Note: This article was last updated on January 3, 2023 and may contain outdated information.
Today we’re introducing Max Saunders, who joins Mutual as our Creative Director.
This is a significant addition to the team. As we’ve grown, so has the complexity and ambition of the projects we take on. Having someone dedicated to maintaining creative excellence across our work, while helping shape the strategic direction of client projects, marks an important evolution for Mutual.
Creative Leadership
Max brings over a decade of experience leading creative teams and shaping digital products for clients ranging from cultural institutions to tech startups. What impressed us most wasn’t just the quality of work in his portfolio, but the clarity of thinking behind it. He articulates why certain creative decisions matter, how they serve business objectives, and where they create value beyond mere aesthetics.
His role at Mutual encompasses both hands-on creative direction and strategic oversight. He’ll be working directly with clients to understand their challenges, translating business goals into creative strategies, and ensuring our design work consistently meets the standards we’ve set for ourselves.
Raising the Bar
Good creative direction isn’t about imposing a singular vision. It’s about establishing frameworks that allow great work to emerge, asking the right questions at the right moments, and knowing when to push for something better versus when to ship what works.
Max understands that balance. He’s comfortable challenging assumptions, including his own, and he values collaboration over hierarchy. That fits well with how we operate here, where the best ideas can come from anyone on the team.
What This Means
For our clients, Max’s arrival means more strategic creative thinking from the start of projects. He’ll be involved in shaping how we approach briefs, what questions we ask, and how we frame problems before jumping to solutions.
For the team, it means having someone dedicated to maintaining creative quality across all our work, providing guidance and feedback, and helping everyone develop their skills. Max is genuinely invested in making the people around him better at what they do.
Looking Ahead
The projects lined up for 2023 are some of the most interesting we’ve tackled. Having Max’s creative leadership as we navigate these challenges feels like excellent timing. His fresh perspective, combined with his experience, will influence not just individual projects but how we think about our work more broadly.
We’re genuinely excited to see how Max shapes the creative direction of Mutual over the coming months and years. Welcome aboard, Max.