Tim & Michael

Michael Kaplan and Tim Charlesworth met in December 1989.

Michael had trained to be a printer, worked as an Art Director in a small below-the-line agency and had just been made redundant along with a third of the agency. Tim had been a Marine Engineer Officer in the Merchant Navy, then did the copywriting course at Manchester before moving to London to look for work.

Separately, they’d both been to see the headhunter Liz Harold, who kindly published a ‘lonely hearts’ list of single and struggling Art Directors and Copywriters. The resulting ‘you show me yours and I’ll show you mine’ blind dates were always a bit uncomfortable, especially if you didn’t think much of the other person’s work.

Early one cold December morning, Michael trekked across London for yet another one of these meetings. Tim opened the door, bleary-eyed (Eleven a.m. is early when you’re not working). Michael talked excitedly and started unzipping his portfolio. Tim suggested that maybe they could just have a cup of coffee first. They sat in awkward silence waiting for the kettle to boil and, simultaneously, offered each other a cigarette.

Back then, Camel was a tiny brand in the UK. You had to seek out side-street newsagents that stocked them. If you were going somewhere new, you always carried an extra pack.

For two strangers to both be offering each other such a rarity was of cosmic significance. They obviously had to work together.

In the spring of 1990, they were hired by Dave Horry at the newly merged Still Price Court Twivy D’Souza Lintas. They worked on a lot of pitches and, in a short time, learned a lot. Getting work actually made was difficult but a few pieces were enough to attract a little attention. In 1994, they got the call from Tony Cox at BMPddb. They were in awe as he walked them around the department. Everyone’s shelves were creaking with awards. There were no silly games in the corridor. There was no music blaring from offices. There was silence. Everyone was just quietly getting on with it. They felt like they’d arrived at the temple of creativity.

On the first day they had to come up with a poster to go with John Webster’s first Walkers ad. Thankfully, John liked it, they shot it a week later and went on to pick up an award. It was a good start.

They worked on every brand, local and international. They worked on pitches for the network, made commercials for the world and gained a reputation for getting stuck in to anything and turning tough briefs around quickly. They are most proud that, over their thirteen years at BMP/DDB, almost every piece of work they presented internally was presented to client.

In 2007 Tim and Michael went freelance. As creative consultants, they now have a regular roster of several advertising agencies and design groups. They take on international problem-solving projects for big networks and quick pitch ideas for small hot shops (and vice-versa). They also work directly with clients to create both brands and advertising.

Michael is still excitable and Tim still likes to think it over with a cup of coffee, but the Camels that brought them together have long since been put down.

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