About Maskerade Design



Maskerade Design was formed by myself and business partner Darren Overton back in 1998. Previously working for a Print and Graphic design Company which unfortunately closed and was “mothballed”, we were both faced with the daunting prospects of seeking alternative employment else wear. During our final week we talked about how and if we could start up a similar business and continue doing what we enjoy and do best. Not knowing how and what to do we arranged a meeting with our boss “Graham Overton” and asked if he could answer our questions and concerns. The response was great and resulted in not only being able to purchase our old equipment but also allowing us to contact his existing customers to tell them what our plans were. Our only problem now was where!!! And what do we call the new Company.

A week later a name was decided “Maskerade Design”, and a unit was found on riverside road in Southwick. This is were Maskerade was born. Our first two years were very very hard, but with constant support from our existing clients we were able to win print contracts with Sunderland Football Club and Scottish & Newcastle Breweries along with many more. Year 3 we took on an additional member of staff and expanded the business into a retrial premises on Chester road. We were now able to serve not only business customers but passing trade such as University Students and members of the public. 2003 saw the departure of Darren from the company and the end of our business partnership, Darren decided to move onto new projects and I took control of Maskerade in full. Starting from fresh I developed a new business model invested and purchased new equipment, and employed an additional member of staff, We stayed pretty much the same for a couple of years but more importantly increasing our turnover year by year. In 2005 I was approached by Printing.com to launch the Sunderland Printing.com Store. This was a fantastic opportunity to expand further into the print sector and would mean we could manage all our lithographic print far more efficiently, giving you the customer fantastic savings and monthly special offers, offer you an additional 3000 new print lines and also adopting the motto and guarantee. “On time or on us” At the back end of 2005 we were in a position to purchase the business premises; this allowed us to re-fit and present ourselves with a more professional look.

Maskerade now employs 5 full time staff one part time in accounts and 2 freelance designers/ web programmers. We are undertaking work not just in the North East but globally as well, with customers as far as Finland Canada and New York.


Stuart Lockerbie
Managing Director