Celebrating 10 Years of Growth and Achievement at MMD GPHC

Andy McKnight, Videographer & Graphic Designer at MMD GPHC Ltd

What is your name and job title?

Andy McKnight  | Videographer / Graphic Designer

What does your job look like? What outcomes do you help to achieve for the company?

As part of the media team based in the Isle of Man, I provide photography, videography, and graphic design services to the global group of MMD companies. Day to day this includes video and photo editing, plus graphic design for a range of marketing and promotional material for different campaigns. We try to get our brand out there, whilst supporting our sales offices and promoting our products and services worldwide.

What did your early career and education look like?

After school on the Isle of Man, I studied for a National Diploma in Multimedia at the Isle of Man College, before going on to study for a degree in Visual Communication at the University of Leeds, UK.

How long have you worked for MMD? How did you come to be in the position you are in today?

10 years! My diploma & degree, followed by several years of doing various freelance work on the likes of the Isle of Man TT races, allowed me to keep building my portfolio, leading to the position I am in today.

Discuss your previous roles and responsibilities and how that has influenced the position you are in now.

I’ve always enjoyed a varied role at MMD, especially when I first joined and worked a lot with the late Chairman, Alan Potts! My role is still varied now both within the office, and when I travel to the sites to capture promotional material of our machines in operation. I’ve always enjoyed a variety of employment, from labouring on building sites to working on fishing boats, to office administration, and I think all of these experiences help to develop you as a person and your career.

Why do you do what you do? What motivates you to succeed?

I had an interest in photography from a young age which is what ultimately led me to pursue an education and career in media. Our job is to promote the company’s products and services, but also to support the sales offices, and doing the best you can to help and support those offices is one of the most important aspects of the job for me.

What makes you good at your job? How do you stand out?

For me, in lens-based media, it’s all about the composition! It’s understanding your subject, how that subject is composed within the frame, and how you use whatever lighting situation you have available. I think you need to really understand your product and figure out how to get this across to people in a meaningful way.  We sell heavy-duty machinery in the mining and quarrying industries in some of the harshest conditions, so some jobs are certainly easier than others!

What do you like most about working at MMD?

I’ve always enjoyed the varied role the company has offered me. One day I can be in the office working on a graphic design campaign for an upcoming exhibition, the next day I can be flying to the other side of the world to film/photograph some of our equipment in operation. Getting the opportunity to travel to see firsthand how our machines perform onsite is a massive highlight for me. I don’t think I’ll ever not be amazed when I see one of our Sizers in operation, especially some of the higher tonnage installations.

I also really enjoy meeting new people. I feel lucky to work for a company and in a role that has allowed me to travel and meet new people from all over the world. The company is full of interesting characters…from a huge range of backgrounds, who take pride in what they do. Despite being a global company with around 600 employees, there is still a family feel across the group and I feel like I’ve made friends for life. 

What achievement(s) are you most proud of?

Some of the trips to the sites to capture media, which you then see used in a variety of promotional material make the hours spent sat on flights all worthwhile. It’s nice seeing your work used at the likes of exhibitions or on the front cover of industry-leading magazines.

What advice would you give to someone looking up to you?

If you’re looking to get into media work start building your portfolio! I’d say a good portfolio is more important than any qualifications…

What do you do in your spare time?

·         Mountain biking

·         Trail running

·         Dog walking

·         Spending time with my young family