After completing a degree in philosophy, Mark held a variety of positions in fields as diverse as consumer marketing, photo journalism and corporate communication. In 1996 Mark left the corporate world to join the newly formed Electric Ocean, with whom he worked for two years. He eventually found his niche in interface design and information architecture, gathering an armful of awards in the process. Thereafter a brief spell at Tinderbox followed, during which he consulted to a range of blue chip clients, such as Daimler-Chrysler, Old Mutual and First National Bank. In January 1999 Mark left Tinderbox to start Maverick.