Current Work

In my current position as a self employed, freelance graphic designer I report directly to clients. Often working under pressure and to tight deadlines (clients usually need it done yesterday), I am used to bringing in a project on time and within budget.

My current work encompasses all stages of the design process from brief to production. This often includes supporting the client in the establishment of the initial brief, together with concept generation and the development of a chosen idea through progressive phases to finished product. I also have the necessary understanding of final print processes, respect for and rapport with printers and other professionals.

I am confident in the use of both Macs and PCs and competent in the use of most current software (Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, ImageReady, Premier, Quark, Macromedia Dreamweaver, Director, Flash, Fireworks, Freehand, Final Cut Pro, Painter, Microsoft Office, etc).

Relevant Skills and Experience

The majority of my professional career has involved not only running a busy design business but also teaching and volunteer work with both young people and adults from all walks of life. All this has equipped me with good communication and interpersonal skills together with the ability to structure, organise and maintain projects, their logistics and support. I have experience of using a wide variety of media in both 2D and 3D creative applications.

I am self-motivated and have a proactive approach to tasks and challenges. Lateral thinking and creative problem solving come naturally to me.

I am well versed in guiding clients through the briefing process as well as ongoing liaison through meetings and presentations till project completion. In both my freelance and employed capacity as a graphic designer I have worked from a brief to completion on a wide range of projects which include design for print (stationery, brochures, advertisements, flyers, posters etc.), websites, exhibition design, signage and presentational DVD’s as well as designing (for CEL) a complete corporate image and style guides. My responsibilities whilst employed by CEL also included support of the Design and Development team by researching and preparing online interactive learning materials for national educational leadership programmes.

Recent clients have included:
• Beautiful and Damned – exhibition stand design for “Skin Two” exhibition, Excel Centre, London.
• Cleanliving – two brochures, website and product labels.
• Guardian – business stationery, leaflet and folder design.
• Hi Tech Cleaning Solutions Ltd – post-production editing of presentation DVD, logo design, DVD packaging, exhibition stand design and signage.
• Institute Of Licensing (IOL) – e-flyer.
• Ravensbourne College of Design & Communication – magazine ad.
• 4 Angels – A5 flyer.
• S&B – logo design, stationery and leaflet.
• Nicci Del Rio (EFT therapist) – business stationery and website.
• OneHealsOne – conference stand design and brochure.

2003 - 2006

• 2005 – 06 Employed by the Centre for Educational Leadership at The University of Manchester as a graphic designer.
• In June 2004 completed BA (hons.) degree in Interactive Arts at Manchester Metropolitan University with a 2:1 classification.
• During July and August 2004 I worked as the facilitating artist on a project with a group of parents based at the Community House, Laurel Court, Newbold, Rochdale.
• During 2003 I taught website design to young people at the Pyramid Arts centre in Warrington.

Before 2003

• Ran a WAWA (We Are what We Are) course for young people in ‘aftercare’, teaching IT and Photoshop.
• Worked as an IT drop-in facilitator at MSHAED (Moss Side & Hulme Agency for Economic Development).
• Taught a Digital Arts project with WAWA group of young offenders.
• Taught key skills IT and web design to UPLIFT (a group of ex-offenders) at MSHAED.
• Worked on the development of an online digital magazine with young people in Partington.
• Facilitating the building of a website with 3D, a disability arts project based in Altrincham.
• Taught website design to unemployed people in Hulme and Moss Side (contracted by The Interactive College).
• Taught a short course in Dreamweaver 3 (web authoring software) at the Pankhurst Centre, Manchester.
• Website building project with young women in Partington.
• Taught website design and multimedia production on the MUWIC (Multimedia for Women in the Cultural Industries) course at the WEVH (Women’s Electronic Village Hall), Manchester.
• WAWA website design with young people in Partington
• Freelance illustration, graphics and web-design: clients included CHRC (Community Health and Resource Centres ltd), Healthy Living Network, HARP (Hulme Action Resource Project) and Victoria Baths Partnership.
• Voluntary support at the WEVH, MUWIC course.
• Attended MUWIC - multimedia course at WEVH, from April to July 1999
• Illustrations for Stockport Council and Hargreaves Farrell & Hobbs Solicitors. Illustrations for a public art commission in Hulme square (images cut from steel and laid into the ground). Health Action Zones presentation display map.
• 1994 -99 Sessional Artist with Zion Art Paintbox (ZAP), facilitating art drop-in sessions primarily for people with mental health related issues, at the Zion and Kath Locke community health & resource centres.
• 1995 -96 Mental Health Support Worker with CSS.
• 1993 had a gorgeous baby boy. Volunteer minibus driving, mostly for AISHA crèche; volunteer crèche worker for AISHA; volunteer for ZAP art drop-in.
• 1992 practising artist (mostly ceramics), goat keeping and general rural smallholding activities in Portugal.
• 1991 farm work within a community in Galicia, Northern Spain.
• 1989 -91 worked on the Hulme PIG (local newspaper), design and illustration work with CEI (Centre for Environmental Interpretation), Hulme Views volunteer, Fosdykes shop assistant, CER co-ordinator of short course for tenants introducing computing.
• 1989 -90 Freelance graphic design and illustration.

Education

• 2003-04 BA (hons.) Interactive Arts, Manchester Metropolitan University. Qualified with a 2:1.
• 2001-03 New Media Design Foundation Degree, City College Arden, Manchester. Qualified with a Distinction.
• 2000 JEB Teacher Training Diploma Certificate in Information Technology Skills at WEVH.
• 2000 Intermediate Web Graphics at WEVH.
• 1999 MUWIC - multimedia course at WEVH.
• 1995 -98 Foundation in Art Therapy, South Trafford College.
• 1994 -95 Counselling Skills level 2, City College Manchester.
• 1992 Portuguese Summer School, Coimbra University Portugal.
• 1989 -90 Business Enterprise Programme, Manchester.
• 1986 -89 BA (hons.) Design for Communication Media, Graphic Design.
• 1985 -86 Foundation in Graphic Design, Ravensbourne.
• 1982 -85 A’ levels in Art and Sociology. O’ levels in German, Maths, English language, Geography, History, Biology, Art, English Literature, Sociology and Photography.

Samples of recent design work and further information available on request; Antworks@vibeke.co.uk