05/04/2026
While the bunnies are busy hiding eggs, we’re celebrating 28 cracking years of Four by Four Creative Services—here’s an egg-citing look back at our story.
Four by Four was hatched over a pint at The Enterprise pub in High Holborn. It launched on April 5th, 1998. Four directors—two copywriters/conceptualisers and two designers/art directors—formed the team. Together, we offered cracking creative support to recruitment advertising companies across London. Clients included McCann Erickson, JWT, and WJP Floyd.
We started at McCann-Erickson on Fitzroy Street and grew from four to six. But after 18 months—before moving to Wardour Street—the extra designer and Brian, one of the directors, hopped away. This brought us back to four. In our new space, we welcomed another designer. Interviews took place in a meeting room with a full-size Dalek. Paul even sat in it, cracking us all up!
In 2001, after pitching for the Argos employer branding account, alongside Career Cafe, we hopped on board the Dutch barge DB Lilly. The recruitment side of the business then became 360 Degrees Advertising.
While life on the barge was fun, winters could be egg-stremely chilly. Summers could be egg-ceptionally warm. In 2002, we expanded into brand advertising and marketing. We began working with Axis Communications. This marked a new era focused on non-recruitment projects—no need to put all our eggs in one basket! Campaigns included Abercrombie & Kent Travel and Porcelanosa. We secured Calibre One, still a client today. Later, we won a pitch to brand IDT Europe’s telecom offering, Toucan Telecom. We created the logo and the strapline 'Toucan Talk.'
In 2006, a studio at Holborn Studios was converted into offices. 360 Degrees, Four by Four, and Terra Firma all nested there together.
Paul left in 2003, and David took a larger role at 360 Degrees. Philippa returned to North Somerset and worked remotely – working from her own little bunny warren. After maternity leave, she had the chance to rebuild Four by Four and separate from 360 Degrees.
Over the past 16 years, we’ve collaborated with Beyond Interactive—first on the Bupa account, and for the last decade, with Care UK and other clients. We also work with the web development company Qweb, creating new websites for varied clients. Since its inception, we've partnered with Transition Zone, developing branding and consistent messages across print, online, interior branding, and its spin-off, Resilience Zone. We always make sure our ideas are egg-stra special.
This year has been challenging—some clients have hopped away and closed their doors. Still, we're all ears and egg-cited to grow. We're hunting for new opportunities. If your marketing department or agency needs flexible, dependable creative support, please reach out today to see how we can help your team. Contact Pip at [email protected].
Happy Easter! Wishing you chocolate and egg-stra special moments.
