ABOUT ME

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

MAY 2013 – PRESENT

Digital Designer  :  AVSL Group, Manchester

I have been employed by AVSL for over seven years and am currently the longest server member of the Marketing team.

During my time at the company, I’ve been fortunate to have been involved in a wide range of work within the marketing/design scope. Initially, I was employed as a website and promotions designer, though this has since developed into an all round design role.

As well as being responsible for the design, structure, concepts, colour schemes, imagery and layouts of the company website, I also create and manage all company email promotions. This encompasses all new product announcements, company information notices and other sales and marketing promotions.

I have refreshed and modernised the company branding throughout the organisation, which I’ve applied throughout all promotional stationery, brochures, catalogues, magazines, marketing, online and social media platforms, interior and exterior building signage and packaging.

Having a keen interest in photography, I have been given the opportunity to expand my role within this department. When required, I help out by photographing and editing all new products that need item and/or lifestyle images for the website, packaging and other promotional materials.

Over the last 18 months we’ve had two successful full product catalogue launches, of which I designed all concept styles, imagery and layouts used. Design and production of our regular ‘Selection Magazine’ is also my responsibility, as well as liaising with all print manufacturers and mailing houses.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Taking full creative responsibility for all projects and ensuring brand consistency throughout
• Creating promotional ideas and concepts, material and advertising for both online and digital platforms
• Oversee that all fonts, colours and styles should all adhere to AVSL brand guidelines
• Managing own schedule for promotional campaigns
• Liaising directly with sales and purchasing teams, company directors and management
• Ensure the company website is structured with UX (User experience) in mind
• Maintain that all website graphics and imagery are up-to-date and consistent throughout
• Product, lifestyle photography and image editing
• Management of MailChimp account and customer contact mailing lists, analytics etc.
• Google Analytics management and reporting
• Copywriting and creative writing

SEPTEMBER 2005 – MAY 2013

Senior Creative  :  Creative Quotient, Stockport

As the creative lead at CQ, I was entrusted to make all major decisions on the direction and concepts of all client briefs. In October 2010 the company became a franchise of printing.com. As well as being responsible for the creative of all printing jobs, I was also accountable for all final artwork that was submitted for print.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Taking full creative responsibility for all projects from beginning to end
• Creating all self promotional ideas, material and advertising for the company
• Developing and implementing internal procedures for the design department
• Organising and directing client meetings and presentations
• Liaising directly with sales team and management
• Ensuring artwork met strict specifications for output for print for litho, magazine, newspaper and directory
• Copywriting and creative writing
• Organic website keyword development and Google Adwords PPC Campaign management

APRIL 2003 – SEPTEMBER 2005

Head Designer  :  Salad Creative, Chorley

After a company merger, the business relocated to Chorley, Lancashire. Owing to my creative potential and organisational skills previously shown within ‘Adworks’, I was appointed as the Head Designer, leading a team of three designers.

The core business focus changed to one of a more conventional design and print agency and additional emphasis was given to brand development, corporate identity, general printed collateral and structured advertising campaigns.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Overseeing all creative work produced
• Design and creation of work including branding, brochure and advertising campaigns
• Liaising with clients, suppliers and media buyers throughout all design and production stages
• Working closely with the sales team to help develop company promotional material

NOVEMBER 1994 – APRIL 2003

Mac Operator/Office Manager  :  AdWorks, Manchester

I was hand picked to help set up and run a high turnaround Yellow Pages, BT and Thomsons advert design studio. This was a busy and highly pressured environment that gave me a excellent grounding for the future. Due to a steady growth, the company employed three further designers over the years, whom I fully trained and managed.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Creating high impact directory adverts for a wide range of SME clients
• Implemented structured processes that were used to aid a smooth running of workflow and artwork submissions to strict deadlines
• Checking and approving artwork before disk submissions
• Liaised directly with both YP/BT/Thomsons representatives as well as their clients

SKILLS & EXPERTISE

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

• Extensive experience working independently or as part of a team
• Proven ability to multi-task efficiently in a high-pressure studio environment, deliver results and meet deadlines
• Up to date knowledge of best practice and design trends on the web
• Adept at producing realistic project timelines and budgets
• Skilled in identity design including name generation, logo design and typographic treatment
• Capable of complex problem solving via hands-on development
• Excellent knowledge of digital platforms and SEO
• Good knowledge of HTML/CSS
• Expert understanding of printing techniques and requirements
• People person with the ability to confidently partake and direct client meetings either in person or via telephone/video call

SOFTWARE + ONLINE PLATFORMS

• Adobe Creative Suite – Indesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat etc.
• Microsoft Office
• Wordpress
• MailChimp Email Marketing
• Google Analytics
• Google Ads

EDUCATION

GENERAL LEARNING

SEPTEMBER 1992 – JUNE 1993
BTEC FOUNDATION DIPLOMA IN ART & DESIGN
South Trafford College, Altrincham

SEPTEMBER 1989 – JUNE 1991
BTEC NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN GRAPHIC DESIGN
Stockport College of Further and Higher Education, Stockport

SEPTEMBER 1984 – JUNE 1989
GCSEs (8 passes A-C)
Greatstone Secondary School, Stretford

COURSES & CERTIFICATES

NOVEMBER 2017
INTRODUCTION TO HTML & CSS CERTIFICATE
XChange Training, Manchester

NOVEMBER 2017
BESPOKE WORDPRESS FUNDAMENTALS CERTIFICATE
XChange Training, Manchester

SEPTEMBER 2015 – JUNE 2016
ONLINE BUSINESS DIPLOMA CERTIFICATE
NLP Centre of Excellence Limited, Manchester

OCTOBER 2010
ESSENTIAL PDC FILE SUPPLY GUIDE CERTIFICATE
printing.com, Trafford Park

OUTSIDE OF WORK

Away from work, I have three other great pleasures in life.

As spectator and regular participant, I enjoy pretty much every sport there is… cricket, boxing, tennis, badminton, athletics, golf, darts and more. However, the number one spot is without a doubt, god’s own sport, football. And obviously, like every other sensible right minded individual, the greatest love of all is reserved for the greatest team in the world, Manchester United.

On a maybe slightly less controversial note, my second great pleasure is music. It’s been there with me all my life, if not on the radio, iPod or stereo, it’ll most certainly be in my head. Whether it be at an intimate gig somewhere within the back streets of Manchester, or at a festival in Berlin, I’ve been lucky enough to see a load of incredible bands live.

Last, but not least is a good old night out. However, the description of a ‘good night out’ has changed quite dramatically over the last 20 years. What was once determined by pre-drinks at home, last orders at the Throstle’s Nest, followed by a night of excessive drinking, dancing (of sorts) at one of the many Indie clubs in town, topped off by a three day hangover, has made way to something much more sensible, but no less enjoyable.

These days it’s a much more simple affair. A ‘few’ beers at a local bar in Urmston with the better half, meeting mates in town for bit of a session, and even splashing out for a meal once in a while, it’s all gravy. And who doesn’t love gravy?

Other interests include visiting art galleries, design exhibitions and museums, particularly the free ones. I also help organise regular five-a-side football, that has been running for 14 years and have recently completed the Manchester 100 charity bike ride to help raise money for ‘The Christie’.

After talking about doing it for far too long, I am currently learning how to play the drums at home. Sorry Mrs Peacock at no 43.