As Angel & Anchor hits double digits, Ben Connolly looks back at and sums up the last 10 years

From its humble beginnings as a one-man operation to becoming a respected name in expressive, personality-driven branding, Angel & Anchor’s journey is one that TBI has been thrilled to follow. As the Belfast-based design studio celebrates its 10th anniversary, we sat down with Founder & Creative Director Ben Connolly to reflect on this decade of creative evolution. And what a decade it’s been! In this comprehensive interview, Connolly looks back on the studio’s growth, vital lessons learned, and his shift from hands-on designer to Creative Director. In the run-up to revealing Angel & Anchor’s refreshed brand identity and new website, he also reflects on how both the studio and he himself have transformed over the years – from wrestling with perfectionism to embracing collaboration and nurturing meaningful, long-lasting relationships. PT: Hi Ben, WOW – 10 years of Angel & Anchor! Does it really feel like it’s been a decade? BC: I know. It’s been a wild ride so far! In a lot of ways, it doesn’t feel like that long ago when we were celebrating five years. That was the big driving force in the early days of the studio, a bigger goal than revenue. I left my full-time job as a community youth worker to start A&A with no professional or educational experience. I didn’t know much back then but I did know that if we could just get to five then there’s a good chance we can make another five. All of a sudden we’re here.