I’m Grant and I make things.
My day job is leading digital transformation at Glasgow Life, the organisation that runs the public libraries, gyms, museums and cultural venues on behalf of the city.
Previously, I’ve been Creative Director, Technical Director and Deputy MD at the award-winning agency Bright Signals; I’ve led digital technology at Newsquest Scotland and s1jobs; and I’ve created innovative solutions for freelance clients from musician Julian Lennon to Sony Pictures.
I still take on some freelance projects, both hardware and software, which you can read about in my blog.
Some of what I do
Create: I love the creative process: writing, brainstorming, sketching and inventing.
Build: My background is Computer Science, but I’m a hands-on maker, building everything from magic tricks and animatronics to museum exhibits.
Capture: I grew up on film sets and still love creative film-making and photography techniques, whether I’m behind the camera or in my role as Creative Director.
A brief biography
I studied Product Design Engineering and Computer Science at University, where I started my first web design business in 1995.
From 1995-1999 I worked on first-gen Internet strategies for clients including Philips, Marconi Communications, the Bank of Scotland and musician Julian Lennon.
From 2000-2007 I was lead designer and Web Producer for s1jobs, Scotland’s most successful job site. And from 2008-2014 I led digital strategy at the Herald & Times newspaper group, increasing subscriptions and growing audiences on Scotland’s only paywalled news sites.
From 2015-2021 I was Deputy MD at Bright Signals, helping to win a string of top awards, growing the team from five staff to 40, and winning clients as diverse as HarperColins books, Bowmore whisky, and the BBC.
Now I’m leading digital transformation at Glasgow Life, one of Scotland’s biggest charities.
Recent blog posts
- Live weather soundscapes for The Cloud of Un/knowingIn 2024 I undertook a second commission for the artist Josefina Nelimarkka. For The Cloud of Un/knowing, Josefina wanted to incorporate real-time weather and environmental data from the exhibition venue and use that data to control the soundscape within theContinue reading “Live weather soundscapes for The Cloud of Un/knowing”
- Six wild years at Bright Signals: a retrospectiveAt the end of September I’m leaving Bright Signals to take up an exciting new role with Glasgow Life, the charity that runs Glasgow’s public museums, galleries, libraries, sports facilities, and numerous festivals, where I’ll be leading the future directionContinue reading “Six wild years at Bright Signals: a retrospective”
- Running a live stream studio from homeSince the start of lockdown, many of our clients at Bright Signals have approached us for broadcast solutions. They need ways to keep in touch with their customers and stakeholders, and need to find digital alternatives to events that wouldContinue reading “Running a live stream studio from home”
Grant Gibson 