New marketing company on the rise
BRANDID COMMUNICATIONS has broken into the business of marketing and web designs with fresh ideas and big aspirations for the future.
Michael Baxter and Whitney Hylton are today proud owners of the business, which involves work in creative agency branding, social media, motion design, web design, exhibitions and booth installations. They have also completed work for major companies.
A determined Hylton explained how she got to this point in her life, “I was accepted to pursue a degree in actuarial science at UWI, but I switched to computer science. About a year later, I had to stop my studies due to financial difficulties, and at first it was hard, but I went to Vector Institute in Half-Way Tree and got certified by HEART in web design.”
Baxter, on the other hand, attended the Institute of Art in Pennsylvania, though his first love was technology. He explained, “I loved tech initially, but through the need for money, I would design flyers for parties, and that is how I got interested in graphics. But I always loved art from primary school; I would get Bs in English and math, but get As in art.”
Both partners worked in different advertising and marketing agencies for years, but they had the same dream of having their own business, so they decided to work together to achieve this. Hylton stated, “After I got certified, I landed a job, but I always did other jobs online to gain some extra money.” Baxter had a similar experience, “I was working with ad agencies, but I knew that this is something I wanted to do. Even while I was still in love with tech, I always wanted to own or manage somewhere with creative people,” he explained.
Hylton encourages others who may be in a similar situation to follow their dreams. She said, “Don’t be defined by your problems, because life is a series of problems meant for us to solve as we go along. Find something you care about doing and do it. Pursue your dreams; just try.”
Baxter believes that both his and Hylton’s destinies are being fulfilled, as they are doing what they love and working towards goals that will not only benefit themselves, but others. “We at Brandid want to provide jobs for young Jamaican designers because when we were starting out, we did not have guidance or help, so we want to help someone else.”