you grew up watching the show or have only recently discovered these icons, these art gallery events serve as a reminder of the boundless creativity of childhood that’s still within us all.

Can you talk us through some pieces that have resonated with you so far?
There were so many hugely talented artists with such different and unique takes on the Teletubbies that it would be impossible to choose a favourite! In fact, we have commissioned additional artwork from multiple artists that were showcased in London – each of them truly brought so much joy to their interpretations of the Teletubbies and brought to life the essence of the brand, which is all about wonder and discovery! This tour and the focus on art is meant to inspire and celebrate our fandom. We’ve loved seeing the growth in user generated content both at our activations and on social media, from make-up and fashion to art and design.

Last question! What fuels your creativity?
Working on brands like the Teletubbies that have wonder and discovery at their heart inspires so much creativity! Seeing our fandom’s response to the Teletubbies, in both the digital and physical space, drives us to build moments that bring constant joy to kids and ‘kidults’, whether through content, across our social platforms or through in-person activations.

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Yes, on Teletubbies, there’s been a lot of activity for that brand in fashion. Why does it suit the category?
The Teletubbies have always inspired fashion at the heart of the brand’s storytelling and content. Who could forget Tinky Winky’s signature red bag or Dipsy’s statement cow-print hat? The bright, cheery colours and the variation of shapes – from the rounded, rolling hills in Teletubbyland to their iconic antennae – alongside the Teletubbies’ own embracing of ‘colouring outside the lines’… It has created a real freedom to play in the fashion space, particularly in the footwear category.

KOI launched an eye-catching Teletubbies footwear collection at the end of last year. What made them an exciting partner for the brand?
KOI is a known leader in the industry for breaking the boundaries of design. They stand strongly behind their ethics and aesthetics, with creativity at the core of what they do. They also have their heritage in the UK, making them the perfect partner for our colourful quartet.

“KOI is a known leader in the industry for breaking the boundaries of design.”

When you look at the Teletubbies collection they’ve created, it’s both fashion-forward and approachable, with designs that allow the wearer to show off their fandom and spark conversation. Targeted at Gen Z – the original Teletubbies audience – KOI’s range features silhouettes that are both edgy and sweet, bringing the Teletubbies to a kidult audience while not losing sight of the innocent joyfulness of the brand.

Can you talk us through some of your favourite design details on this piece?
I love the juxtaposition of the plush Teletubby material balanced with the black vegan leather and metal detailing. The design is extremely wearable for a broad audience and allows consumers to show off their love for the Teletubbies.

My favourite part is the pure joy that the shoes illicit when you first see them and the unexpected contrast of the silhouette with the smiling Dipsy. The wearer has the absolute delight of bringing their favourite childhood friend to accompany them throughout their day.

Elizabeth, thanks again!

KOI’s Founder and Creative Director Uzair Ahmad and Footwear Designer Madeline Wood talk us through their side of the Teletubbies collaboration.

Guys, thanks for making time. What was the design process on this Teletubbies project?
Uzair Ahmad: With Teletubbies, it was going back, watching some of the episodes and trying to see the message the show was conveying to children. The next step was to figure out how to translate this into a collection aimed at adults; the age group we are targeting will have watched the show as children but are now grown up. We wanted to take the fun, playful, friendship-centred show and add certain elements that would make a design wearable for adults.

We also wanted to play on nostalgia, with a modern twist. We looked at examples of childlike, soft elements and bright colour palettes in adult fashion to help us imagine how to achieve this.

What are some of your favourite design details in the collection?
Madeline Wood: The design details are fun and unexpected – for example the plush materials recall both the Teletubbies original costumes and the Teletubbies plushies many of us had growing up, playing on the childhood nostalgia aspect of the brand. As further references to these familiar toys, we have the plush Dipsy head on the side of one of the boots, taking something traditionally aimed at a child but elevating it to a kidult space. In contrast to this we have used black vegan leather, studs, chains and chunkier silhouettes. This allows us to incorporate grownup details, while still honouring the age of the demographic of our brand.

Thanks guys!

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“The fonts used in the collection were actually the characters’ handwriting.”

How would you describe your approach to design?
I am inspired by strong women, people around me that pave the way for change and icons of pop culture throughout various decades.

Speaking of pop culture icons, let’s talk Teletubbies! Did you already have a connection to the brand in any way prior to this partnership? Were you a fan?
I’ve been a fan of the Teletubbies since I was a child, so getting to work with them as an adult has been the perfect nostalgic partnership. I think a lot of the fans resonate with that nostalgia too! Tinky Winky actually came to visit me at my show during New York Fashion week in 2021 and we’ve all been great friends ever since!

Good to know – I might send you some questions to pass on! Now, there’s lots of strings you could pull on when it comes to designing a Teletubbies collection… The shapes, the colours, the characters, the Nineties – which brand elements jumped out as being key to your collection?
I think the main concept I ideated with around the collaboration was celebrating the Teletubbies’ personalities and also bringing them into a high-fashion space, hence the Nineties-style supermodel photoshoot!

From the fonts to the imagery, it’s a striking collection. How did you ensure these designs feel very on brand for you, as well as for Teletubbies? 
The fonts used were actually the characters’ handwriting. Iconic shows like the Teletubbies come with an archival catalogue as such, so it was fun to be able to pull from that and include those graphic signatures. Layered over the imagery, I think it made the whole design feel balanced between high-fashion and wearable pieces.

Absolutely. I have one last question – what fuels your creativity?
I’m very much inspired by icons that have an influence on pop culture.

Christian, congrats on your Teletubbies range and thanks again for taking time out for a chat.

The post Designer Christian Cowan on bringing Teletubbies into high fashion appeared first on Brands Untapped.

The range features the Teletubbies in signature fashion poses printed on hoodies, t-shirts and denim. Cowan has also created a pair of knee-high boots in neon green plush fabric, in tribute to Dipsy.

“I grew up watching the Teletubbies, so being able to combine that nostalgia with my passion for fashion is a dream come true,” said Christian Cowan.

“The characters’ fun, playful personalities match my own design aesthetic, so I’m excited to launch this new collection to show the Teletubbies in a new light and celebrate them as the stars that they are.”

Jim Fielding, Chief Marketing and Brands Officer at WildBrain, added: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be partnering with Christian on this new Teletubbies fashion line. Christian’s vision as a designer is unparalleled, and his playful, creative sensibilities are an ideal match for the Teletubbies.

“At WildBrain, we want to ensure all Teletubbies fans have the opportunity to celebrate their love for the brand, both on and off screen. Christian has created an innovative and stylish line that adult fans are sure to love, while younger fans now have plenty of new opportunities to engage with Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po through our new content on Netflix and YouTube.”

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The range includes four different Mary Jane styles, each based around a different Teletubby, as well as a line of Platform Boots in the character’s colours.

Elsewhere, the Tubbytronic Dipsy Boots are ‘Teletubbies meets goth’, with the vegan boots adorned with silver chains and a Dipsy head.

The Teletubbies Superdrome Military Boots features graphics of all the Teletubbies, while Noo Noo has also been given the boots treatment with a pair that comes complete with a velcro strap of Noo Noo’s eyes, chunky platform sole and silver detailing.

Check out the collection below:

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Proceeds from sales of the collection will benefit GLAAD to support its culture-changing work to accelerate acceptance for the LGBTQ community.

We caught up with Tanya Mann, Global Brand Creative at WildBrain, to learn more about the design of the range – and what made Teletubbies a perfect fit for Pride.

Hi Tanya, great to connect! To kick us off, lots of people say they ‘fell’ into licensing. How did you start out working in the world of brands?
My journey into the world of licensing began during my time at Mattel. I was originally on the manufacturing side of the business but then switched over to licensing after becoming fascinated with how a global brand in a single category – in this case, toys – could be translated and expanded into a wide range of cross-category consumer products.

It’s a wonderful and thought-provoking challenge to find creative ways to connect with a brand’s core consumer with licensed products that touch every part of their daily life – right from the moment they pick up their toothbrush through to the time they go to bed.

You are Global Brand Creative at WildBrain. What does that entail?
I oversee the creative for all our franchise brands, with the exception of Peanuts. This is really all about spotting popular content from WildBrain’s catalogue and then vetting their potential to become a global IP with multiple consumer touchpoints.

The Teletubbies are all about bright colours, psychedelic visuals, joy and fluidity, and so connecting the brand with celebrating Pride Month felt like a natural reach.

Once we’ve identified a show that we think has what it takes, my role is focused on transforming it into a brand and exploring the creative core of it, as this is the framework for turning it into a potential franchise. This vision then gets turned into actual tools, such as assets and pitching documents, which are then shared with multiple departments across WildBrain’s global organisation to sell and market the show, as well as licensing the brand.

Great stuff. Right, let’s dive into the exciting Teletubbies Pride collection. What makes the Teletubbies brand a good fit for Pride?
The Teletubbies have always embraced their own offbeat quirkiness and sense of style, and we wanted to celebrate that ‘love who you are’ spirit through a colourful collection that would make Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po very proud.

The Teletubbies are all about bright colours, psychedelic visuals, joy and fluidity, and so connecting the brand with celebrating Pride Month felt like a natural reach. It also gave us scope to explore who the Teletubbies characters really are as, up until now, they’ve been largely unidentified and single-layered, so we’ve had a chance now to really dive down into their identities.

It was also important to us that we were giving back to create change, so it was a privilege to partner with GLAAD and support this year’s Pride Month through profits from the collection.

Absolutely. Talk us through the design of the range; what were some of the key decisions that helped shape the collection?
We wanted to make sure the collection was fashion-forward and wearable for adults, while still being playful. We didn’t want to utilise full character graphics in the collection, so we kept things slightly more subtle by honing in on some of the brand’s iconic symbols – particularly the Teletubbies’ antennas, which really are instantly recognisable throughout pop culture.

We placed the antenna symbols onto the words ‘Big Hugs. Big Love.’ which are used across the collection. We also used them in the designs of items, adding them to the stripes on the socks and the sling bag to add a pop of playfulness. The signature Teletubbies colours – red, yellow, purple and green – occur across the collection to create our very own rainbow flag.

You’ll see the catchphrase ‘Big Love. Big Hugs.’ used across the products, which came about when we were designing the core brand assets for Teletubbies. We really loved the phrase ‘Big Hugs’ that’s taken directly from the show’s vernacular and really encapsulates the celebratory and united nature of the Teletubbies. We then added ‘Big Love’ to create what we think is the perfect message of self-acceptance and inclusivity for Pride Month.

With Teletubbies being associated with the Nineties, were there any trends from the decade that you weaved into the range?
Yes! With the Teletubbies show born in the Nineties, it seemed fitting to go a little Nineties with the design, while still keeping it wearable, comfortable and appropriate for the month of June and beyond.

As such, we went in the direction of sportswear and included iconic products from the decade, such as a sling bag, vest and bucket hat.

This line also marks the first Teletubbies fashion collection for adults. Do you think there’s potential for the brand to do more in this space?
Definitely! There’s certainly strong adult appeal to the brand, particularly with those Nineties kids who either are now parents themselves or have Gen Z nostalgia for shows they grew up with. We think there’s great scope to give these adult fans the chance to re-live the show through some really fun and unique Teletubbies products. Watch this space – eh-oh!

Ha! I was wondering when we’d get an ‘eh-oh!’ in! Tanya, this has been great. One last question to wrap things up: How do you fuel your creativity?
Fuel for creativity is everywhere. I think the key is to live creatively in all aspects of your life and be open to inspiration from all around you – not just in consumerism, but in human behaviour, nature and nostalgia. I think Maya Angelou sums it up perfectly in one of my all-time favourite quotes: “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.”

Perfect! Thanks again Tanya, and congrats again on the Teletubbies Pride range.

The post WildBrain’s Tanya Mann on supporting Pride Month with Teletubbies’ first ever adult fashion collection appeared first on Brands Untapped.

Interesting! Did you have a favourite product from those days?
My favourite product that I designed was a football! There was a lot of maths involved in that – as there is in all pattern design. With footballs, though, you have to work out how the pattern tessellates on the sections. I also got to work with the Adidas football team who are awesome.

You know, it’s never occurred to me that people have to design footballs, with maths, as they tessellate hexagons! I’m curious, then: how did you get into licensing?
Like most people, I fell into it. After freelancing for a while – and having a terrible time – a friend sent me the job vacancy for Mr. Men & Little Miss at Fluid World. Knowing my personality, she thought I’d be perfect for it. I loved the characters so much as a kid and I thought why not.

Well! That begs the question… So we understand your personality, which Little Miss or Mr. Man are you most like?
Ahh! Mr.Men & Little Miss… I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart. I won the Little Miss Sunshine award while at Fluid World, and I’d say we’re kindred spirits. Like her, I’m an eternal optimist and love nature to bits. Also, I’m obsessed with the colour yellow and made sure I included it in my company branding. My favourite shade is Pantone 123c… It speaks to me that, in the words of Harry Styles, “Everything’s going to be golden.”

Great answer! See, now I feel we know you… That should be my go-to question. So – you applied? And got an interview?
Yes! And I very clearly remember it! It was with Libby Grant now of The Ambassador Theatre Group, and James McKnight from The Blair Partnership. We had such a fun chat about creativity, our approaches to design, and what licensing was. Within an hour of leaving the interview, I got a call from James – and the rest is history.

And your recent history was heading up the creative team at Wildbrain CPLG. Their brands include Peanuts, Teletubbies, and Inspector Gadget… Where did you focus your attention?
I always managed the brand / licensor requirements in line with our internal business needs. I had regular meetings with our Key Account Directors and the sales teams… They’re the on-the-ground experts, so I’d ascertain and define what those needs were as they can vary from one territory to another. I also created bespoke strategies, tapping into trends to ensure my team was strategic in its approach to maximize revenue opportunities. I also made time to develop long-term creative strategic approaches.

Can you give me an example of the kind of thing?
Sure! I’d be talking to licensors about key dates they needed to hit, and how we could roll out creative directions, develop new guides or curate look books in house to support this. I strongly believe it’s important for commercial and creative departments to work in harmony.

And what else do you believe? Or maybe I should say: what else did you learn there that still serves you today?
Wow! There’ve been so many lessons over the years that have got me to where am I now… The key ones would be: listen to your gut intuition: it’s right 99.999999% of the time. Build relationships with people… I’m not a fan of the word networking. I prefer to make friends with like-minded people, in the hope we can collaborate, because that’s what makes work fun… Working with fun, like-minded people and being inspired by others.

“Listen to your gut intuition: it’s right 99.999999% of the time”

Okay! So not networking, but building relationships… Anything else?
Pay it forward – by which I mean respond to a person’s kindness by being kind to someone else. I just think it’s important to help your community, both creative and licensing. With lots of people losing their jobs or being furloughed, helping people out, or connecting them with someone that might be able to help is more important now more than ever before.

It’s great to hear that being said with sincerity. So let me ask you this: what, in your view, is the secret to having a great idea for a brand?
I have a strong belief that everyone has the ability to be creative and have incredible ideas. It’s all about nurturing that part of your brain. My approach to creating ideas for brands hasn’t happened overnight. It’s taken years of nurturing.

And for you, what kind of things DO nurture that part of the brain?
Things that have helped me, personally… Meditation. Being in nature… Surrounding myself with content and creative stimulus. I say that, but not overwhelming myself; balance is key! And being inquisitive; not being afraid to ask questions.

In terms of your creative process, then, how does that go?
When pitching for a new IP, I always start by immersing myself in the brand. This isn’t simply reading a brand deck. To be brutally honest, I find connecting with a factual deck much harder that connecting with visuals or emotive language.

What do you do to connect like that?
So if it’s animation or entertainment based, I’ll watch the content, then start the internet trawl and find anything that connects with me emotionally. Then I see if this might have the ability to connect with other people as well. For example, I’m currently working with the creator of the 80’s classic The Racoons.

Ralph, Melissa, Cyril Sneer… Now we’re talking?!
Right? So when I started on this brand, I watched the content, which was a joy, and so much fun reliving my childhood and calling it “work”. Then I thought about the current trend for Racoons, the animal on platforms like Tiktok, and Instagram Reels, and felt what licensing needs right now is some joy and fun. The Raccoons is perfect for this moment.

So to some extent, it starts with very intuitive research. What’s next?
My next step is to flesh out the core themes and start to dream! Like Dora the Explorer says, “Dream big”. I’m a total dreamer so this is how I approach creative… I ask myself, “What would I do with this brand if there were no restrictions?”

This is still instinctive, or intuitive? It’s based on what you feel?
Yes, mostly. When a consumer sees a product in store, it’s often the emotional connection that moves them to buy the product. So this is usually my approach. Obviously there are exceptions to the rule; for example like when I worked on utilitarian/functional brands.

“I always ask myself: What would I do with this brand if there were no restrictions?”

Conversely, then, what is the death of creativity? What kills it stone dead?
I don’t think there’s ever a death to creativity, but there are some road blocks which I always refer to as challenges. And all creatives love a challenge! Sometimes a project might be monotonous or drag on… But I’d always say to my team, “Let’s switch things up and make things fun again”, or “What’s a different approach we can take?”

You don’t just push through the pain?!
No, because if we find the approach boring or uninspiring then, nine times out of ten, the consumer will see this reflected in product. I’m also a strong believer in empowering and inspiring all designers and creatives. If they’re forgotten about in the back studio, slogging out lots of designs, it’s often hard to keep them motivated. I believe a day out of the office – or virtual office – seeing this is so important.

So what would be a good thing to do? What would be motivating?
Obviously, in our current climate it’s much harder – if not impossible – to go to a museum, a fun pop-up store or an event… So I look for the creative joys to keep things exciting For example, looking at font choices to local stores. I love doing this, there are so many technically bad ones! I almost love them and find them cool in their own way. Like Regina George from Mean Girls says, “Fugly”! Inspiration is everywhere, but it’s important to step away from the desk.

Brilliant. You’re now the Creative Director of Sophie Bloomfield Consultancy. Tell me about that. What do you want to achieve?
I came to a point in my career where I wanted more autonomy to try things out, take more risks and try new things. During the 2020 pandemic I realized life is too short to say “What if” so I thought “It’s now or never.” So I parted ways with WildBrain CPLG and created my own creative consultancy.

Over 2020 I had the pleasure to work closely with the WildBrain brands team on the social media campaign for Teletubbies adults. It gave me great insight into what’s missing in the licensing model, social marketing, and e-commerce tie-ups between brand owner, retailer and their community/consumer. So a big part of my company’s development will be in the digital space, offering licensors 360 creative strategies for the new world. I’m also continuing with my key areas of expertise: trend-forecast reports, retail pitching and execution, connecting like minds… Fashion collaborations, brand strategic-creative direction.

No danger of you being bored by the sound of it! Tell me, then: if you could wave a magic wand and make it happen, with what kind of clients would you love to work?
The kind of clients I’d love to work with are the ones that want to collaborate, and are open minded about trying new things. There are a few dream projects which I’m currently working on – so watch this space!

Are there any things you’re working on that you can talk about?
One thing I can talk about is my fantastic client, The Raccoons, created by Kevin Gillis, Run with Us Productions. I’m helping his team on a variety of things, but starting with a focus on fashion and trend forecasting for The Raccoons brand. I’m also on the advisory board for a fantastic charity called Wastebusters, founded by Katy Newnham…

This rings a bell! Educational media? How small change helps the planet?
Yes! The overall goal is to educate children on the how’s and why’s of recycling and caring for our planet. There’s a fantastic webinar coming up, so keep your eyes out on social-media platforms for news on that exciting virtual event.

Great stuff! Sophie. I’m going to put a picture in there – a link to your site – and start wrapping this up! Just a couple more things… First, what one question haven’t I asked you that I should have?
Hmmmm. I think maybe: “What has Covid shown you?” or even, “Why set up your own company during a global pandemic and recession?!”

Great! And if I asked, what would be the answers?
What Covid has shown me is the importance of work/life balance… It’s helped me set boundaries, and curated my time effectively and efficiently, so things are more in balance. It’s not perfect, but it’s getting there… Making time for your friends and family is so important. I’ve come to fully realize that if you’re not having fun, you need to re-think things. We need to work with kindness, treat people well, and not sweat the small stuff. And last of all, we need to work to live, not live to work.

Wow! Terrific. Do you know, I wish I’d finished on that question it’s not gonna get fed up with that! One last thing, then… What’s the funniest thing you’ve done for a brand?
The Funniest thing was at Fluid World where myself and Alexandra Filletti of Viacom CBS ended up stranded in a snow storm trying to get to Alton Towers for a Hello Kitty themed event with the Merlin Group. No spoilers, but it was THE most random work trip of all time! Probably deserves some sort of Sanrio award. We survived to tell the tale…

I look forward to hearing more about it! We’ll put a link to the website in here, by the way, so people can find out more. And that’s it… Sophie Bloomfield, thank you so much!

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The post Sophie Bloomfield on inspiring designers – and launching a business in the pandemic appeared first on Brands Untapped.