• designer
• creative
• writer
• actor
• astronaut

Employment

Knifesmith Ltd, Bristol

Director & Senior Designer 7/07 - present

Knifesmith is a design business and gallery, founded in 2007
Knifesmith’s design has been concerned with creating engaging design that excites the client and produces a flexible and practical asset, adapting to ever changing business needs.
As Senior Designer in a small business I have worked with the clients to understand the motivations for their business, and how the use of branding can develop a clear voice within their communications.
I am equally adept at originating visual identities or working within established brands to build their online presence and print media. It has also been within my remit to perform Business Development functions with the client to formulate a marketing program to capitalise upon their brand investment.
I’ve developed long term partnerships with local and national brands whilst also turning around fast, effective design to meet clients’ tight deadlines.

Digital Experience
Building on rock-solid print design portfolio I have further developed online design skills using HTML, CSS, PHP and MySQL to create standards compliant sites and digital marketing which repurpose offline branding while maintaining the highest standards in accessibility.

Words Publishing Ltd, Bristol

Head of Design 8/03 - 9/07

Words Publishing Ltd is a communications company with a history in internal and marketing comms.
During my time at Words, I created and ran the Design department, increasing the offering to existing clients as well as developing the company’s portfolio to include branding and marketing, winning awards for our work with original online and offline visual identities. I worked to rebrand existing staff communication as well as new concepts and titles.
It was part of my role to head up the sales/pitch process for prospective clients and new work for existing clients. I worked extensively freelance designers, commisioning illustrators and art directing photo shoots. I also liaised with publication printers from obtaining quotes to proofs to finished product.

West Kent College, Tonbridge, Kent

Graphic Design lecturer (part-time) 1/03-7/03

Working with further education students on BTEC National Diploma and GCE A Levels in Graphic Design

Westcourt Primary School, Gravesend, Kent

Classroom Teacher Yr5/6 & Supply 9/02 - 2/03

Long-term supply teacher for challenging primary school
in Gravesend

Gelert Media/Sbarc, Bangor, Gwynedd

Senior Designer 9/00 - 7/02

Senior designer for sister companies in publishing (Gelert)
and marketing and promotions (Sbarc)

Beaumont Publishing, Brighton

Designer 7/99 - 7/00

Design and layout for GScene and Impact,
Two Brighton listings magazines

Dreamwatch Magazine, Brighton

Designer 2/99 - 7/99

Design and layout for a news-stand sci-fi and fantasy title

Production Manager 2/98 - 2/99

Managing contributers, design and print for sci-fi magazine

Watershed Cafe Bar, Bristol

Assistant Manager 9/95-10/97

One of a team of three managers running operations in a large media centre café bar.

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Awards

2007: Best Agency, South West : ACE* Awards

2007 Best Use of Design, South West ACE Awards

2006: Best Agency, South West: Ace Awards

2004: Best Front Cover, Federation of European Business Communicators

2004: Best Use Of Design, ACE Awards

*Awards for Communication Excellence

 

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Skills

Exceptional skills obtained through daily use of the
full Adobe Creative Suite 4 software for Macintosh:
Indesign,
Photoshop,
Illustrator,
Dreamweaver
as well as
Quark Xpress
Strong skills in CSS, HTML, PHP and MySQL
Strong skills in french as well as abilities in german and welsh languages.
Strong presentational skills through my work as an actor (and musician) and as a classroom teacher/lecturer.

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Education

University of Plymouth - Faculty of Arts & Education

BEd (Hons) in Primary Education (Expressive Arts) 2:1

Manchester Polytechnic (now MMU)

BTEC HND in Clothing Design

St Georges C/E School Gravesend Kent

GCE ‘O’ Levels (incl Maths & English) ‘A’ Level French