Building a creative studio from scratch. 

Create Agency @ Boomsatsuma

Providing vision, structure and leadership for a graduate-led agency delivering live client work. Preparing and launching the agency, and growing its client base to create a sustainable model.

The problem

A creative education organisation wanted graduates to leave with genuine industry experience, but needed a structure, identity and creative vision to make that ambition a sustainable reality.

The possibility

The goal wasn't simply to simulate agency life; it was to create it. By establishing a professional creative studio within the education programme, students could gain confidence, credibility and commercial experience through live client work.

Ongoing creative thinking, direction, making

As Independent Creative Director, I shaped the vision, strategy and operating model for Create Studio, developing its identity while mentoring emerging creatives. I secured clients including Sirona Health (NHS), Young Carers and Bath Spa University, overseeing creative quality, client relationships and project delivery.

The impact

Create Studio launched successfully, with a sustainable client pipeline, providing students with meaningful commercial experience and establishing a model for future graduate-led studios. As a result, Creative Studio is doubling in size to 25 people.

"Toby brought clarity to the vision, provided an effective working model, and led the studio with calm, thoughtful creativity. Drawing on decades of experience, he is generous, perceptive, and easy to work with; he gave both our clients and our emerging team the confidence to do their best work. As a result, we are planning to double the size of our studio. "

Elliot Lamb. Projects and Business Development Manager. Boomsatsuma
A woman and a man are working together at a table in an indoor setting, possibly an office or classroom. The woman is seated and the man is leaning over, both focused on a piece of paper on the table.
A digital graphic with the phrase 'Create Agency' at the top left, an illustration of a person taking a photo with a camera at the bottom left, and a large illustration of a film camera in the center. The background features a light green pattern with pink and blue decorative elements.
A woman with curly gray hair, wearing red earrings, is engaged in an art activity, possibly flower arranging, at a table with art supplies. Several people are around her, and some are recording or taking photos of her activity. There are framed artworks and notes on the white walls in the background, and a large flower arrangement is also on the table.
Hand-drawn notes and sketches on white paper, including instructions for using a toolkit and a doodle of multiple faces with various expressions.
Two men wearing headphones, sitting on a fuzzy orange chair, with a dark background and dim lighting.
A group of six people standing indoors in front of a wall decorated with colourful posters for theatrical and musical performances. The group are wearing Lanyards reading Boomsatsuma and appear to be at an event or gathering, smiling at the camera.
A young man and woman sit at a table in a tech workspace, one showing the other a professional video camera. The table has coloured pencils, paper, and a small notebook, with multiple computer monitors and office equipment visible in the background.
A woman is sitting outdoors on a log under a tree, speaking during an interview. Two people are standing nearby; one is holding a camera, and the other is operating audio equipment. The scene is set in a grassy, rural area with open fields in the background.
Three young men preparing to film in a small studio with a whiteboard wall, camera equipment, and a gray couch.
Person working on graphic design at a computer with a screen displaying the text 'Create Agency.'
A group of people in an office or classroom setting with multiple computer workstations. Some are sitting and working, others are listening to a person speaking at the front. The room has a white brick wall, a large window with blinds, and a green emergency exit sign.

Want to turn a problem into a possibility?

Let's talk