Who am I?
H
Aitch Cobb
Howie Cobb
That’s me. I’m a marketing consultant by trade, and as the Creative Director of HC Communications I am a writer, designer, photographer, illustrator and builder; of brands.
In my function as a father and husband I am a writer, photographer, painter, homework helper, taxi-driver, mentor, tormentor, dancer to soul music and builder; of things.
Graduating in Construction Management, Law & Economics, I plumped for training as a draughtsman. Someone sent me down to the Graphic Design department one day, a department of which I had never heard. I was enthralled, became a trainee Graphic Designer, and soon set up my own studio. Which also meant I was a businessman.
My real interest in copywriting and advertising grew. I was fortunate that a CAM course sent me into the hottest hotshops in the ’80’s London ad scene. Working as a creative team with my late best friend Dominic, we produced concepts for the big names like Dave Trott (the Vinny Jones of the ad world) at Gold, Greenlees & Trott; took the harsh criticisms and knockbacks, which helped hone our writing and art direction.
We worked at Greys Advertising; Doyle Dane Bernbach; Lowe Howard Spink; Collett Dickinson Pearce; and other great agencies with ridiculous names.
Before I knew it I had my own agency with staff, a smart office and even smarter suits.
But the recession put paid to all that, and I hung up my suits, house and business and set off round the world – the oldest backpacker in Asia. But that is when life became especial. I recounted my trip in my book ‘Two Minute Noodle’ but I wasn’t to know then that my whole future would be intensely and intricately entwined with South East Asia. I am forever indebted.
Needless to say on returning to ‘real life’ graphic design, advertising and marketing had moved on, and I needed help to use a ‘mouse’. On moving to Devon I set up a marketing consultancy to use the skills I already had, along with the new ones I was learning.
15 years on, though the industry has been transformed, it is still words and type and form, along with creative thinking, that make a brand successful. And that’s what I do. Amongst other things.
howiecobb 
And just look what you started with that book! I’ve been all over the world, most of it by Enfield motorcycle thanks to you and Ted Simon! I came to your talk in Manchester in 1998 Telegraph Travel day or something. (I did write to you after my first year backpacking) and so inspired was I by you that I did it, too! Can you tell me in which year you wrote the book?
It was 1995 Jacqui. I’ve returned to Vietnam many times since and we have adopted two boys from there who are now 12 and 9. We now travel S.E Asia together yearly as a family which is a joy. Glad you chose a Royal Enfield – not a rubbish Russian Minsk like me!
Ah! What a lovely story. Thanks for getting back to me and good for you for grabbing the opportunity to make something of your backpacking experience. You certainly inspired me!