Below I have tried to quantify my skill level on each piece of software I currently use. some I have used for years and consider my self at an expert level. These are still not at 100% as there are always new things to learn. Some I don’t get as much time to explore so consider myself at a beginner level.
I have then looked at my personal professional skill set and again illustrated a measure of my competence. All these skills in software and personal development I am constantly improving on as I acquire new interests in software and expose myself to new challenges.
Graphic Design
My graphic design background is from both agency and freelence. I have worked on a huge variation of project medium, a snap shot of the list is as follows:
Corporate identity and stationary. Magazine design and creation. Magazine advertising. Packaging design and engineering. Garment branding. Event design and graphics, which can include anything from large format graphics to non rip luggage tags to note pads to direction signs etc. Exhibition design and graphics. Vehicle livery including paint, decals and wraps. Digital design, which could mean anything from Powerpoint presentations, social media imagery and animation, to video.
I have a breadth of skills and experience, which means I can adapt to any request or design challenge.
Lead Creative
Through out my career I have had the responsibility of leading the creative in a team. I find this process hugely rewarding. Unlike the role of an Art Director where you project your own ideas on to others to carry out, the lead designer’s role, as the title suggests is to steer a design team. The process starting with brain storming a brief, then as the ideas flow, critiquing and managing what is appropriate and achievable. Enthusing your team so you produce an end product you and your client is proud of.
Studio Management
The team I was responsible for as a Studio Manager was for a permanent team of two CAD designers, two web developers and four graphic designers. Distributing and managing the workload from 6 account managers with the help of the online management tool Trello. I would be responsible for all scheduling of work to meet deadlines, working closely with account managers and designers to make sure both side where happy with progression, quality and budget. I would employ the use of freelancers dependent on workflow and the use of specialist talent like illustrators and photographers when the need arose.
Web Design
I have worked on many web design projects over the years. I started out trying my hand at html, but as technology evolved, WordPress came along which meant those that didn’t want to code could create directly. Having created many brochures style websites and my fair share of e-commerce sites, I am pretty well schooled now. I always have a developer on hand should a project require it.
Presentation Design
I have worked on an array of presentations, in Powerpoint and Keynote. Presentations for the most part have been client pitches, but have created town hall decks and product presentations that require animation.
Event Management
My experience in event management has always been onsite support. Working for an event company as a designer does mean that on occasion you are taken out of your comfort zone. My role was firstly to make sure our kit arrived and installed without a hitch then to support the client in their event.