Colin Lamberton is ECD at Grey Amsterdam. Colin studied Economics at University College London and Graphic Design at Richmond. He met his creative partner, Seyoan Vela, at the advertising course at Hounslow Borough College. They started their career in 1993 at Lowe London and founded St. Luke’s in 1995. In 2008 Colin moved to Amsterdam.

As a kid, what were your most creative moments?
My dad worked with cameras and brought a random Betamax effort home. So I spent a lot of time as a youth making crappy 5-minute movies, mainly in the action/horror genre.

Which creative effort has given you the most satisfaction?
The one I’m working on next.

What fascinates you?
I am a typography nerd and can drone on for hours about it. I also like the general weirdness of people. And I get hypnotized by R&B booty videos.

Who is your favourite creator?
I love simplicity and am a fan of Post-war Modernism in Art, Architecture, and Design. Stuff like Donald Judd, Rothko, Rauschenberg, Warhol, Le Corbusier, Mies Van Der Rohe, Frank Lloyd Wright, Neutra, Niemeyer, Pierre Koenig, Saarinen, Paul Rand, Alexy Brodovitch, Armin Hoffman, Max Bill, Otl Aicher, Arne Jacobsen, Dieter Rams (and Jonathan Ive!), Paco Rabanne, Pierre Cardin. But I also love Joao Gilberto, Velvet Underground, Kraftwerk, Grace Jones, House Industries, TDR, Michel Gondry, Beastie Boys, Spike Jonze, Geoff McFetridge, KAWS. Amongst others.

When did you decide, I want to work in advertising?
When I got to Hounslow College and realized what advertising actually was. (I originally studied Graphic Design and was only pushed to do Art Direction by one of my tutors. Thanks Ray).

What’s your most important lesson in advertising?
Alan Waldie at Lowe Howard Spink told me “Always work with the best people”, and Seyoan Vela told me not to sleep with colleagues.

What’s the most exciting ad project you ever worked on?
There are loads I’ve really enjoyed. Advertising has taken me to a lot of weird and wonderful places, and I’ve been lucky enough to have worked with some talented, inspirational, and sometimes mentally deranged people. But the job that immediately comes to mind was filming Eric Cantona on Eurostar. We had a great time on the shoot and then had a crazy night with Eric and his brothers being chased around by beautiful women and Peter Stringfellow.

What’s your favourite place in Amsterdam?
I really like watching my son training at AVV Swift on Monday and Thursday evenings. Artis Zoo with my daughter on Saturday afternoon is always fun. And I like being in bed with my wife on Sunday morning.

What would you like to change in Amsterdam?
Dog poo.