Welcome to my personal website and portfolio! I’m Ben Weldon, an entrepreneur, founder, and creative director. I currently reside in Shanghai, where I focus on branding, designing, and developing for clients who seek my expertise. While I primarily serve as the creative director of my company, Thread Design, which I co-founded in 2005, I still enjoy taking on occasional freelance projects.
Reflecting on my journey, I find it fascinating how I stumbled into the world of creativity and entrepreneurship. As a child, we are all inherently creative, but as we grow older, many choose not to pursue that path. However, I embraced it and embarked on an unexpected adventure that led me to where I am today.
In 2004, I arrived in Shanghai with no inkling that I would swiftly become the creative director of my own agency, Thread Design. Over the years, we have grown and evolved alongside China’s dynamic landscape. As the leader of my team, I specialize in assisting brands in discovering their market, establishing a unique voice, and crafting memorable experiences for their customers.
Before my time in China, I embarked on a two-year journey across the globe, supporting myself through various freelance design and development projects, as well as flash animations and design gigs. These skills were honed during my time in London between 2000 and 2003, during the dot-com boom, where I worked at the digital agency, Gurus. Despite not having prior programming experience, I landed the job partly due to my advertising degree and partly because I promised them I could build a website for the BBC with a live voting system within a month.
Photography has also been a significant part of my life. Capturing moments through the lens has allowed me to explore and express my creativity in a different medium.
That’s all you need to know for now! But before you go, let me share a bit about Thread Design, the branding consultancy I founded and currently lead.
Thread Design has been serving clients since 2005, specializing in the food and beverage industry. Initially, I held the role of creative lead, and in early 2015, I took on the position of CEO. With offices in China and Indonesia, we have expanded our reach to serve clients across more than 15 countries.
Our team comprises both local and international individuals who are passionate about solving business problems through creativity and ingenuity. And if the project involves food, well, that’s even better!
While we pride ourselves on our aesthetic sensibilities, our focus extends beyond creating visually appealing designs. We believe that solid brand strategy and beautiful brand experiences go hand in hand. Throughout our journey, we have worked on numerous projects across various industries, building expertise that reaches far beyond visual identity. From digital platforms to packaging design, from interior spaces to social media campaigns, we leverage insights to deliver results for brands seeking to define and communicate their authentic value to the right audience.
When it comes to brand experience, we adopt a collaborative approach, considering our clients as key members of the project team. Through this collaboration, we create immersive brand experiences that effectively articulate your brand’s message to your target audience in a language they understand.
And in the wise words of Nathan Barley.
Peace and fucking. Believe.