Sam

Back in what seems like a lifetime ago I studied graphic design at the University of Derby. After graduation I worked as an apprentice at a design agency in the city. I was young and soon got frustrated working in an office so I decided to use my love of photography and travel to set off on an adventure of a lifetime and capture what I saw. This trip took me on the Trans-Siberian Railway from Russia to China, across Australia and South East Asia, before my return home two years later with a bank of images.

I set up as a travel and landscape photographer and sold many images through stock libraries. However, itchy feet got the better of me again, so I got a job with the adventure travel company, Explore. I led 14 tours across the world; the last of which gave me the opportunity to see the mountain gorillas in Uganda.

The time came to head home and settle down. I was introduced to web design by a friend and we worked together for a time. GOBO Creative was formed in 2012 and has been going strong ever since. In 2021 I was invited to be a Squarespace Expert which has changed everything, as I now build websites for clients across the world!. I also continued using my guiding experience and up until 2022 I regularly taught landscape photography to small groups in the Yorkshire Dales.

I feel that my experiences have had a great influence on my design work and make me unique in a busy market. I enjoy bringing people’s business vision online and being a part of their successes.

Life’s adventures continue with a family of my own, including two children and my dog, Ella, with whom I am often found bimbling across the Dales.

 

  • "Absolutely outstanding; I couldn't be happier with Sam's work on our new Squarespace website. From conceptualising to applying our new brand aesthetic and then giving it his magic touch, Sam took this project far beyond anything I had expected. He has given Inspec a visually appealing and compelling platform from which to grow. I highly recommend Sam for your Squarespace website build. Get him while you can!"

    Jim R
    Inspec Marketing

  • "Sam is absolutely fantastic! I have never worked with a website designer before, but I would not go to anyone else after this experience. He made it easy, fun, was quick to respond, and most importantly, it was EXACTLY what I wanted! Thank you Sam!"

    Tyler J
    Performance Therapist

  • "Sam is an all around great person to work with. He always answered my questions quickly, made good suggestions, worked efficiently, delivered on time, and put together a fantastic website. He was also personable and pleasant to collaborate with, and made the project go smoothly from beginning to end. Thanks Sam!"

    Elaine C
    Social Worker

  • "I had the pleasure of working with Sam on my business website, and I’m thrilled with the results! From start to finish, Sam was professional, communicative, and incredibly creative. He took the time to understand my vision and delivered a stunning, user-friendly site that aligns perfectly with my brand. If you're looking for a talented and reliable website designer, I highly recommend Sam!"

    James
    Wild and Remote

  • "Sam was incredible to work with. He is not only talented but a great guy, honest and incredibly talented. He got my website done within 2 weeks and has dramatically improved the look and design. He is very easy to work with and took the direction I wanted to go in and got this done above my expectations. I cannot recommend Sam enough to anyone looking to improve their website."

    Peter
    United Energy Consultants

  • "Sam is a great web designer - all wishes were fulfilled super quickly and you immediately notice the experience he brings. Again and again!"

    Lorenz
    Red Olive

  • "GOBO Creative did an amazing job building our website. We are super happy with the outcome and will be looking forward to working with Sam again in the future."

    Anders M
    Himmapana Villas

  • "Working with Sam from GOBO creative was a bulls-eye decision I have made. This is my first website so I had no experience working with web designers and found it hard to visualise what it would look like and how it would navigate. The very first version Sam delivered blew my mind and made everything, every preparation of my rebranding come together. His designer skills are impressive, Sam has such a good eye of reader-friendly and visually stunning websites. Sam was also very patient working with someone like me, that wanted everything perfect. He was always available for a video call, responded very swiftly to any messages we exchanged and was always spot on with the changes I requested, where he also set his boundaries on what was possible and what was not. I would recommend Sam to anyone seeking a very experienced, kind and visually strong web designer. It was a pleasure working with him."

    Hans B
    Ingenious Minds

  • "We recently had the pleasure of working with Sam on building our website, and we couldn't be happier with the results. The site he created is not only visually stunning but also perfectly embodies the qualities we strive to highlight in all our projects. His attention to detail and commitment to excellence truly shine through. Sam was attentive, punctual, and exceptional at communicating throughout the entire process. He went above and beyond to ensure the handover process was smooth and seamless. Beyond the initial development, Sam continues to offer valuable support and is incredibly generous with his time, always willing to help with any questions or adjustments we need. If I could give him an extra star, I would. Well done, Sam! Thank you for helping take our business to the next level!"

    Joel B
    Vic Metro

  • "I would recommend Sam to anyone. He is patient, efficient and thorough. He made revisions and adjustments whenever requested. He even made me a video to support me in keeping some of the pages up-to-date on my own. The design of the pages really captured who I am. They are clear and yet inviting and warm. I will definitely use him again for future projects and will be recommending him to other coaches who I know are building websites."

    Pamyla L
    Wildfit

  • "We had a fantastic experience with Sam from start to finish! Sam completely understood what we were trying to achieve with our brand and produced a first concept that was entirely on point. We went through a few small adjustments to get the final site all pulled together and Sam was patient and constructive at every point. Our site design is better than anything we could have attempted or imagined ourselves, and the great experience that brought us to this point is the cherry on top."

    Fiona W
    Studio Wilde

  • "I had the pleasure of working with Sam on redesigning a key page of my website, and I couldn't be happier with the results! The communication was smooth and straightforward throughout the process, and he really understood my vision. The design he created not only fits perfectly with the rest of the website but also stands out in the best way possible—it's fresh, different, and an improvement on what I had before. Highly recommended!"

    Nikolina R
    Magnolia Classic

  • "Sam was fantastic to work with. A real pro."

    Peter B
    Consutlant

  • "Seamless experience. Highly recommend to anyone starting a new business and wants a professional website that hits the mark!"

    Squarespace Client

  • "Sam was excellent to work with. He was very thorough in his communication and explanations, and he worked in a timely manner. I highly recommend working with GOBO Creative."

    Harrison D
    Vino Alpino

  • "Sam was so approachable and friendly. He really spent time understanding what I was trying to put across and seemed to really enjoy the process himself. The website was put together quickly with attention to detail and we would meet up on Zoom regularly going through bits, choosing photos etc. At the end of the process, Sam spent an hour with me going through how to update the different parts of the site. He was very competitive price wise and worth every penny. Great too to have someone UK based, although I know he would often meet others first thing in the morning or late at night to accommodate time zones. I had tried to do it myself, but the benefit of having a web designer is absolutely clear and worth every penny. The final site looks so professional. Thank you Sam!"

    Sarah M
    Life Story Journeys

  • "Sam is a designer, with exceptional art taste. This is our second project with him. My company Linkpartners is a marketing and advertising agency due to our always busy status, we weren't able to put the time aside to make our website. Let me confess this is our third attempt to build our website. the prior 2 experiences using other designers were terrible. So I went back to Sam and thank god I did it. Sam thank you for all your good work and great service"

    Robert N
    Link Partners

  • "Great communication and efficient process for design and developing our website with minimal back and forth. Highly recommend."

    Ari S
    Knightsbrook Capital

  • "Sam was great to work with. He took random ideas I had and turned them into truly amazing and beautiful designs. Far exceeded my expectations."

    Ian C
    Crescendo Consulting

  • "Great vision. Sam was awesome to work with. He understood where I was going with the website and went above my expectations!"

    Stephen D
    Goldwater Spirits

  • "I'm overflowing with happiness and excitement! My website isn't just finished on time—it's exactly how I dreamed it would be. Sam is a breath of fresh air. He's not just a designer; he's a listener. While others only spared 30 minutes of their time or less. Sam dedicated a full hour to understand every detail of what I wanted. His input is invaluable. From design, ideas, and implementation - he was great. His brilliance shines as he effortlessly transforms ideas into reality. He's not just a designer; he's a guide, a teacher, and a constant communicator throughout the entire process. I'm beyond grateful for his professionalism and dedication. Choose Sam for your future website. Trust me, it'll be one of the best decisions you'll ever make!"

    Jeisy P
    Begin Your Benefits

  • "Sam at GOBO Creative did phenomenal work on redesigning the website. He was patient and answered all my questions. He created a very personal and creative website so my business is different than my competitors websites. I am so impressed and pleased with the final design, and will keep Sam in mind for future maintenance. Thank you so much!"

    Jenifer Lima
    Professional Painters LLC

  • "GOBO Creative provides outstanding service. Sam is an excellent collaborator who listens to his client's needs while offering valuable insight for less website-savvy clients. I will definitely use GOBO Creative again."

    Squarespace Client

  • "It was very easy and straightforward to work with Sam. I am not super technical and he communicated clearly and promptly. I will definitely ask Sam to help me on another project in the near future."

    Antje G
    Stonehouse Glasshouse

  • "Sam is so easy to work with. He is fast, measured in his approach, great attention to detail and communicates every step of the way."

    Louise A
    Aquatrols

  • "It's not just about the end product; it's about the journey, and with Sam, the journey was inspiring. Communication was flawless throughout the project. Regular updates, timely responses, and a willingness to listen to my inputs made the entire process seamless. The final result exceeded all expectations. The website is an exquisite blend of aesthetic appeal and functionality. I've received numerous compliments from visitors who were captivated by the design and ease of use."

    Ralf Pirzkall
    Managetopia X

  • "I had been looking for a designer that "got" my vision for my firm for many months. Finally, I found Sam's work on Squarespace. After reading Sam's bio and having a conversation with him, it became clear that he was unlike all of the other potential website designers I talked to. From start to finish, Sam asked great questions, and he understood the vision. His creative background was just what the site needed. Me, my team and, most importantly, my clients, love the site. I would highly recommend Sam to design and build yours!"

    Bill Del-Sette
    Del-Sette Capital Management

  • "Working with Sam | GOBO Creative has been real pleasure. The communication was easy, he responded quick to my questions and made all the changes I requested during the development. I'd hire him again in the future"

    Mikel Santiago
    Author

  • "Absolute pleasure working with Sam. Very responsive and my being an absolute technical dinosaur Sam would talk me through why and what did and did not make sense to do."

    Paul McGuire
    Villa Shinano

  • "We were really happy with Sam´s work. He was able to add a design element to our website really quickly and the whole process was very smooth. Thanks a lot, Sam!"

    Lina
    b-onfire.com

  • "Sam did a wonderful job on my website design. I really appreciated our numerous video meetings to discuss project design. He addressed all design comments with good solutions, and his correspondence was always very timely and prompt. I will use him again for additional website design efforts."

    Ben Colgrove
    Catbird Consulting

  • "Sam is an amazing website designer. He took the time to understand what I wanted and made any changes I requested, but not before offering insights and suggestions that I had not thought of. This is our second project with Sam, and I highly recommend him."

    Bill
    Happiness In Retirement

  • "Working with Sam was great. We have this time-sensitive project and he made it smooth and professional. I will work with him again and again. Thanks Sam"

    Robert
    Slabs

  • "Sam was absolutely amazing to work with. He was attentive, very responsible, and patient in moments when I was unclear on how to proceed. I plan on working with Sam again."

    Rasheed Philips
    The Gentleman Smoker

  • "Sam was fantastic from start to finish, I gave him a very limited high level brief of what I wanted and Sam came back with some great ideas and I am very happy with the end result. When we suggested amendments or feedback Sam was always quick to action. I would certainly recommend!"

    William Martin
    Southover Wealth

  • "Working with Sam was fantastic. He understands the design we're aiming for, and his turnaround time is very quick. I would highly recommend him for your next Squarespace project."

    Andrew
    Squarespace Client

  • "Excellent communication and work"

    Liz Moore
    Auhor

  • "Second project with Sam, another fantastic job well done. Can't recommend him enough for working on your Squarespace website."

    Andrew
    Squarespace Client

  • "Sam did an awesome job revamping/creating our website and his communication and responsiveness were great. He worked with multiple people from our company on this, so his patience and cooperation were much appreciated. He also took the time to make sure we knew how to edit the site in the future without wrecking it which is a huge help."

    Taylor Forner
    Charadam Gear Company

  • "If you're nervous or apprehensive about building your own website then Sam is the person you need to choose to build one for you. I am probably one of the worst techno people when it comes to internet stuff or emails but Sam had the patience to not only build me an amazing site but talk me through every step of the way. I would certainly use Sam again in the future and I highly recommend him for building your site"

    Simon Skelton
    Metalwork Artist

  • "I was struggling to build my own website, so I hired a professional to do the job. That professional is Sam Oakes. He has done a fantastic job of rebuilding my website. He achieved what I would never have been able to achieve. If you want a fantastic website, have Sam build it for you."

    John Carson
    Author

  • "Sam was a great help in resolving some design issues in our website. He replied and looked into the issue within a couple of hours from posting the job, offered several solutions and we quickly managed to have our site running as usual!"

    Debbie
    Squarespace Client

  • "Sam is my go-to designer and will make you feel like you are his only client. The bottom line is he will get the job done!"

    Stephen
    Squarespace Client

  • "I am extremely satisfied with the website design and the overall workflow provided by GOBO Creative. Sam demonstrates exceptional attentiveness to client feedback and requirements, seamlessly incorporating a personal and creative touch into each project. The communication process is swift and effortless, ensuring a seamless collaboration. Working with Sam has been an absolute pleasure."

    Arina
    Sorgente Sant'Elena

  • "So pleased I discovered GOBO Creative. Sam has been a pleasure to work with. His ability and attention to detail in creating my incredible new website has been amazing. Sam has created a brand fr me and I am now using him for an additional project. I would recommend GOBO Creative to anyone. Well worthy of 5 stars."

    Nick Dymond
    The Mini Farm - Alpaca Experience

  • "Sam was an absolute pleasure to work with and super fast and responsive too. I also got really lucky in that he has worked in my industry (travel) in the past so inherently understood what I was trying to communicate. Very pleased with the results."

    Krista
    Antidote Travel

  • "Sam has been fantastic building our new website!! He’s not only done a fantastic job creating our vision but he’s also had to deal with us constantly changing our minds and being pretty useless in all areas of technology! I’d definitely recommend him to anyone needing his services!!!"

    Leanne Wilkie
    Fat Birds Bakery

  • "Sam is great, makes life easy and gets on with what's needed. Understands the systems and requirements brilliantly."

    Stephen Caldwell
    Grass Science Seeds

  • "I had a wonderful experience with Sam! He took time to really understand my needs, and gave clear creative vision from the outset. His communication was outstanding (so refreshing!) and was able to easily implement my detailed notes throughout. I'm sure I'll be working with Sam in the future, and would encourage anyone considering doing so to take the plunge - you won't regret it!"

    Julian Reeve
    Keynote Speaker

  • "Sam helped me with finishing my website which needed a 'professional' touch. He is very friendly and helpful and did everything I asked plus suggested a few changes which I am really pleased with. I will be looking to Sam to help me in the future with more work on my website as I like his approach and creativity. Thank you so much Sam !"

    Suzie J
    Squarespace Client

  • "Great work from GOBO as usual, thank you"."

    Monique Charlesworth
    Author

  • "I have been working with GOBO for over a year, they are responsive, creative and amazing to work with."

    Sara Hayes
    Hayes Strategy

  • "Sam continues to be the dependable designer I need to complete quick projects. I highly recommend him."

    Squarespace Client

  • "Unlike other designers I have worked with, Sam is very responsive and patient when adjustments are needed. I can tell he wants his clients to love the project once complete and he will take necessary steps to achieve that goal. This was a different project I had him create and I must say, it is the best and most creative. I requested a specific template and Sam exceeded my expectations by creating video feature that made the some photos pop. He continues to be my first choice when I need a great design!"

    Stephen Wingard
    Squarespace Client

  • "Working with Sam was a joy from start to finish. He really took the time to understand what I was hoping to achieve, gently explained the bits that wouldn’t work, suggested great alternatives, saved me money where possible, has a great sense of humour and puts you at ease if you’re feeling out of your depth (as I was) and he was so so so patient! I’m absolutely thrilled with the result of his work and cannot recommend him highly enough."

    Rachel Franke
    Rachel F Coaching

  • "Sam was fantastic! He was very polite and professional. He is also highly educated in Squarespace. Thank you, Sam!"

    Ande Teague
    Squarespace Client

  • "It was a great experience working with Gobo Creative and Sam. I only had ideas in my head and he was able to bring them to fruition! I am very excited and proud of my new site. Cheers!"

    Sara Hayes
    Hayes Strategy

  • "Sam was very helpful and quick, turning my request around and executing at speed. Very good communication and excellent value."

    Jack Cunningham
    Harlyn Advisory

  • "We were so lucky to find Sam. He helped execute our project brilliantly, we're really happy with the outcome and Sam helped with great creative & technical suggestions. He was the perfect partner for this project which is now live and working really well. Sam's communication was excellent throughout. We'd 100% work with Sam again and would highly recommend for similar projects."

    Jonathan Peritt
    Beer & Burger Store

  • "It was a pleasure to work with Sam to set up my new website. He provided me with a range of options to enable me to decide the type of site most suited to my requirements. His focus was completely on meeting my requirements rather than trying to upsell. He has previously done work for several of my clients and their feedback has been equally positive."

    David Bulmer
    David Bulmer Associates

  • "Sam knows his stuff. He's responsive and flexible. We really enjoyed working with him on our website."

    Steve Brown
    Evolve 4 Food

  • "Sam was very helpful and generous with his time and expertise. Highly recommend!"

    Larissa Rossef
    Squarespace Client

  • "Thank you for your patience and diligence in helping me!"

    Michelle Haworth
    Squarespace Client

  • "Sam is brilliant, an absolute pleasure to work with. He's very easy to talk to, listened closely to my preferences, helped me to clarify what I wanted and very efficiently delivered just what I'd envisioned, a stylish and minimalist website. I'm delighted with the results and will be recommending Sam to anyone looking for a designer."

    Paige Perkins
    Artist

  • "Sam was great from start to finish, and took on board my needs and requirements. It was like he was in my head, the website was almost perfect first time! I cannot thank you enough!"

    Helen Forster
    HTF Legal

  • "Great customer service at an affordable price, I could not recommend the team enough! Very happy with our end result."

    Kevin Masheder
    Sign Hub Harrogate

  • "Had an amazing experience working with Sam setting up our website, he was so quick and very responsive . We love our website and would highly recommend them to anyone who needs a website setting up :)"

    Kirstie Riddell
    Fat Birds Bakery

  • “Sam was very helpful from start to finish. It was an extremely straight forward process with a great result. Thank you!!!”

    Anthony Mence
    ADM Accountants

  • “Our idea was to build a website for our street of independent retailers. Sam has been brilliant, and really facilitated the whole complicated process of co-ordinating 17 shops. What struck us is that nothing was too much trouble, Sam carefully guided and advised us throughout, and his speed of response in adding information and making updates and amendments was remarkable. We are absolutely delighted with our new street website and cannot thank Sam enough.”

    Sue Kramer
    Commercial Street Retailers

  • "Gobo were recommended to us though a business contact who had previously used their service. After an initial meeting with one of the directors, we decided to use them for a new creative logo design and a full website build. We found the who process 'hassle free' and the cost' very reasonable' for the work involved. Over the coming weeks we worked closely with Sam on the designs and layout, always considering our own tastes and input while also offering specialist sector knowledge and creativity. The quality of the work carried out was excellent and value to our business was immeasurable. I would highly recommend using this company for anyone considering increasing their own online image and we will defiantly use their service again for any future projects."

    L B
    Google Review