Si Billam

Si Billam

Graphic Designer / OwnerMelbourne, Australia
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Pip Jamieson
Brendan McKnight
Alex Lambrechts
Si Billam

Si Billam

Graphic Designer / OwnerMelbourne, Australia
About me
UNIT is the freelance graphic design practice of Si Billam, a progressive and diverse designer based in the north of the United Kingdom. UNIT focuses on the creation of crafted design solutions. We collaborate with forward thinking clients within the areas of public art, global branding, local government, regeneration projects and music industry art direction. Prior to establishing UNIT, Si was Senior designer with the world renowned ‘The Designers Republic’ based in Sheffield. His work there ranged from rebranding MTV Italy (QOOB), creating global campaigns for Coca-Cola to projects with independent artists, record labels and architects. After his time at tDR he spent 3 years working as Senior Designer & Art Director at Leeds based Vast servicing clients within the arts, fashion, property and regeneration markets. Si’s work on the independent fashion magazine ‘Shufti®’ led to the publication winning both Gold & Silver prizes at the Graphis and SPD awards in New York 2009.
Projects
  • Laser Ledge Session
    Laser Ledge SessionA snapshot of video game culture past and present, Every Day is Play is the first self-published book project from Game Paused. Capturing a whole generation’s imagination through a series of interviews, features and fan-art, it promises a wealth of creative play —bringing every gamer together in a true celebration of the game. I was very honoured when invited to contribute to the EDiP project, mainly because the subject is not somewhere my work usually sits. Twinned with the fact I’m not the stereotypical ‘gamer’ that the word suggests. My response explores my fascination with mobile gaming, not on a multiple player level more the traditional insular level. Specifically one game, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skateboarder II on the iPhone. A game that really pulls at the ‘addicted to gaming’ string and my eternal love for skateboarding. I’ve spent so much time playing this game in places I really shouldn’t admit to. So having nothing to show for it except epically high scores contained within the phone is what eventually drove me to produce something that was truly tangible. In my old days of skateboarding one would keep old decks that were no longer of use. Not like a trophy but more like a photo of a really great trick - it had memories attached to it. I really wanted to recreate this for my time invested in this game. Using the process of laser etching to create marks on an unused skateboard deck. The marks were designed to appear random but every mark made relates to a specific trick that would affect a particular part of the board while skateboarding. The outputted result becomes the physical representation of a really great skate session I had digitally while seated at my desk. No broken bones, no golf ball ankle and no smashed shins. For an aging former skateboarder it doesn’t get much better than this.
  • Colours May Vary
    Colours May VaryColours May Vary (CMV) is a new contemporary design, book, journal & gifting outlet in Leeds city. We created a unique mark that harks back to a time when choosing a gift for someone really meant something - a time before the internet, a time when care and attention to retail content and shopping experience was at the top of the list and a time when browsing was encouraged, not frowned upon. CMV curate accessories for your lifestyle. The logo acts as a stamp of approval or a metaphorical 'Thumbs-up-like-button-on-facebook' that says 'we love these products and you will too'. Amongst printed matter we also created a bespoke typeface for use on all communications.
Work history
    Graphic Designer & Owner
    Freelance / Self employed Senior Graphic Designer working in the areas of brand identity, art direction, conceptual and installation.
    Senior Designer & Art Director
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Skills
  • Fashion
  • Packaging
  • Advertising
  • Visual Arts
  • Branding
  • Corporate Identity
  • Print Design
  • Art Direction
  • Typography
  • Wayfinding Design
  • Brand Design
  • Design
  • Environment
  • Indesign
  • Photoshop
Education
    BTEC HND Graphic Design Photography
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    Graphic Design & Photography
    BTEC Gnvq Advanced Art Design
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    BTEC GNVQ Advanced Art & Design