My journey to Spark – Thomas McInally

My Journey to Spark is back – we’ve some new faces to introduce to you. First up, Thomas McInally (Thom).

Thom, tell us a bit about who you are and what you do at Spark?

Hello, I’m Thom! I joined Spark in September 2024 as a Senior Designer. There’s tonnes of variety in what we work on — you have to think on your feet and adapt when necessary — that’s what keeps this role exciting. My main focus is Brand Identity, but this design thinking can be applied to any creative brief.

My favourite part of the job is working with others, whether that’s the Spark team or clients themselves. Having conversations and bouncing ideas off each other can often lead to unexpected places that solve the root of a client’s brief, and maybe wider problems, too. This collaboration is something I’m always keen to foster, so I work closely with our design and accounts team throughout all stages of a project to get the best we can out of any brief.

What’s the best thing about working in the agency/creative industry space?

I would say it’s the general impact our industry can have. That impact may be the way we affect a person’s morning routine, or it could be how a global company operates — creative decisions can create genuine positive change regardless of scale. To be part of that process, with such a brilliant team, is what gets me out of bed.

Tell us a bit about your journey before Spark

I studied Graphic Design at UCLan up in Preston, interning both during and after my course at a few agencies, before landing a junior role at The Chase Creative Consultants. I was part of some cracking projects, with clients including Royal Mail, WaterAid and Woolwich Works. After nearly seven years there, I then moved to EDIT Brand Studio, who focus on the Arts and Culture sector. At EDIT, there were some massive projects, most notably the rebrand of the National Portrait Gallery in London. When that was released, I seemed to see it everywhere in the design world — I still get a big kick out of being part of that.

What was the biggest thing you learned from it? 

The team is everything. A team that can have a laugh, share ideas freely, and give support to one another will work hard to create great work no matter who the client is. Spark nails that — it’s a melting pot of different viewpoints and ideas that always creates work that feels fresh and on point.

Can you tell us an unpopular opinion?

Yorkshire puddings are the worst thing about a Sunday Dinner. Too much space, not much taste.

Finally, do you have a party trick or fun fact about yourself that you can share?

I travel abroad because of fingerboards, aka Tech Decks. It’s a tiny hobby that’s been a massive part of my life, and partly led me to choose a career in design.