Chris Gwyther awarded joint annual EPIC Award
Congratulations to Chris Gwyther for winning this year’s EPIC award.
As 2020 draws to a close, our internal awards known as the ‘EPICs’ reward employees who have truly lived and breathed our values. This year we are delighted to award a joint EPIC - the highest honour bestowed on an employee - to Chris Gwyther and Emma Carter.
The EPICs epitomise our values and are voted by employees and the leadership team for the culmination of an individual’s work throughout the year that was. They are rewarded with the equivalent of a £1,000 prize and plaque on the EPIC Hall of Fame wall.
Here’s what Chris and the judges had to say…
How did it feel to be named joint winner of the EPIC Award 2020?
Great! It’s a privilege to be nominated by your peers, particularly considering how hard 2020 turned out to be. There were so many people working so hard behind the scenes to keep everything on track.
Which EPIC values really count for you & why?
Collaborative Working. Nothing is achieved in our business by individual effort alone. I really value collaboration. It’s the best part of the job and exactly why I work in an agency rather than on my own. Intelligent Thinking is also very important; creativity has to be made viable through intelligence and consideration. It’s never a question of style over substance.
What are you most proud of in your work for Istoria Group and Phoenix Wharf?
I’m proud of having been allowed to form a creative agency by the Group and that Phoenix Wharf embodies the Group’s core values so well. In terms of projects, I’d say The Yeo Valley Café. It’s a regional brand and one I really respect. Taking it to London in a 3D environment for the first time, creating such a fun and creative piece of work and winning a major award for the work was a real milestone.
What personally motivates you?
My job is my hobby and I live and breathe it. I enjoy every element, from working with a great team of creatives to constantly learning new things. Every day is different, every client is different and every project too. It’s not transactional, it’s a passion and it never fails to get me out of bed looking forward to the day ahead.
Chris Gwyther
Co-Founder, Phoenix Wharf
Creative Director, Istoria Group
“Chris’s intellectual curiosity took R&D/ pivoting to a whole new level. He not only taught himself how to create digital experiences, but learnt new software, open- sourced little extras and delivered it on live projects in real time. He sat in on client calls and guided them through all things virtual and collaborated with the Tech team to ensure it is compatible with everything they were doing too. He also trained his entire team how to do it. He worked tirelessly and was the creative driving force behind how our digital offer looks and functions.”