About me
What about me?
Over 20 years of industry and freelance experience has given me proficiency in graphic design. Focusing on art direction, UI/UX developing, print design, typography, illustration and photography.
I have been working in higher education for over 15 years as a senior technician and a lecturer in graphic design. Educated up to postgraduate degree level achieving a Masters in graphic design. I am furthering my personal development through constant pedagogic and research application in the visual arts.
I have attained an HND level in computing science. This knowledge has rooted my UI/UX projects; proficiently able to code languages from HTML to CSS to JavaScript. Furthermore, I have extensive hardware/software knowledge in Windows, Apple Macintosh, mobile devices and single-board computers (Raspberry Pi).
Other work experience brought me in to contact with a broad cross-section of the public. These roles have given me invaluable confidence and social skills to communicate with all manners of society effectively.
Freelance work
2000 – present
As a freelance designer/consultant/art director, I have worked both individually and in collaboration in several design practices on a variety of projects.
Currently, I am working with several small businesses’ forging tailored and successful creative marketing solutions. The main areas covered are traditional print-based promotional material (business cards, flyers, posters) and a prominent web presence.
Recently I have also worked in a creative partnership called eightonethree (813) with an illustrator. We concentrated our work as a fashion label predominately designing t-shirts and the marketing and promotional material. We successfully sell these t-shirts at local craft fairs. I have also worked as an art director and web-based designer in a collaborative design company called ‘Crayon Collective’. Co-founded with three other designers and illustrators we worked on several projects from full promotional material for bands, covering compact disc cover, flyers, posters and web presence strategy, and, shop frontages and editorial designs.
I have developed website designs for ‘The Arena Theatre’ and ‘The Lighthouse’. These designs incorporated a fresh approach to the information-based website genre while utilising extensive web development practices, i.e. optimising download times and employing web-safe colours. I have also undergone some work experience as an ‘Intranet Assistant Designer/Developer’ at Hewitt Associates LLC. Here I was involved on the developing side of a commercial project – checking HTML code and content validity and consistency. I was also part of the visualisation, conceptualisation and preliminary development of the new employee-serving intranet site. These commercial projects involved many client meetings and presentations, both in-person and via telephone/email, providing me with invaluable first-hand client-designer relationship experience.
I have pursued training and practice of traditional typesetting and letterpress. I have been undergoing an apprenticeship with John Neave, a local letterpress printer. He agreed to show me how to typeset and letterpress. I have taken this further by purchasing a letterpress machine and old wood and metal type to develop my knowledge and expertise in this early design practice.
Senior technician - graphic design
2003 – 2020
I have over 15 years of experience working in higher education.
Most recently, I worked as a senior technician specialising in graphic designer within the Faculty of Arts at the University of Wolverhampton. The primary duties of the position enabled me to express my knowledge of design theory and practice using traditional methodologies and design software applications.
I completely understand the print process for all the printers, including medium format and large format photo-quality inkjets, textile, positive and negative prints ready for silkscreen printing.
My role also includes lecturing/demonstrating software workshop sessions to student groups. Knowledge, practice and excellent communication skills need to be prevalent, as students will require on-going support throughout the duration of the degree. Careful planning and preparation are required in advance to facilitate this support.
I also undertake related administration duties within my role, involving reviewing and updating budget spreadsheets, inventory stock takes and PATesting.
Lecturing/demonstrating - graphic design
2003 – 2020
I have been undertaking some form of lecturing or demonstrating every year of my tenure, employed as a visiting lecturer at the University of Wolverhampton Faculty of Arts. My specialist techniques and practice the delivery and appropriateness of information has benefitted students to get the maximum out of these sessions.
In this role, I further my technical part and focus more precisely on subjects within the graphic design environment. Students are encouraged to generate original visual concepts, to the specified resolution and size, and apply a creative and flexible approach in developing visual solutions.
Jobcentre Plus
2002 – 2003
Previously I completed a fulltime contract as a graphic designer for Jobcentre Plus producing creative design solutions for various design projects. All projects undertaken had to comply with the Jobcentre Plus Networks design and branding guidelines. The design solutions relied on an exacting code of practice, with control on issues such as colour, typefaces, use of rounded corners for any framing, and legibility for all ranges of the public. Integral to the role included the project management from the initial brief to completion. Ensuring the final documents were set to print-ready format, liaising with clients and finally the printers to provide the best possible design solution.
This position gave me a dramatic learning curve, as it was my first graphic design related position after my degree. Working in a team highlighted to me how vital clear lines of communication were. Working to strict deadlines had to be adhered, otherwise causing a knock-on effect with our clients.
Coda
I am ardent about graphic design in both the creative, commercial and educational arenas. I now seek a new challenge to further my practice and believe my professional experience and passion for graphic design.
Work history
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Graphic designerSelf Employed
Wolverhampton, United KingdomFreelance
As a freelance designer/consultant/art director, I have worked both individually and in collaboration in several design practices on a variety of projects.
Currently, I am working with several small businesses’ forging tailored and successful creative marketing solutions. The main areas covered are traditional print-based promotional material (business cards, flyers, posters) and a prominent web presence.
Recently I have also worked in a creative partnership called eightonethree (813) with an illustrator. We concentrated our work as a fashion label predominately designing t-shirts and the marketing and promotional material. We successfully sell these t-shirts at local craft fairs. I have also worked as an art director and web-based designer in a collaborative design company called ‘Crayon Collective’. Co-founded with three other designers and illustrators we worked on several projects from full promotional material for bands, covering compact disc cover, flyers, posters and web presence strategy, and, shop frontages and editorial designs.
I have developed website designs for ‘The Arena Theatre’ and ‘The Lighthouse’. These designs incorporated a fresh approach to the information-based website genre while utilising extensive web development practices, i.e. optimising download times and employing web-safe colours. I have also undergone some work experience as an ‘Intranet Assistant Designer/Developer’ at Hewitt Associates LLC. Here I was involved on the developing side of a commercial project – checking HTML code and content validity and consistency. I was also part of the visualisation, conceptualisation and preliminary development of the new employee-serving intranet site. These commercial projects involved many client meetings and presentations, both in-person and via telephone/email, providing me with invaluable first-hand client-designer relationship experience.
I have pursued training and practice of traditional typesetting and letterpress. I have been undergoing an apprenticeship with John Neave, a local letterpress printer. He agreed to show me how to typeset and letterpress. I have taken this further by purchasing a letterpress machine and old wood and metal type to develop my knowledge and expertise in this early design practice.
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Lecturer/demonstrator - graphic designUniversity of Wolverhampton
- Wolverhampton, United KingdomPart Time
I have been undertaking some form of lecturing or demonstrating every year of my tenure, employed as a visiting lecturer at the University of Wolverhampton Faculty of Arts. My specialist techniques and practice the delivery and appropriateness of information has benefitted students to get the maximum out of these sessions.
In this role, I further my technical part and focus more precisely on subjects within the graphic design environment. Students are encouraged to generate original visual concepts, to the specified resolution and size, and apply a creative and flexible approach in developing visual solutions.
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Skills
- Graphic Design
- Print Design
- Creative Direction
- UI Design
- UX Design
- Education
- Typography
- Illustration
- Photography
- Adobe
Education
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Master of ArtsUniversity of Wolverhampton
- Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
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Bachelor of Arts (BA) University of Wolverhampton
- Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
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