Moved the studio from project work to long-term relationships by securing new clients, growing existing ones, and building the systems that kept it going.
Introduction
Turning project work into long-term partnerships.
Paper Stone Scissors is a boutique creative studio with teams in Melbourne, Sydney, and Shanghai. We delivered award-winning work for global brands, but growth was inconsistent. New business often came through cold outreach, one-off wins, and time-heavy pitches. It was high effort, low return—and it wasn’t sustainable.
I led projects across Asia Pacific for clients like Herman Miller, Hilton, and Carrefour—managing accounts, guiding strategy, and delivering work across regions. But I didn’t stop at delivery. I grew existing accounts by spotting new opportunities, solving real problems, and turning short-term work into long-term relationships.
We didn’t just wait around. We created opportunities and made sure they stuck.
I also focused on growing the agency beyond its day-to-day client work. I reignited past relationships, tapped into my network, and reached out to new brands. Instead of sending generic quotes, I tailored proposals to each opportunity—framing the problem clearly, defining our approach, and showing the value upfront. And to raise our profile, I launched initiatives that connected the creative community in new ways and opened doors to future clients.
Highlights
Reigniting Relationships
Herman Miller is one of the world’s most iconic furniture brands. Our relationship had gone quiet, but the potential was still there. I knew our creative team could bring something fresh to the table, so I reached out to reconnect. That led to multiple projects across Hong Kong, Shanghai, Japan, Singapore, and Australia. I led campaign delivery, managed regional teams, and kept creative on track. The work helped re-establish the brand’s presence in Asia Pacific and reignited a partnership that caught the attention of global HQ. It was a win for the studio—creative work we were proud of, and a client relationship with real momentum.
Built from Zero
Living Octave started as a lead from my personal network and turned into our highest-billing client in 2016. The ask? Launch a luxury resort, spa, and wellness brand from scratch. It was big, ambitious, and completely open—lots of vision, but no clear direction yet. I worked directly with the founder and across six internal teams to shape the strategy, build alignment, and bring the brand to life. We delivered everything from identity and packaging to websites, campaigns, and launch materials, building a brand that felt uniquely theirs. The work became the foundation for how the brand still shows up today.
Creative Outreach
I spearheaded Now&Them to bring the creative community together and show what we stood for as a studio. Our first event, Collab#1, paired 60 people from 19 countries in unexpected creative duos. The next, Chinese Whispers, explored storytelling across writers and visual artists. All artwork was sold via silent auction with 100% of proceeds donated to nonprofits in China. It wasn’t a marketing play—it was a statement. A reflection of our values, creative culture, and point of view. Now&Them became part of our identity, sparked new conversations, and positioned us as a studio people wanted to work with.
Collab#1 Launch Party
400+ Attendees
Collab#1 Money Raised
¥100,000+
Collab#1 Exhibitors
60
Testimonials
“During the time Shermaine worked for us, our Shanghai studio was greatly enhanced with an increase in annual revenue of 120%. Very goal-oriented and a team player, Shermaine always delivered results. She created excellent rapport with her clients and strong bonds with our teams. Her projects were great successes, and her contribution to the company’s growth initiatives was significant from conception through to execution.”
Atia Cader, Co-Founder & Creative Director
Paper Stone Scissors
“Over the years of working with many account teams, Shermaine was one of the best. She made the continuous effort to deeply understand us, ensuring that our strategy and communications aligned with the overall brand. I would recommend Shermaine for the endeavours she chooses to pursue and believe that she would be an asset to any team.”
Jacquelyn Wu, Brand General Manager
Living Octave