From print to pixels
My career has been varied, from a start in packaging artwork I have gone on to a whole variety of tasks from photo retouching, to artwork, design and new media. So I am happy working in print and pixels. With a good breadth of skills, I’m fast, efficient and enjoy working as part of a team, or being responsible to get the job done on my own. I can hit the ground running, am easy to get on with, sociable and a good communicator. I’ll let the CV speak for itself, so read on.
Since 2013 I have been freelancing for a variety of studios and corporate clients, including J2, Bosch, Landor Associates, Creative Republic, Hunter Design, LEGO, Ruder Finn, ThisCity Agency, PLB Group, DT Economics, WE-DO-CO and The Chartered Institute of Marketing.
Orbital Creative Jan 2011 to Oct 2013
Design & artwork, print and new media
Orbital Creative came into being when Bosch decided it no longer wanted to run an internal design studio in the UK. It's largely the same clients and work as before in Bosch, but with the added responsibility of maintaining the company servers and network on top of all the creative tasks. The account management side of things was reduced, but I kept responsibility for Bosch Security Systems, because they insisted on keeping me as their prime contact.
Robert Bosch UK Dec 2007 to Jan 2011
Design & artwork, print and new media
Having been a freelancer at Bosch’s internal design team for a couple of years I accepted a permanent post in 2007. This came with more responsibilities and a more thorough involvement with the team.
As the studio evolved, our manager delegated more and more responsibility to his team, so, as designers, we all took on the role of account managers as well. Myself, I took on client liaison with Bosch Security Systems and the Power Tools divisions. A great learning curve, since it's all about keeping the client informed and happy and maintaining a professional but close relationship.
While still at Bosch, I was also involved in freelance work for an ex Bosch employee, coding websites for her newly established creative business, Thomas Leger design.
Freelance career May 2000 to Dec 2007
Design & creative artwork
I worked as a freelance creative artworker and designer for 7 years, working in a variety of creative firms and companies. Vibrandt, DrinkWorks, Wolf Ollins, the Partners, Enterprise IG, InterBrand, the CIPD, Compass Group and Bosch UK – to name just a few. Work has included; design, packaging artwork, POS, Photoshop visualisation and retouching, logos, artwork for games, corporate literature, interactive Acrobat documents, web ads, advertising and creative pitches.
AMD Group (part of Bell Pottinger) July 1999 to May 2000
Creative artwork and Mac support
I came to this advertising agency by being pouched by an ex-employee of Graphique (see below). This was a mixed IT and creative job maintained a large Mac network, cross-platform graphics work, artwork pre-press checking and visualisation / artwork. A large part of the group produced property press ads and brochures, giving me my first taste of an advertising agency. Other parts of the group deal with reports and accounts, corporate ID and more general advertising - making the job both varied and demanding.
Graphique Nov 1997 to July 1999
Packaging artwork and creative artwork
Graphique was later merged with Vibrandt in Windsor (now 1HQ), where I later spent months as a freelancer when one of the designers called me back in. The job started as a bulk standard packaging artwork job, but when the artwork side was merged with the design studio the job took off into a role where I worked more closely with the design team on creative pitches, concepts and final packaging artwork. Clients included: Lever Brothers, Birds Eye, United Biscuits and Emlea.
Harvey Designs Oct 1995 to Nov 1997
Creative artwork and Mac support
Mac artworker and visualiser, working with the design team, who were mainly non-digital, to bring their ideas to life, from the first concepts through to the finished work. The company specialised in marketing / sales literature and POS material, with the addition of some packaging work. I Also maintained the Macs. Client work for: Budweiser, Walkers / Pepsico, Disney, Heinz and Trebor.
Consumers’ Association (now Which?) Nov 1994 to Oct 1995
Mac support and training
Technical support and training, responsible for publishing and editorial Mac / PC systems. Here is where I experienced the world of publishing and its own unique workflow. I also trained the design team in Illustrator and Photoshop, the sessions were very popular, perhaps it was the biscuits I brought in each time.
Aaron Associates Sept 1992 to Nov 1994
Packaging artwork
My first ever proper job. Graphic artist, responsible for producing Mac based artwork and design. The job entailed producing digital artwork through to repro for the full range of packaging print processes. My responsibilities expanded to include maintaining the Macs and varied project work, including ISDN systems, video conferencing, remote proofing and software beta testing.
Further Education
BA (Hons) Graphic Information Design (4 year sandwich course)
Falmouth School of Art & Design (now University College Falmouth), Woodlane, Falmouth, Cornwall.
Bluestone Design, Plymouth 1990
As the sandwich element of my degree course, I completed a three-month work placement as a junior designer. Old school camera artwork and marker visuals, no computers.
