Labs Life: Getting to Know Charlee Jones

What did you do before you came to Sutherland?

After University I worked in the film industry for Warner Bros, Sony Pictures and Vertigo Films distributing theatrical films to cinemas, before moving to Twentieth Century UK in administration, financial reporting, training support, and coordinating subtitle and dubbing requirements from our international offices and licensees. I spent time in UK Marketing helping to manage marketing strategies, events, publicity, promotions, press screenings and premieres, before becoming  PA to Vice President EMEA Finance. There I learnt a lot about the legal side of film distribution and contracts, and as a PA I was really able to flex my organisational skills.

My career in the film distribution came to an end after 13 years, after which I moved into film production in the costume department. I worked on a horror feature film that has since gone on to win multiple awards at film festivals and this was looking like an avenue I would pursue until the big world event that put a lot on hold for a lot of people. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about c 2019.

I joined Sutherland Labs in March 2022 and I haven’t looked back, it has been one of the best career decisions I have made.

Outside of work I played Roller Derby, a grass roots, not for profit full contact sport on quad roller skates played on a flat oval track. By the skaters, for the skaters. A game where offence and defence are played simultaneously, a lot of tactics involved and often very heavy hits and body checks. I spent a couple of seasons as a Director, A-Team Captain, Coach, rostered on Team England for a season, and coached the men’s London Team to European Champions. Lots of international travel, training, competitions, broken bones and after parties; it was definitely one crazy adventure.

Image credit: Photography by Dino

What would the ten year old version of you say that they wanted to be when they grew up?

Oof, 10 year old me?!  You’re expecting me to remember? I can tell you that I have wanted to be many things over the years; from a vet, to working in conservation, a photographer, a costume designer.

I studied photography at University and left wanting to pursue a career as a live music and creative portrait photographer, inspired by Mario Testino and David LaChappelle. Alas this industry is a rather tough nut to crack and whilst I had a number of unpaid jobs the paid gigs were hard to come by. I will always consider myself a photographer though; mainly now focusing on nature, found objects, light, line, shape and shadow. It’s my main creative passion. It’s how I portray the world as I see it.

I’ve always had a passion for subcultures and how we use our fashion as a costume to present our character and personality to the world. The more I watched movies the more I realised how costume is a key storytelling piece and when done well, you don’t even notice. It draws you into the world, the character, the story. The likes of Sandy Powell, Colleen Atwood, Milena Canonero and Jenny Beaven, and fashion designers such as Jean Paul Gauliter, Vivienne Westood and Alexander McQueen inspired me to want to be a costume designer.

I spent a few years working on my own costume portfolio, from design, to crafting and organising photo shoots. I had full creative freedom to create exactly what I wanted to; from Wizard of Oz inspired apocalypse costumes, to costumes inspired by the ocean; jellyfish, octopi, mermaids, barnacles, pirates and fishermen.

Image credit: John Hesse

What is the unique talent that you bring to Sutherland?

Being creatively organised. I like to find creative solutions and ways to display data that could otherwise be quite sterile.

What has been your best experience while working with Sutherland?

It’s hard to single out one experience, but as a whole, working with this team is the best part about working with Sutherland.

I haven’t arrived at UX Research in a particularly conventional way but it’s such a fascinating industry made all the more enjoyable by our fantastic team, willing to share, support and educate.

What do you do for fun?

My partner and I purchased an ex-ambulance which we converted into a campervan. Not only has it been fun (and an experience) making it our own home, we have enjoyed going on adventures across the country, with a hope to travel over to Europe, and eventually up into the arctic circle.

We love travelling in our van and hiking with our best friend (our dog); we all managed the three peaks this year; Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Yr Wyddfa.  Among other mountains and hills across Scotland, England and Wales.

I’m a bit of a collector, loving all things natural, curious and odd, so along our adventures I enjoy collecting things we find along the way;  bones, wool, shells, rocks, to name a few. Our adventures also give me the perfect photo opportunities.

I love crafting and making things; headpieces, masks, embroidery, sewing, sculptures, and odd things. I even dabble in a bit of taxidermy occasionally.

What inspires you?

I consider myself to be an optimistic realist, I stand somewhere on the boundary, understanding that in order for there to be brightness there must be darkness also. A balance. Though there is always light at the end of the tunnel, there will be challenges along the way. Ultimately that balance throughout life is what inspires me. Nature, life, death, beauty, horror and all that’s in between.

This balance and intrigue leads me to find inspiration almost anywhere; in the great outdoors, music, movies, photography, costume, performance, drag, architecture, design, relationships, people, animals, actions, inactions, conversations, stillness, quiet, dark, light.

Do you have any pets?

Yes, an Australian Cattle Dog. She is our world, she is very smart and likes to play (A LOT), so she certainly keeps us on our toes, which isn’t a bad thing! We’re hoping to add to our family with another Cattle Dog this year.