Hi, I am Mark graphic designer and illustrator based in Surrey, UK.
I’ve had a passion for graphic design and ever since I found out about it in school. Ever since then, I’ve been practising and learning under the name Blue Deer Design.
Starting the business while at school in 2014, with an official full-time launch in March 2017.
Along the way, I’ve been lucky enough to work at a handful of design studios and design based jobs to gain experience and hone my craft.
After attending Shillington Graphic Design College in 2016, graduating in 2017, Blue Deer became a full-time gig. This threw me into the deep end of working in the industry.
Dealing directly with clients, self-promotion, scheduling, staying organised and facing new challenges all of the time.
This meant working with various companies from different backgrounds, I.T. companies to restaurants to personal trainers and helping them to develop their identities and personal branding, on and offline.
Offering not only graphic design services but also social media management and promotional video filming and editing. This helped me to gain a few extra skills that other designers may not have.
I’ve also set up a podcast called, Creative Waffle this was both for self-promotion reasons and to get tips and advice from other creatives that I admire and like the work of.
This has added another string to my bow, being able to produce weekly content for all social media platforms, build a community around a product and work to tight deadlines. The show has now been going for nearly three years, and I’ve been lucky enough to chat with some of the biggest names in the design and illustration world.
Running the podcast has been incredibly valuable to me growing as a person, my design career, and being able to speak to almost anyone confidently. Not to mention the vast industry contact list that I’ve built up.
Recently, I wanted to shift my focus solely to something that I live and breath, football.
The podcast has seen more football-based creatives on the show and my work has shifted more towards sports and football-focused client list. Working with teams to create social media graphics and matchday programme covers.
Alongside developing my illustration style, which was used on the covers of Swansea City based fanzine S.O.S - ‘Swansea Oh Swansea’. I’ve also been able to work on branding and kit designs for football clubs — something that I can always get excited about.
Drawing club crests on my school uniform as a kid got me into trouble, but now I can do it for a living, and no one can tell me off. I’m living my childhood dream.
I am incredibly passionate about working in the sports industry, helping it to grow and develop.
I love the fast-paced environment that the creative football industry brings — working throughout a match to get a graphic done for the full-time whistle or through a press conference to react to the managers words. It keeps my work fresh and keeps me on my toes.
Projects
- IFK GöteborgMerchandise design for Swedish football club I.F.K Göteborg who play in the Allsvenskan League. Idrottsföreningen Kamraterna Göteborg, commonly known as IFK Göteborg, IFK or simply Göteborg, is a Swedish professional football club based in Gothenburg. Founded in 1904, it is the only club in the Nordic countries that has won one of the main UEFA competitions, having won the UEFA Cup in both 1982 and 1987. Lion design based on their current club crest and colours. The design takes inspiration fr
Work history
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Designer + FounderBlue Deer Design / Creative Waffle Podcast
Godalming, United KingdomFull Time
Working daily on graphic design and illustration projects. Alongside running, hosting and producing the weekly design podcast called Creative Waffle.
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Junior Freelance DesignerShine Creative
- Hartley Wintney, Hook, United KingdomFreelance
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Skills
- Graphic Communication
- Graphic Design
- Print Advertising
- Print Design
- Social Media
- Social Media Advertising
- Podcast Production
- Content Creation
- Illustration
- Brand Design