Michael Rea
Available

Michael Rea

Senior Designer / IllustratorFarnham, United Kingdom
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Michael Rea
Available

Michael Rea

Senior Designer / IllustratorFarnham, United Kingdom
About me
I am an art director / senior graphic designer from Farnham, Surrey, able to bring a huge variety of skills and a wealth of experience to any project. A large part of my role as an in-house senior designer in recent years was to create business-winning, game-changing bid campaigns for a raft of high profile companies. I and my team produced striking and highly creative proposals for them that were full-blown advertising campaigns, and have the same impact. Everything I create, from ideas to designs to copy, reinforces key brand messages and USPs – identified during discussions with the client to tease out their pain points, and simplify their core message down to a perfect tagline and visual that truly represents them. It’s intensely effective and has worked for many globally recognised brands, from IBM to Babcock International. On top of this, I have a wealth of branding experience, with a rapid ideation / design / production workflow, which ensures every element is considered and sat within a consistent design framework which can then be pushed out to the team and works well in web, advertising, editorial and print. I am comfortable presenting these designs to the client, and helping them to understand the potential of a well-crafted design leading to an absorbing customer experience. My visual storytelling is second to none, with a degree in illustration, published work with Marvel and Image Comics and advertising storyboard experience. I have a breadth of skills; from the usual design and retouching integral to the role but also drawing, augmented reality, motion graphics & video editing, 3D modelling and animation, and am able to apply this to create work that consistently excites. I am comfortable mentoring designers and have experience selecting, hiring and training team members, offering guidance throughout all stages of production. Most of my recent work is covered by NDAs, so I've attached a portfolio with client logos removed. However I'd love the chance to meet up and talk through the full portfolio in person.
Projects
  • Illustration
    IllustrationVarious freelance work
  • Spragga Benz - Chiliagon
    Spragga Benz - ChiliagonI was approached by Buttercuts Records to create all the album and singles artwork for Spragga Benz’s ‘Chiliagon’ project. This involved creating a ‘campaign style’ initially based on the Jamaican flag, which could be applied throughout the project and still be recognisable through different applications.
  • The BE Partnership
    The BE PartnershipWorking for SMSW Media, we created a joint brand for two Blue Chip engineering firms, bidding to provide training and electronic warfare solutions to the RAF.
  • Mission Data Brand Design
    Mission Data Brand DesignA brand created for SMSW Media, for an Electronic Warfare event, to bring experts in electronic warfare together to create the UK’s defence of the future.
  • Red Rocket Comet
    Red Rocket CometA comic cover designed for Matt Garvey comics. Winner of Pipedream Comics Indie and Small Press Comic of the Year 2018.
  • Affjet Brand Design
    Affjet Brand DesignAn affiliate marketing company, Affjet required a rebrand that would have them stand out in an industry where all their competitors had the same, homogenous message and look. Working for SMSW Media, I was able to boil their value proposition down to their clients’ core needs (to see more, know more, and earn more), and represent this in a funnel-shaped brandmark, bolstered by a graphic concept of billions of pieces of data coalescing into perfect focus. A full range of collateral was designed,
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Work history
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    Senior DesignerSMSW Media
     - Farnham, United KingdomFull Time
    Creating B2B brands and campaigns, primarily for commercial blue chip and FTSE100 companies, including Babcock, Boeing, SITA Aero, Capita, Amey, Cobham, Fluor, Savills, Selex ES and more. Key responsibilities: • Researching a client’s brand, audience, competitors, key differentiators, value proposition and USPs • Ideation • Brand and logo design, across all channels • Campaign creation and visualisations • Print design and production • Presentations • 3D modelling and animation • Freehand illustration • Video editing & motion graphics • Web design • Music production • Copywriting • Managing production schedules from client brief to completion, including: • client liaison • hiring and liaising with designers and photographers • overseeing print production and delivery • Training & mentoring designers
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    Senior DesignerAmber & Green
     - Tongham, UKFull Time
    Event and exhibition design for FTSE 100 companies, also designing award winning office rebrands and corporate hospitality suites (incl. Wimbledon). Clients include IBM, Ernst & Young, The Labour Party, SunGard, Lenovo, Merrill Lynch, Thomson Reuters and more. • Overseeing design and production of the IBM Laboratory at Birmingham Metropolitan College, from sketch concepts to production • Incorporated augmented reality • 2D design of exhibition stands, banners, event brochures and other print collateral • Photoshop retouching, including colour correction and image manipulation Corporate branding and logo design Acting as ‘brand guardian’, ensuring corporate guidelines are adhered to by both designers and clients • experience • • Bank, IBM Dublin and Wimbledon Hospitality Suite • 3D modeling of environments in Sketchup or hand-drawing
Skills
  • Brand Creation
  • Campaign Advertising
  • Print Design
  • Retouching
  • Illustration
  • 3D Modeling
  • 3D Animation
  • Video Editing
  • Motion Graphics
  • Web Design
Education
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    Illustration BA (hons) University of the West of England
     - Bristol, United Kingdom
Awards
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    FinalistSign and Digital
    IBM South Bank Office Design. Received by Amber and Green for work I designed there.
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    Best Hospitality Event (Silver)Eventia Awards
    Received by Amber and Green for work I designed there.