Who

At Sparks, we have a strong core team, supported by a network of regular collaborators and freelancers with specialist skills – some technical, some creative.

The owners, Gary McIlwaine and Michael Gough, work with all clients on all projects. They are responsible for delivering clients' work on time and within budget.

Gary started out at a design studio in Belfast in the 1990s, after training as a graphic designer. He came to London to work for a new media company in 1999 and established Sparks as a professional design studio in 2003.

Michael's background is in fine art. Before founding Sparks with Gary in 2003, he spent nine years working in the charity sector while continuing to develop his art.

Prof. Calvin Seerveld has absolutely no connection with Sparks. But he has given us a great deal of inspiration. And he once set down a challenge that gave Sparks its name – "fire your art, until it emits sparks that warm, or burn, those it reaches"