Mike Cooper

Creative Director, Republic Publishing
mike@republicpublishing.co.uk
+44 (0) 7919 020 886
@coopinho

Here’s what I do
As creative lead at Republic, I’m responsible for generating new concepts, bringing them to life and ensuring we consistently over deliver on client expectations. Our speciality is building long-lasting and deeply engaging owned-media channels for brands through authoritative, world class content. Alongside running the launch team at Republic and working on new business, I also manage video creation – watch our showreel.

Stuff you need to know!

Biggest creative hero:
In recent years I’d have to say Scott McCloud. A tremendous draftsman and storyteller, Scott doubles as a leading mind in comic book theory. At Republic we pride ourselves on making the complicated simple, and I’ve learned heaps from Scott’s approach, outlined in his books Understanding Comics and Making Comics. He was the guy Google asked to create a comic about Google Chrome when it was first announced, to help explain it.

Most indispensable tool:
My Moleskin notebook (the large red plain variety). I’m constantly scribbling, and have a drawer filled with old thoughts and doodles. Either listening and taking notes, or occasionally jotting down that idea that pops out of nowhere.

Dream project:
I’m most inspired when we’re able to take a brave, interesting and uniquely distinct approach to a challenge. I’d love to work with a deeply progressive car brand such as Nissan.

Something unusual about yourself:
I’m hugely into Japanese comics, particularly “Gekiga” (dramatic pictures), a term coined by one of my favourite authors Yoshihiro Tatsumi. This movement was born post WWII thanks to the pioneering longer form story manga pioneered by Osamu Tezuka, who is known quite seriously as the “God of comics”.

What did you want to be when you grew up:
A movie writer and director.

The one thing everyone should know how to make:
A medium rare fillet steak.

Dogs or Cats:
Either, with a splash of Tabasco sauce.

A word you just made up, and what does it mean:
Wordnesia. I made this word up the other week for when you forget the right word to use.

Something you want to do before you die:
Cage diving with great white sharks. Perhaps.