© All rights reserved. Made with *#*! by Liggins

‘I have worked for small agencies as well as large organisations, I have designed for print as well as the screen, I've been client side as well as supplier side (infact I have lots of good sides) ’


Oodles of experience

I have over 2 decades of studio experience in multi-disciplined creative graphic design, digital media and branding.

...ONLINE

I design, build and manage brands across UX/UI focussed responsive websites, email and social channels, mobile apps, PPC advertising & animation. I'm familiar with all modern web standards and practice, have knowledge and experience in HTML/CSS and Javascript and am experienced in a wide variety of CMS, email and marketing automation platforms.

... & OFFLINE

Experienced in all digital prepress and print standards for litho and digital process printing, I art direct, brand manage, design and produce print-ready artwork across a multitude of printed media, packaging, advertising, display & large format printing.

Creativity & talent

I'm a talented senior creative who loves to innovate and push boundaries. I consider myself a versatile designer, who is ultimately strategic as well as highly creative.

Branding

From overseeing the re-emergence of the nation's go-to weight loss brand, a launch into the multimillion pound luxury yacht market, and achieving 'UK´s No.1 Bestselling paid iPhone App`status... I know what makes a great identity and how to implement it and have an eye for detail that takes a brand from good... to GREAT!

MANAGEMENT

With a strong passion for mentoring and motivating others, I’m experienced as a team manager responsible for creative/project direction.

‘My experiences over a broad field of design disciplines expand my perspective and add a diversity to my work ’


Originally a student of Product Design at Loughborough & later at Sheffield Hallam University, I began my career in packaging, designing POS for a midlands' cardboard display manufacturer. Over the years that followed, I became initiated into the agency environment, working for a number of consultancies in a variety of studio based graphic design and digital roles, before heading a creative team in a company group for over 14 years.

It's these experiences over a broad field of design disciplines that expand my perspective and add a diversity to my work, enabling me to create meaningful designs that powerfully develop audience awareness, spark interest and have longevity.

Career & experience

DIGITAL DESIGNER

Jigsaw24

2022 - 2023

A key player in Jigsaw24's Media division - an award-winning provider/reseller of technology and managed IT services offering end-to-end audio & video production workflow solutions. I was responsible for the origination and creation of design materials for a wide and varied audience, continuing development and evolution of brand guidelines and liason with the larger marketing team on the completion of a wide range of design projects, both digital and print, including website design, development and maintenance, design for email & social media, print advertising, brochures and event materials.

BRAND DESIGN & MARKETING MANAGER

Pets & Friends

2021 - 2022

Leading a team of Graphic Designers, Copywriters and Marketing Executives in the delivery of high level brand and promotional design, developing digital and print based design projects including website design, email and social media banners, print advertising, product packaging and point-of-sale design for Kennelpak's own-brand portfolio and it's network of retail stores - 'Pets & Friends'. In October 2021, working with an external creative agency, I creative directed the design and launch of 'Pure Paws - Natural Grain Free Dog Food' and it's range of new packaging, Kennelpak's first Discount brand. The brand recently received favourable recognition as Kennelpak secured contract with B&M Retail for rollout across the UK.

SENIOR DESIGNER

Focus Multimedia

2018 - 2021

Mentoring a small team, my role included the design and implementation of new VI, creation of brand guidelines, brochures, print advertising, email marketing, social media campaigns & animation and the design & supply of assets for mobile app and website. Reporting directly to the company CEO, I have been responsible for the successful rebrand of the company´s flagship mobile app product helping it achieve 'UK´s No.1 Bestselling paid iPhone App' status for the last 2 years running (2019 & 2020).

SENIOR DESIGNER

MMB Group, Spain

2011 - 2018

Relocated to Palma (Mallorca) as part of a new employment opportunity with MMB group, I worked as lead creative providing design, branding and marketing support to a group of partner companies based in the hospitality & leisure industries. Reporting directly to the managing director, I managed a small team of designers and developers, acting as creative lead as well as art directing, project managing and delegating projects ensuring all creations were visually stunning, on brand & on time. Projects included visual identity & branding, design of responsive websites, brochures, social media campaigns and magazine & billboard advertising for a beach club franchise, international show and motor yacht manufacturer. My work culminated in the latter being awarded 'Best Yacht manufacturer' in 2013/2014.

SENIOR DESIGNER

MMB Group, Slimming World 

2006 - 2011

Part of a medium sized team of junior and middleweight designers, developers and copywriters based at Slimming World´s Head Office in Derbyshire where I actively engaged with the details of the company brand acting as brand guardian across all communication touch points. I was responsible for the design and delegation of high quality B2C print advertising & e-marketing campaigns, website redesign, retail packaging, brochures and booklets, promotional & corporate design. The role included mentoring and project management responsibilities and in 2007 I worked in conjunction with an external agency in co-ordinating, designing, refining and implementing Slimming World´s rebrand which remains current to date.

MULTIMEDIA DESIGNER

Hullabaloo (Agency)

2004 - 2006

Working for a multifaceted, full service design agency responsible for a variety of print & digital accounts for some heavyweight B2B and B2C brands, including Yale Locks and Raleigh Bikes. Responsibilities included creative design and branding for print and digital media, client facing & the creation of brand guidelines.

DIGITAL DESIGNER

HBR  (Agency)

2002 - 2004

Working for a Midlands based design studio, I was the sole digital creative in a small team of print designers and marketing staff responsible for a variety of digital client accounts that included websites, DVD & motion graphic animation.

Education

  • New Media Design  BTEC

    Studies in Digital design, animation & development, Nottingham Trent University.

    A course specialising in web design, marketing and promotions, with particular emphasis on designing for new media and across multiple platforms, providing a theoretical and practical introduction to digital development, including the principles of maximising design success for the online market.

    The course provided a systematic grounding in the use of XHTML and CSS, hand-coding and dynamic content, motion-graphics and the application of digital design across a range of professional and commercial contexts. Encouraged to experiment and be creative, the course provided me with a groundwork for the innovative exploration of ideas and furthered professional experience through involvement with client briefs and corporate work.

  • Product Design  BA

    A Bachelor of Arts degree at Sheffield Hallam University, with a creative focus on aesthetic design & styling.

    On this creative design course I learned the importance of the core strategy to produce design work that is always attractive, original, usable and functional. As part of Sheffield Institute of Arts, I drew experience and inspiration from working alongside students from a multitude of creative disciplines including fashion, graphic design and fine art.

    While gaining the skills to produce imaginative designs with visual flair, I also learned how to make those designs rational, suitable for realisation, and affordable. The course helped me 'think' like a designer and developed my ability to design and present work to a professional standard.

    The course included projects focusing on workshop, contextual, business and marketing studies, production technology and human factors, visual communication and presentation skills, product materials and manufacturing. I studied as an undergraduate from 1997-1998.

  • Industrial Design  BSc

    A Bachelor of Science degree at Loughborough University, taking a technologically innovative approach to beautiful yet functionally viable design.

    Part of a suite of Design programmes at the Loughborough Design School, the Industrial design course gave me skills and understanding in the effective development and communication of design ideas, the ergonomics of usability and interaction, product styling, three-dimensional designing, and the production and use of prototypes as a key part of design practice.

    The course encouraged exploration of innovative applications of technology and developed my skills and ability in development and visual communication, ergonomics, interaction, the techniques of planning and costing, product styling, three-dimensional designing, materials and processes and the production of prototypes and finished artefacts. I studied as an undergraduate from 1995-1996.

  • Art & Design  BTEC foundation

    Studies in Art, Design and Media offering an extensive mix of traditional and contemporary creative disciplines.

    Alongside a wide range of theoretical and practical creative skills, the level 3 foundation Diploma in Art, Design and Media provided an in-depth creative platform to bridge the gap to a university level course in the creative arts. I developed an understanding and awareness of the opportunities and demands of study in art and design, identifying my strengths and skillset through a progressive exploration of skills and concepts central to art, design and media practice.

    The course helped familiarise methods of creative production and developed my awareness of the contemporary visual world and it’s broader cultural context. I studied a range of 2D and 3D disciplines before following my passion and specialising in further study of Visual Communication.

  • Design Technology  A-level

    Studies exploring the application of technology and Design.

    My A-level study encompassed the solving of problems through a wide range of graphic techniques and modelling, including the use of Computer Aided Manufacture. Hand produced design and computer generated graphic solutions were central to the course which also explored packaging.

    The course specification encouraged development of a broad view of design and technology, developing a capacity to design and realise projects whilst appreciating the complex relations between design and marketing, and to propose and realise solutions to design problems that could be originated on a commercial basis. I further achieved A-levels in Economics, Business studies & Mathematics.

  • Design Communication  GCSE

    Studies in Visual Communication.

    Back in the day, my original study of Design Communication served as an exciting introduction to visual arts and fed directly into my A-level course. Delivered as a visual communciations programme I learned to work as a creative designer and illustrator and to take inspiration from real life briefs and professional practices.

    One of 9 GCSEs I studied, Design Communication was a creative course that encouraged ideas to be formed using traditional drawing, marker pen rendering, and computer media. The course provided emphasis to allow experimentation and to develop a range of skills that could be built on, developing an understanding of use of colour, image and typography to communicate ideas.

Let's do something amazing together...