Meet Dave Head

Founder of NORTHERN Design & Digital Marketing

I'm Dave. Sunderland born, sea-air powered, and obsessed with helping businesses look sharper, sell more, and actually enjoy their marketing again. I run NORTHERN Design & Digital Marketing, where we keep things simple: clear strategy, cracking design, and results you can point at. No nonsense. No jargon. Just proper work that moves your business forward.

Work with Dave

Creative strategist. Designer. Straight-talker.

A career built on clarity, curiosity and graft

I’ve lived and worked around the world, but I’ve always come back to the North East. This place made me who I am. Everything I do is rooted in honesty, storytelling, and helping ambitious brands grow without losing who they are.

NORTHERN was built because businesses deserve better than waffle-filled marketing and confusing agency speak. You get clear plans, kind communication, and work I’d proudly put my name on.

Branding & Identity

Look the part, feel the part

Logos, tone of voice, visual identity and brand systems that people actually remember.

Websites that convert

Design with purpose

Fast, clean, mobile-first websites built to generate enquiries and sales, not just compliments.

Marketing with meaning

Data first, story always

SEO, PPC, content and automation that bring in real results you can measure and repeat.

Why I do what I do

People first. Always.

I care about more than metrics. I care about the people behind the businesses. I talk openly about ADHD, mental health and sobriety because real life happens behind the brand – and that honesty shapes how I work.

If you want a partner, not “just a supplier”, you’re in the right place.

Let's have a chat

Proudly Northern. Proudly local.

Sunderland, Durham, Newcastle and beyond

I work with ambitious businesses across the North East who want to step things up without losing their roots.

Cafés, trades, tech firms, charities, education, start-ups and established brands – if you genuinely care about what you do, I care about helping you shout about it.

See my work

Let's build something class together

No pressure. No awkward sales pitch.

If you’re planning a new brand, website or marketing push, I’d love to hear about it. Tell me where you are now and where you want to be.

We’ll grab a brew, have a proper chat, and make a plan that actually works.

Handy Tips & Tricks (Blog)

Northern Marketing Insights

Marketing Strategies for Mortgage Advisors: Winning Clients with Savvy Approaches

Unlock success in mortgage advisory with smart marketing strategies to attract and retain clients.

Northern Marketing Insights

Supercharge Your North East Business with SEO, Content, and AI

Explore how SEO, engaging content, and AI can transform your North East business's digital presence…

AI Live Demo

Hey Shannon – AI That Boosts Organic SEO — Simple Steps

Easy, practical AI steps to lift your organic search traffic — research, better content, on‑page…

Social Proof

We’ve helped Northern businesses scribble success stories online. From bakers to tech startups, our clients are clicking, ticking, and thriving.

“Great work from NORTHERN! We were looking to rebrand the company logo, but we were unsure how to go about it. NORTHERN understood our company before designing the rebrand, and it worked great. He introduced ideas we hadn't thought of before, and has a real eye for detail. Very fast turnaround and listened to any ideas we had also.”
Andy HornBespoke Vinyl

“We recently worked with Northern for a full rebranding of Sue’s Café, including new signage, menu designs, and a fresh logo. The results were fantastic! Northern perfectly captured the welcoming, seaside vibe we wanted, and their attention to detail was top-notch.”
SueSue's Cafe

“NORTHERN was a pleasure from start to finish, thank you so much for capturing our wedding day. NORTHERNs photography was second to none, I would recommend them to anyone. Myself and my wife Claire Pearson are really happy with the wedding album, They captured everything we required and more.”
James PearsonWedding Photography

“We recently teamed up with Northern for both our van design and corporate brochure, and the results were fantastic. The quality of the designs was brilliant, with vibrant colours and sharp details that perfectly captured our brand. The team at Northern were incredibly professional and attentive, making sure every aspect was handled with care”
Brian HBHFS

“Northern Designers are passionate and innovative, with exceptional skills in design and marketing. They supported our research projects and produced impactful websites and publications. Their dedication and creativity are invaluable.”
Tor Alexander BruceNon Profit Lead

“I've been incredibly impressed with Northern Designers' work since 2014. Their creativity, speed of delivery, and reliability are exceptional. They bring enthusiasm and deep knowledge to every project.”
Mark VoermansiReckonU, Vivi il Vino, Vino Veloce

Web design that converts digital marketing that grows PPC campaigns that perform SEO services that rank content marketing that connects CRO that boosts sales branding that stands out logo design that sticks Google Ads that reach email marketing that engages social media strategy that clicks UX design that flows responsive websites that adapt landing pages that persuade ecommerce sites that sell local SEO that targets Facebook Ads that scale Instagram marketing that pops video production that tells stories photography that shines analytics that inform Google Tag Manager that tracks keyword research that unlocks paid search that delivers marketing audits that uncover performance tracking that matters campaign optimisation that improves conversion strategy that works and digital growth that lasts.