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 began at a cozy brand and digital studio in Sydney, where an art gallery next door provided endless inspiration. Working in this tight-knit environment allowed me to hone my client management skills and take the lead on exciting, but very small branding projects. After a few years, I set my sights on London, eager to expand my skills and life experience. I landed a digital designer role at an e-commerce platform, but soon realised I wanted to pursue pure branding.
Then, I met a like-minded entrepreneur who was launching an agency focused on experiential and brand design. We joined forces, combining his merchandising and events background with my brand and design experience (albiet, at this stage I only had a few years under my belt). Starting at a kitchen table (cliche but true!), the business quickly gained traction, taking us across Europe and the US to work with brands like Pinterest, The Guardian, eBay, and MediaCom.
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.