Ingrid Kool-Clarke
Partner & Creative Director, Lippincott
Ingrid, a partner at Lippincott in Sydney, strengths are translating brand strategy into design direction, maintaining brand cohesion, developing brand systems, and advancing digital brands. Before Lippincott, Ingrid founded With You, a successful brand studio focused on transformative change. Notable achievements include award-winning rebrands for global giants eBay Ads and Index Exchange. Ingrid's work has been featured worldwide, from Cannes to Singapore. Her innovative approach to problem-solving pushes boundaries and drives forward-thinking solutions.
Career & Background
Could you tell us a bit about your professional background?
My career started at a small Sydney-based brand and digital studio, where I honed my client management skills and led small branding projects. After a few years, I did what many designers do and relocated to London to expand my career prospects and immerse myself in the ‘the big smoke’.
A chance encounter led me to partner with an entrepreneur launching a brand and experiential design agency. Though relatively new to design (#fakeittoyoumakeit), our combined skills allowed us to gain traction, and learn on the go, working with clients in Europe and the US such as Pinterest, The Guardian, eBay, and MediaCom.
After five years in London, I returned to Sydney to expand the business into the APAC region, establishing the Sydney office and growing our network. Despite challenges posed by COVID, the Sydney office pushed through, allowing me to buy out my business partner and focus the business on pure branding, forming With You.
Despite being a tight-knit team of 6, we built a portfolio of diverse clients, spanning from eBay to local businesses such as Good Ways Deli. It was a great time and an incredible experience, however upon becoming a mum in 2022, I closed the studio to focus on exploring new opportunities.
My path led me to Lippincott, a global creative consultancy with an impressive 80-year legacy. Since joining I’ve led projects for Adelaide University’s merger and branding initiatives spanning multiple industries throughout the APAC region.
What inspired you to do what you are doing now?
Ever since I can remember, I’ve been captivated by the world of creative expression. It’s more than just a career for me – it’s an area that inspires me to explore new ideas and challenge my way of thinking. There’s something truly exhilarating about taking a concept and bringing it to life visually, and I feel incredibly lucky to have built a career around this love.
What drives and inspires you
What are your core values?
- Courage
- Optimism
- Impact (client, customer, greater societal / environmental but also internal teams)
Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
Art and music have always been sources of profound inspiration for me. There’s something magical about the way these mediums can evoke such emotion and powerful reactions in people. I’m constantly in awe of the creativity and talent that goes into creating a piece of artwork or writing and producing music. For me, it’s not just about admiring these forms of art, but also about drawing from their energy and channeling that into my own work.
Your favourite food for thought
Books
- If In Doubt, Wash Your Hair – Anya Hindmarch
Podcasts / Thought Leaders
- Icons in The Making (produced by Lippincott)
- Wiser Than Me (Julia Louis-Drefus interviews women older than her to seek advice and wisdom)
You as a Mentor
Why have you decided to become a mentor?
Because there aren’t enough female Creative Directors or women in creative leadership positions and I’d like to do what I can to change this!
What are the top skills or qualities you bring to mentoring?
- Collaborative
- Confident
- Generous with time
- Nurturing
- Willing to be vulnerable
Ready to apply?
The best time is right now. Take a chance – you never know where an Assisterhood mentor can take you.