Join us on Thursday 19th November in Bristol as we break down barriers to the creative industry and give traditional ‘mentoring’ a fun twist with the brand design agency, Taxi Studio.
Their wonderful creative team have volunteered their evening to speak with emerging creatives to answer your burning questions, provide some snappy portfolio feedback or just have a general chit-chat.
Event details
Location:
Taxi Studio, Bristol
Time:
Arrival from 6pm, kick-off at 6.30pm, wrap-up by 8.30pm
Date:
Thursday 19th November 2026
So what’s the twist?
Ever been speed dating? No? Neither have we…but the format still works! All mentees at this event will get the chance to speak to three different members of the Taxi team, rotating every 10 minutes, with small breaks in between to regroup.
You can be emerging at any age, so there’s no age limit on this event. If you have less than two years of industry experience, you can get involved!
Spaces are limited, so don’t hang about. Applications will close on Thursday 29th October 11pm GMT.
Meet the mentors
Meet the mentors
Gi James
Senior Account Manager
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Gi is a Senior Account Manager here at Taxi Studio, working across brands including Warburtons, Starbucks, Carlsberg, and Nestlè.
She had a slightly less conventional route into the industry, having started with a science degree. She always had a creative streak and brought these two worlds together by starting her career in medical and healthcare advertising.
Having worked across advertising and communications before brand and packaging, she’s experienced a few career pivots. She’s excited to share what she’s learnt and is especially keen to chat to anyone trying to figure out where they fit within an agency team.
Hallie Mitchell
Junior Designer
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Hallie joined Taxi as a Junior Designer last summer, after interning during her final year at Falmouth University.
She’s worked across a range of FMCG brands, from packaging and brand worlds to initial concepts and design development.
Being new to the industry herself, she knows it can feel daunting, so she's always happy to chat and share what she’s learnt along the way.
Sara Keegan
Senior Strategist
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Meet Sara, Senior Strategist at Taxi Studio. Sara cut her teeth in adland at London agencies like The&Partnership and Adam&EveTBWA, before pivoting into Brand and Digital when she moved to Amsterdam.
Having recently settled in Bristol, but continuing her career in Brand, Sara is proud to be working on global favourites like FuzeTea and local icons like Lovehoney.
She believes that marketeers have a duty of care for the general public. Because if business is one of the most powerful man-made forces, it should be used as a force for good, not just profit.
Sam Smith
Design Director
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Design Director originally from London, where he worked for studios like GBH, DesignStudio and Mother Design.
After moving to Somerset, he went out on his own, creating Villagers Studio, with a goal to bring joy to the branding journey.
Sam strives to create visually and emotionally engaging work, balancing thoughtful craft and adventurous design.
Ellen Moriarty
Associate Creative Director
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Ellen Moriarty is an Associate Creative Director at Taxi Studio, bringing over a decade of brand-building. She’s been at Taxi for two years, bringing big ambitions and transformative work to define culture-shaping design.
Before Taxi, Ellen spent eight years at Jones Knowles Ritchie, where she honed her craft in concept development, art direction and strategy - including leading the rebrand of the RSPCA.
Ellen thrives at the intersection of creativity and problem-solving, blending strategic insight with design excellence. A collaborative leader with a passion for crafting distinctive brand worlds, she is passionate about creating meaningful work that connects deeply with people and endures in culture.
Rachel Shircore
Senior Project Manager
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Rachel is a Senior Project Manager at Taxi, who joined the team a year and a half ago.
With a degree in Graphic Design, she pivoted from design into project management, where she’s spent the past decade managing and delivering projects for a wide range of clients, from small start-up projects to large global launches, most recently the Warburtons rebrand. She’s keen to help others explore opportunities beyond design.
Charlotte Causer
Strategist
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Designer turned strategist, shaped by 7 years at Dyson and Elvie. Charlotte has been at Taxi for 3 years, getting close to the research, thinking and decisions behind some of the biggest everyday brands. She can offer a thoughtful perspective on working within different parts of agency life.
Issy Atkinson
Mid-Weight Designer
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Issy has been at Taxi for two years, first joining as an intern with the team following her graduation from Norwich University of the Arts.
A brand designer with a focus on FMCG packaging, the Warburtons refresh has been a standout project in her time at Taxi.
Issy enjoys getting involved at every stage of a project, from concept through to execution. She’s passionate about building brands and crafting thoughtful design solutions that are not only beautiful, but meaningful.
So what are you waiting for?!