"The lesson to be learned from my life: Going Pirate is like picking a fight; If you're going to do it, then just do it. But don't try to just do it halfway and then expect to get off the hook." Captain William Kidd. 1698. From the golden age of piracy, the notorious Captain Kidd (1645 - 1701) was the boldest adventurer of all. According to folklore he was a charming rogue, cavalier in attitude and feisty in his pursuit of booty. Kidd's legend is of a swashbuckling pioneer, a colourful outlaw, daring and visionary in exploration. He sailed by the oath of blood brotherhood, and it is certain that his celebrity inspired many to turn to a life of piracy. Pirate is a crew of experienced creatives. Our experience lies in art direction and brand management. We are flexible, yet focussed. We are nimble and independent with a clear knowledge of brand dynamics. We collaborate with a broad network of like-minded talent. Pirate specialise in idea development, realisation and production. We explore the heart and soul of a project and get passionate about it. We thrive on quality ideas with a beginning, middle and end. We deliver on time, within budget and with a smile. We do creative direction with a swagger. > Identifying Creative Opportunity > Idea Development & Evolution > Visual & Verbal Clarification > Project Planning & Budgeting > Positioning & Repositioning > Support and Synergy > Optimising Opportunity > Viral Marketing > Ambient Media > Idea Realisation > Advertising > Photo Shoots > Sales Tools > Consumer Brochures > Line Books > Point Of Sale > Merchandising Guides > Brand videos > Brand Identity & Logo Design > Packaging > Multimedia > Product Launches & Line Releases > Trade Fair Activity. You have identified a project that requires creative direction. We meet and discuss your requirements. Together, we clarify the brief and budget for phase 1. We explore the heart and soul of the idea. We develop a visual and verbal map of the idea. We identify opportunities for idea development. We create a comprehensive document summarising this. We present this creative direction plan to you. You want us to realise the creative direction plan. We identify the realisation strategy and budget. Together, we sign off the budget and the timelines. We create and design the solutions for the idea. We present the final concept for realisation. Together, we sign off the concept. We artwork and produce the solutions. We deliver all requirements. We define any required collaboration and manage the project through to completion. We go get pissed. Haarlemmerweg 321B, 1051LG Amsterdam, e: fx: 0031 20 422 2987 p: 0031 624 269 176 / 0031 624 628 455. Pirate was formed over a rum or five on a boat off the white Isle of Ibiza, sometime in September 2002. This was no ordinary boat, this was an impressive 50 footer, complete with salt stained sails and a crow's nest. "What a great life those Pirates led" pondered an intrepid duo as they landed off Salinas beach to purvey a new found land. is the combined forces of Nigel Barnes (the big one with the beard) and Craig Fielding (the skinny one with curly hair), who graduated many moons ago from Newcastle's 'Old School' University. This is where the partnership planted it's pirate seeds, Nigel completing a Fashion Design and Marketing degree whilst Craig opted for the less 'glamorous' life of Graphic Design. Nigel went on to work at trend forecasting agencies Ind:ex and The Bureaux for a couple of years, then settled at Pepe Jeans in London, which relocated it's European Headquarters to Amsterdam in the summer of '96. During these 8 years he worked his way up from menswear designer through to Design Director, managing a dozen young turks, and designing 20 odd collections, until fashion did a full circle and it was time to move on to a new challenge. Shifting across to Brand Director, new disciplines involved the front facing marketing of the brand, communicating the product in its true spirit through packaging, brochures, sales tools, photo shoots, fashion shows, line launches, trade fairs, retail, advertising and the like. Another move for the Pepe HQ to Madrid was never on Nigel's map, so a mutual and painless mutiny kept him in his beloved Amsterdam, where the life of Pirate beckoned. In the meantime, Craig had plied his trade with a young and upcoming design agency in Newcastle doing design for the Arts (Music, Film and fashion events) and art directing a local fashion magazine. It was during this period that Craig learnt the print production trade, overseeing all the projects personally. After a 4 year stint it was time for a change of climate, which took him to Singapore and the corporate design consultancy, Equus. Many annual reports and retail business brochures later he realised that his fellow Pirate was actually having too much fun in Amsterdam and that he should go and 'give him a hand'. Landing a job at Michael Peters Group in '96 Craig elevated himself to design director leading a core team of 6 to oversee Packaging, Fashion and Retail design projects for the Benelux region. At the end of 2000 Craig decided his next brief should be to travel the world (the first trace of pirate blood rearing its beautiful head). On return to Holland, the life of a freelancing buccaneer seemed the most appropriate option resulting in projects within the advertising industry as well as collaborating with Nigel on Art Direction projects for Pepe Jeans pan European campaigns. Working together on a commercial level for the first time, it was soon obvious that the partnership was gelling well and combining their shared skill base was the only way forward. By the autumn of 2002, Pirate were in their own HQ in Amsterdam, where they now sit and work together with lots of ideas, new friends & clients and smiles on their faces. Through their previous incarnations and general hob-nobbing around town, they collaborate with some of the cities finest photographers, stylists, film editors and the general creative community. The life of a Pirate has not, is not and won't ever be disappointing, it's with us for life, it's our heart and soul and we welcome all our clients on board. Come and join us for a snifter.