A natural problem solver and all round designer. Working for 15 years across all applications of design, from traditional graphic design and artworking to website design and development.
Having run a small design and print studio for a number of years I posses natural leadership skills alongside a vast knowledge of print. I have headed up departments while working within an agency setting and provided blanket management for my exhibition and design team.
In recent years I have excelled with the delivery of temporary structures, producing bespoke designs and project management for exhibition and pop up stores for blue chip companies and retail brands.
Quick witted and charming, some would say a lovable rogue. After a shotgun wedding in Las Vegas I have become a fully fledged adult, wife, kids, mortgage, beard and all.
I have won the award of “Worlds Best Dad” for the last 9 years running, I have the mugs to prove it.
In 2004 I entered the Mascot Grand National for charity. I won. Fame took over. Google it, It’s a real thing.
As a wolves fan, I have felt a huge amount of turmoil in my life. This also demonstrates my unbelievable loyalty.
American decent is responsible for my loud personality, Luckily the English in me calms my character making me bearable.
DESIGNTraditional Graphic Designer & Artworker with a fluent knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud and 3D software. I have the ability to produce logo branding and corporate identity and deliver all elements of graphic design required.
As a designer I have a natural eye for how things look. I apply this across all disciplines whether it be design, web, print, animation, video or online.
With artworking as the basis that has been with me since college days, the fundamental of all of my design skills is the ability to successfully artwork documents. Whether it be to rework existing designs or use guidelines to create comparable artwork to fall in line with brand guidelines. Swift artworking as standard, while retaining a keen eye for detail to ensure that artwork is provided is finished to the highest of standards.
Fluid graphic design, branding and graphic creation. Working alongside the artworking to create a comprehensive Graphic Designer.
My front end webs skills consist of an aesthetically pleasing layout and design while taking into account user experience, a knowledge of web languages help to transfer these designs to screen. I also have a conservative knowledge of graphic optimisation, social media and SEO. Which helps to deliver correct setup for different platforms.
CAD and 3D design is a fundamental tool for designing bespoke exhibition stands and temporary structures. I also use render techniques to create 3d models of designs to help clients to visualise an end product.
SKILLSMy creative flair would be nothing without the skills I have learnt on creative platforms to bring my inspirations to life. I used Creative Cloud ever since I have been designing. Choosing the correct platform for the application provided is key to delivering a full solution. Photoshop and Illustrator are always open on my computer, Indesign and After Effects I use when required. Other platforms such as Sketch Up and Cinema 4D have allowed me to take a step further into delivering more the basic graphic design.
Whenever designing online I am alway questioning UX and how different customers would interfact with the designs. Workflow and wireframes always help me to develop how a user would interact and therefore create a successful Interface.
As previously mentioned I wouldn’t be anywhere with Illustrator, it’s my go to software, however I have a broad range of understanding across the whole of Creative Cloud and use elements of the software whenever required, picking key skills to best solve the creative brief.
I use Sketch Up to produce accurate CAD plans. These skills have proved imperative within the exhibition industry to create design and layouts which are then used within the design and build process, or given to suppliers to create fabrications of designs that I provide.
Disney and Pixar were a huge influence in experimenting on 3d softwares to create accurate models using effective lighting and texture. These are skills I have utilised within the industry to provide renders and models for clients to give a representation of how my design would look in the real world.
My experience within management has grown over my years working within the design and exhibition industry. Moving from a designer to head of studios and sitting within the senior management team across multiple business. My personal time management has always been good and I posses a natural dedication and responsibility to any task I am given. Organisation and experience on how long elements require give me an overview on how long a project will take and how much resources are required.
Good organisation skills and a calm nature under pressure, I have spent the last few years in project management positions. Projects consisting of design applications to exhibition and events. All whilst running the day to day requirements of business affairs. Good communication and time management is required to ensure projects are completed before the deadline. I create a timeline to work to, which I would then relay to the client or my team and delegate tasks to suppliers to bring everything together to deliver a project on time to the brief supplied. Temporary structure projects would include design elements that would either be carried out by myself or delegated to an agency or the clients in house team. I would supply documentation required to detail diagrams, layout, dimensions and sizes.
I worked for a number of years within a busy print studio. I would manage day to day tasks provided by the sales team. I would then pick up the full project and delegate within my team to the required skillset. Whether that be the graphic designers or straight to the print setup. I would provide proofs and ensure that the print setup was correct before the operators would print and finish. It was my responsibility to ensure that projects were complete to deadlines and I would be required to drop in to assist on any of the tasks within the studio. Be it Print, design or finishing and packing. We had a fluid team in which roles would be modified in order to complete projects efficiently.
I learnt the hard way that I cannot fulfil all elements of a job myself, there are simply too many man hours involved. Younger me would attempt to do everything himself. I learnt that delegation was key to ensure that everything was completed with foresight of deadlines. Utilising resources from suppliers and team members was imperative to delivering projects successfully. I have a natural calmness under pressure which has proved very good in previous exhibition settings to problem solve issues as they arise. I have been working for long enough now in a management setting to foresee where problems will occur and where resources need to be increased in order to ensure that everything runs smoothly.
My experience has taught me a good overall understanding of how long things take. With this I can create workflow and timelines which help to generate deadlines, giving an accurate project timeline showing when key elements need to be completed by in order for the project to be completed on time and within budget. I have spent many years setting and chasing deadlines.
