Behind the scenes
I often showcase the end results of my work, but like many others I’m fascinated by the process and what goes on behind the scenes. Inspired by the ‘In Your Shoes’ weekly blogs of Dundee & Angus Chamber of Commerce, here’s a week in my working life, during January 2026.
Monday
It’s the second working week after Christmas break, so good habits are still in place! I start the day in downward facing dog with Yoga With Adriene. These short classes are a great start to my day before breakfast, stretching out my body and clearing my mind.
I check my Notes app to remind myself of my daily job list for the week ahead, which helps me keep track of projects and meetings. It’s also satisfying to tick some things off during each day. Design work begins with some set-up work for a new website design, getting their brand style into Figma which I’ll use to create the designs.
After lunch I take a walk along the river while listening to the Totally Football Show, enjoying the chance for some fresh air and time away from the screen.
The afternoon includes work on a proposal for an organisation in Dundee who need a logo design. I’m looking to generate more work locally, so it feels like a great opportunity, even though it’s a short deadline.
There’s some admin to do through the day too, getting my tax return sorted (joy!) and arranging some meetings. A coffee and leftover Christmas cake perk me up during the afternoon, along with the weekly edition of Brand New, which is a brilliant source of inspiration and opinion.
Tuesday
I pick-up where I left off yesterday. After yoga, I spend more time in Figma, researching the client and going over briefing documents, to give me the foundations that will help the design of their new website.
I finalise my proposal document and send that across, keeping fingers crossed until Friday when they’ll decide who’s been successful.
I’ve a Teams call early afternoon, so I take a quick walk after lunch to get some fresh air before that. It’s an interesting call, discussing the potential for digital skills training for those in creative and cultural sectors. There are a few people on the call that I know from Creative Dundee’s Amps Network, which has been a big help to me in settling in Dundee.
I log off around 6pm and take a walk, picking up a pizza to eat while I watch my team Newcastle lose to Man City in the Carabao Cup semi-final 1st leg. Sad face.
Wednesday
Today starts with an amazing red sky and another yoga class. After that I begin work on a homepage design which needs to be ready for presentation to the client on Friday.
Then it’s time to get the bus for the DACC123 event at V&A Dundee. I joined the Chamber last year and it’s the first of these events I’ve attended. I’m not a natural networker, so it’s a relief to see a few familiar faces. The event was really enjoyable, with interesting discussions about how businesses and the V&A can benefit each other.
I also get the opportunity to promote the ‘Branding Clinic’ Member Masterclass I’m running at the end of this month to those in the room. It’s an exciting prospect to run a workshop and the kind of thing I’m interested in doing more of, if it goes like I hope!
After the event, I visit the ‘Thread Memory: Embroidery from Palestine’ exhibition and have time to do a quick sketch before leaving. I sketch purely for my own enjoyment, it’s lovely to lose yourself in the process, capturing views and moments.
I get the bus back and make more progress on the homepage design, before logging off. It’s an evening in and we listen to an episode of the brilliant Elis and John podcast before joining millions of others in watching Harriet losing her head in The Traitors!
Thursday
Yoga and another colourful sky get the day off to a good start. I’m back to the homepage design, building in interactions that will help bring it to life. The early stages of projects are often where the time goes as you’re learning what works and bedding in the styles, building up more and more as you go along.
I spend some time on LinkedIn, catching up on notifications and posting about yesterday’s DACC123 event, with a few photos.
I bake a jacket potato in the oven for lunch and take a walk afterwards, bumping into some friends along the waterfront. I record a short Loom video to explain the thinking that has gone into the homepage design and email a link to the Account Manager so they can review ahead of tomorrow’s presentation.
Before finishing I make a start on the impact report for my partner’s charity Giving Back. I designed their first one last year and it was a great asset for them, helping showcase their activities and value to those in the area as well as funders.
Friday
Yoga gets Friday off to a good start and calms my mind ahead of the client presentation this morning. I have some feedback from the Account Manager, so make some adjustments and get things set-up for the Teams call.
The first meetings with new clients are always important, first impressions count and you’re trying to create a relationship where people can get their thoughts across, while building trust. I present the homepage, with a couple of alternative options for the navigation and hero banner. It’s a positive and constructive first meeting.
When I catch-up on my email there’s exciting news waiting for me – my proposal has been successful … Happy Friday!
During the afternoon I begin work on the design of a handout for my Chamber of Commerce Branding Clinic. This will capture the key points of my talk and I’m trying to link it to the theme without going too crazy on the healthcare puns!
The day gets even better with the arrival of a 100-page photobook that I designed to capture the best photos and moments of my 50th birthday celebrations in Annecy last summer. I used Blurb to print it and it’s come out as well as I hoped!
It’s been a great end to the working week. Things are busy on various fronts which is a fortunate position to be in. Long may that last!
I hope you’ve enjoyed this peek into my working week, I’m not sure how long the good yoga habits, red skies and leftover Christmas cake will last, but hopefully the enjoyable work will continue!
Alastair Walker, Freelance Senior Creative based in Broughty Ferry, Dundee