My start with Northern Bear
I can only assume it’s normal to be filled with question marks and trepidation when you’re starting a new job. For most, it involves a significant shift in your day-to-day routine with lots of adjustments to factor in. I’d been at my previous job for close to a decade and had spent most of my adult life without facing the thought of what moving jobs really entailed. That was until I had the opportunity to join the Cave.
For me, any lingering nerves on my first day were quickly squashed before I was out of the car when I was greeted at the door by the smiling Chief Bear himself. This was followed by a tour of the office, a desk full of shiny new gadgets, and a personalised welcome booklet full of character and quirks that showed the team already knew what I needed to feel at home. They’d even included the local hardware stores on the surrounding map so I knew Screwfix was only a stone’s throw away! (I’m a DIY tinkerer who needs to know he can find spare parts when he breaks the now-non-working ones.)
Having spent my first week with the team, understanding their interests, hobbies, and processes, it was clear that I was surrounded by passionate, approachable individuals who cared about much more than just creating good design and showing up to work. They care about its purpose and the people who use it. The form and the function. The needs of the clients but also the needs of their clients’ clients. The enthusiasm and effort that go into each and every project to make it the best it can be showed me a team that really does want to do better for everyone.
Fast forward a few more weeks, and I already felt like a proud member of the sleuth. I’d been involved in winning proposals, client meetings, team workshops, website discoveries, and even squash with Chief Bear (although I was still new enough that I had to let him win…)
All in all, this short post only touches the surface of all the amazing things that being a member of Northern Bear brings. I can’t wait to see what great things lie ahead for myself and the team!
