Meet the team

Hoffi has four key team members each with a distinctive and unique background in design.

Carwyn Lloyd Jones

Carwyn edits #1 a Welsh design magazine set up to inform and highlight the achievements of Welsh design(ers). Hailing from North Wales where he returned after graduating from the University of Staffordshire, to work for Bikefax, an award-winning guidebook publishers. During his time there he was principal designer responsible for the design and look of all of their design work.

Carwyn moved down to Cardiff to broaden his career by working for one of the leading Design Agencies, working with clients such as Welsh National Opera, producing books and other marketing collateral. Since cofounding Hoffi it has been Carwyn’s drive to push the awareness of the Welsh Language that has lead to his award winning work on the ‘Having a say’ book for the Advisory Centre for Education. Carwyn was also short listed in the 2007 Menter Awards, which is a scheme set up by Menter a Busnes that rewards Welsh Speakers who run their own businesses and successful companies that use the Welsh Language. He is also regularly asked by BBC Radio Cymru on his thoughts on design matters, and is an active member in the Design Scene in Cardiff. Carwyn has most recently worked with National Museum Wales and Cytun.

Personal goals - Really wants to go on Dragon’s Den and try and get investment into his perpetual motion machine.

See Carwyn's blog at http://carwynlloyd.blogspot.com/ 

Julian Sykes

Julian Sykes is an award winning designer. Since graduating from Leeds Metropolitan University, Julian set up his own furniture company called jåfor where he worked with SU-SU a Japanese furniture company on a number of products for their flagship store in Tokyo. Since moving back to Cardiff Julian worked at one of the leading design agencies in Cardiff, working on projects for Welsh Assembly Government, Welsh Development Agency and the Welsh National Opera. During this time Julian was recognised by the Western Mail as on of the most influential young Designers in Wales, when his furniture pieces featured in The Cardiff Design Festival Showcase 2006 and also at London Design Festival.

As a regular member of the Cardiff Design Forum Julian cofounded the community website www.nakedwales.com in a response to try and create a stronger design community in Cardiff and Wales. Since setting up Hoffi Julian has worked with a wide range of clients, and has a proven track record in project management and is at his best when faced with a challenge. Most recently he has worked on campaigns for the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Design Festival and Community Housing Cymru. Julian has also been working with Calon Wen, on how brand loyalty can be maintained post purchase.

Personal goals - To try and do a Rubix cube in less than 5 minutes.

See Julian's blog at http://julianmarshallsykes-branding.blogspot.com/

Andrew Thomas

Andrew has a long and respected standing in the Welsh design community. Since graduating from the University of Glamorgan he has worked with some of Wales’ most respected design agencies and shown support for Welsh design through his involvement with the Cardiff Design Festival and co-founding the art and design community – Naked Wales.

Since co-founding Hoffi, Andrew has worked with a wide variety of clients and has most recently been involved in the health and educational sectors with his work on Wales Air Ambulance - Golden Hour Challenge fund raising campaign and West Wales Eco Centre’s Climate Change Web site (www.climatechangewales.org.uk), which aims to educate and inform Welsh children about the effects of climate change.

As well as his love for design Andrew has a love for photography, recently taking time out to travel across America where he fulfilled a dream of driving along route 66. He came back with some great images and some fantastic stories, which have kept everyone amused for the last year.

Personal goals - Really hoping to find his green fingers ready for spring and next year’s vegetable crop, as this year was a little poor.

See Andrew's blog at andrew-thomas.co.uk

Elin Williams

Elin was brought up on a farm in North Wales and moved to Cardiff in 2004, she graduated in 2008 with a BA Contemporary Textile Practice from University of Wales Institute Cardiff, where she experienced printed textiles, embroidery, stitch, digital, papermaking and mixed media. Specialising as a studio designer during the course; working with fashion, fabrics and surface pattern design for furnishings, hard surfaces and paper. Which were selected for a final exhibit in Bute Space Gallery and New Designers, London.

Whilst in University, Elin won the National Welsh embroidery Scholarship, which enabled her to exhibit work with embroidery Wales. Elin has also taken part in the National Eisteddfod over many years, exhibiting her work to the many visitors to the annual festival. Elin has a love for making hand-made products for friends in her spare time.

Personal goals - really like to live the life of Carrie Bradshaw for the day and also really needs to stop collecting boxes