The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Drawing up plans to expand studio
Perhaps it was destiny that Christine Mackay would end up running a creative business. Her mother was a concert pianist who travelled the world while her Scottish father was an import/ export entrepreneur.
The mixture of the creative and business is well suited to running the Salamandra.uk animation studio in Dundee.
Founded in Eton in 2014, the company opened its second office in Seabraes Lane a year ago.
Despite Covid-19, the company had a successful 2020, with the pandemic bringing new types of work as well as challenges.
“It’s been a real mixture – we’ve had customers close down, while other clients have grasped the opportunities,” Christine said.
“At the start of the pandemic we had a couple of quiet months – July was a shocker.
“But since then it’s really ramped up and we’ve just had our best month ever in December.
“We carried out some really interesting projects last year – a lot more virtual and augmented reality work.
“We created 3D auditoriums for presentations so it feels like you’re attending a big international conference.
“For another client we created animations of products when you scanned a QR code in a catalogue.
“We’ve done a lot more work making online presentations more engaging to make up for the lack of face- to- face these days.”
The company has carried out work for brands such as Sky, Deliveroo and GSK.
It has even worked on blockbuster movie franchise projects.
Salamandra has done everything from assets for social media, to corporate videos, adverts and even designed and animated children’s books.
Christine said having the two offices meant the team
of 12 was already used to collaborating digitally when lockdown hit.
But she said it was the company’s ethos and spirit that has meant it has thrived.
“Ever yone gets a say when we make hires and our rule is we don’t do divas,” she said.
“I really do pride myself on learning what makes my talented team tick… and it seems to work.
“We’ ve got a diverse workforce who are open minded and supportive of each other.
“The more open-minded, the more imaginative you can be. We are all sharing things we like – artworks, new s o f twa r e tips or animation techniques or approaches. It helps keep the spark going.”
The bond between the workers has meant they have taken part in charity ballet classes, nerf gun shooting contests, charity fundraising and dressing up at Halloween.
While remote working,
they have taken part in regular virtual yoga classes together.
“The bottom line is that you would not have a company or product if it wasn’t for your employees,” the chief executive added.
“Nurture them. Value them. Celebrate them. Success, reputation and satisfaction will undoubtedly follow.”
The business plans to expand in 2021 and will take on five young workers under the government’s Kickstart scheme who will be split between the two offices.
Christine, who speaks five languages and has previously worked in South Africa and New Zealand, has also not ruled out international expansion.
“It was while I was in New Zealand for three years that I found out more about animation as an amazing medium which w a s n’ t used much by business,” she recalled.
“We absorb so much more information through
visuals. When I started S a l a m a n d ra it was to capitalise on that and help businesses to problem solve visually.
“I do want to open up one or two other hubs and not necessarily just in the UK. We want to grow our teams to double our size in the UK and then have a go overseas.”
Last year Salamandra won 20 accolades for its work, including business, marketing and film awards.
But more important is knowing the impact it has made on the companies it has worked with.
Christine added: “It’s amazing when a client says ‘that’s exactly what I had in my head’.
“That’s partly due to our briefings which are very robust, where we ask lots of questions and do research on the company, their industry and competitors.
“Budget is, of course, a big question – w e’ r e creatives so we always want to do something amazing and will shoot for the stars.”