Kicking things off are our two founders, the self-effacing, snappy-dressing Tony and Rob, our proud Yorkshire man, Test Match Special devotee and avid gardener.
While in many respects, they bring the yin to the other’s yang, when it comes to their values, it’s clear why they’ve worked together successfully for over sixteen years. Both crusaders for the big idea, straight-talking and swift to a quip, they are Rare Breed’s very own answer to the two Ronnies.
Here they are in 16 questions:
Rare Breed in 4 words…
Tony: Best days of my life (or is that 5?)
Rob: Business solutions, creatively executed
I’d be rich if I had a pound every time a client says…
Tony: Can we combine both options?
Rob: Can you make it bigger?
If I hadn’t become a designer, I’d be…
Tony: I always wanted to be a vet but I hated school so much, I couldn’t face the six years of uni I’d have needed to do. Ironically enough I decided to go to art college instead and loved it so much I ended up staying six years!
Rob: Goalkeeper for Leeds United
My dream project would be…
Tony: To design my own house
Rob: To design my own house
My design superpower is…
Tony: The power of foresight… and I am never wrong
Rob: I haven’t found it yet…
Most likely to say…
Tony: Yes
Rob: No
Least likely to say…
Tony: No
Rob: Yes
Proudest Rare Breed moment…
Tony: Yesterday
Rob: Day one
If we could be based anywhere else in the world instead of London, it would be…
Tony: Bramble Cottage – there’s no place like home!
Rob: Having lived there for five years, it could only be New York
My ambition for Rare Breed is…
Tony: To leave a lasting legacy
Rob: To open an office in New York
The pandemic has taught us…
Tony: Anything is possible
Rob: Who we really want to work with
My biggest design inspiration is…
Tony: Rob…
Rob: Tony!
Not a lot of people know….
Tony: I have a son… Everyone knows I have 20 dogs
Rob: I can speak five languages and I have a PHD in astrophysics
After work on Friday, I am most likely to…
Tony: Walk the dogs to the pub… Not all 20 of them obviously
Rob: Collapse…
Never trust a designer who says…
Tony: I’ve got this…
Rob: Yes
Good design is…
Tony: The same cost as bad design
Rob: Rare
Tony: And it’s goodnight from me…
Rob: And it’s goodnight from him!