Author Archives: admin
Forever grateful
Always nice to hear that I've hit the spot! I have worked with Dean Williams of Unicorn Solutions on a number of projects including, corporate literature, presentations and exhibition stands. This came through from Dean, so I simply had to share it...
I felt I had to put my appreciation and thanks into words with regards to the recent package of work you recently did for me on my presentation slides.
When I started out in business on my own I had a wealth of training presentations and I knew I needed some help with my slides and their design. I had previously kept all my PowerPoint presentations very uniformed (using one of the templates within the software) with great content but all showed very little creativity. After having our 1-2-1 a few weeks ago in which you demonstrated your previous work, I knew I had to give you a try. To date, this has been one of my best decisions in the 12 months as Unicorn Solutions Ltd.
You have delivered a quality package of work to a standard that surpassed my expectations. I have been guilty of embarrassing you before in front of others by saying how talented you are but you do genuinely have an ability to deliver quality, value for money and attention to detail to a level that makes me proud to stand by my presentations.
I would encourage anyone in doubt as who to use to produce graphic design to look no further.
Please keep doing what you’re doing as you are creative and it’s not just off the wall, it’s out of the park.
Forever grateful, Dean Williams
Support local business
As some of you may know, 2015 saw me plunge into the world of "networking."
None of the warm wine and nibbles and hard sales talk, so turns out it's a lot less scary than I had originally imagined. I head over to Preston before dawn every Friday to catch up with other self employed folks, put the world to rights, eat bacon sandwiches and build my little enterprise...Businesses there include:
- - Graphic design (that's me!)
- - Social media management
- - Web design
- - Renewable energy advisor (saves companies up to £70,000 p/a on energy bills!)
- - Pension advice (including auto enrolment)
- - Insurance
- - Experts in saving money on utility bills (very handy cash back card too!)
- - Nail technician training academy
- - Health and safety (keeping businesses compliant when it comes to safety in the workplace)
- - Payroll and business outsourcing
- - Plastering
- - Carpet and furniture cleaner (free tests are available!)
- - Printing services (saving companies between 30 - 60%)
- - Solicitors
- - Private and fleet vehicle and car leasing (great deals!)
- - Heating engineer
- - Health and nutritionist
- - Promotional merchandiser (great for those branded giveaways)
- - Electrician
- - Mortgage advisor
- - Office stationery and supplies (great savings to be had!)
Anybody is welcome to come along for a visit, so if this has tickled your fancy give me a shout.
Sister suffragette
The other night I went to the cinema. This is a rare occurrence in itself as I neither used to have an Orange phone, or now shop with comparethemeerkat.com, sorry comparethemarket.com. Simples.
I went to see Suffragette, a film for those that don't know set in the period before the time when women had the vote, where "deeds not words" were the order of the day. I personally thought it was a good drama showcasing what women in the past had to put up with, and what they went through in order for women like me to have a say in those that rule. Personally I believe that everyone is on a level playing field and should not be judged based on appearances or misapprehensions. I have been judged on many occasions - I went to a public (or is it private?) school and those that didn't thought I was posh and a snob to hide their jealousy and friendships that had been formed earlier than that fell apart. I doubt they're reading this, but they will know who they are... I am also considered totally bizarre in many respects for the fact that I am not a sheep and will always make a considered decision before doing something the way I do. I will not follow something or someone blindly - I choose the ability to think for myself on a regular basis. Anyway, as usual I have digressed from the original subject! Back to Suffragette. What I was going to say is that even in 2015 there is still the need to speak up and be counted. We are still ruled by "the ruling classes" and they make decisions for us all day everyday - look at the Junior doctors as just one example, and tax credit cuts for another. There is still a long way to go before we are all treated as equals.We are all equal, but some are more equal than others it would seem.
Even in the world of graphic design, I was shocked to read in a recent survey (I actually took part in the survey! I am one of the statistics!!) that The Design Week Salary Survey revealed that male designers earn on average 17% more than females doing the same job, and in general women earn on average 9.4% less than men across all industries. Now to someone like me, that doesn't sound very fair. The recommendations and testimonials I receive are positively glowing from the clients I serve and work with on a daily basis. Do I do a worse job than a man - do I have less grey matter in my silly little head? I don't think so. In many ways the world has left these rules and laws behind. The world is a much smaller place than it once was, back when the rule book was written. Equality to me isn't about money, it is about being seen for the person that you are and the skills that you offer. We are all humans at the end of the day, and we deserve to be treated as equals.
Tags: equality, Graphic design, rights, suffragette
flexible, responsive and intuitive
Having browsed a number of LinkedIn profiles of Manchester based Graphic Designers, Ruth Nicholas, Marketing Manager at Quest Nutrition, recently contacted me through LinkedIn as she felt that my personality shone through my profile and I came across as somebody she would like to work with.
After a few e-mails we met up for a meeting whereby I learned a bit more about Ruth and Quest Nutrition; a multi million dollar LA based company that is soon to launch across Europe. I was excited to be on board with this new venture!
Given a few taster projects Ruth and myself were working well together, however, unfortunately for me it was decided to maintain all design projects over in the Los Angeles office. Although I'm obviously disappointed at this decision, it was exciting to work with such a well known global brand, and that of all the designers that Ruth could have contacted she e-mailed me, and for that I feel proud :)
Without any suggestion from me, Ruth sent me this recommendation:
I worked with Elizabeth on two social media artwork jobs (and would have continued working with her if circumstances had allowed it!). I found her very flexible, responsive, intuitive and the designs I received were on brief and ready to use with minimal amends. Personally Elizabeth was so easy to get on with; warm, friendly and great at listening. I'd highly recommend her for anyone looking for a freelance designer/artworker.
Lost in translation
I love remote working. It suits me down to the ground. I have a nice little office where I can shut out the rest of the world (complete with table football I might add…) and fortunate for me, I’m not easily side tracked by the need to clear up the kitchen or the fact that another episode of How I Met Your Mother is on on E4…
However, I know that remote working isn’t for everyone and is not always a suitable option. I have had experience in the past working with a website design team based outside of the UK and personally I found it very tough. The situation had arisen outside of my control whereas I was no longer a graphic designer, a skill I have honed for many a year with education and experience to match, I was now a marketing assistant/beta tester/user experience designer/CRM co-ordinator/social media guru. With no time to learn the skills I needed, I was out of my depth and I knew it. Thrown in at the deep end, I did the best that I could. In order to get the job done with the remote team there were many channels of communication from our base in the UK. There were Skype calls, conferences and chats, JIRA queries, e-mails and office visits. It was a complex, decision making website that was being produced, complete with ever stricter enforcements of compliance legalities, and the boundaries were being moved on a daily basis, often by government legislation. This made communicating with the overseas team a daily necessity to keep up with progress, new demands and bug fixes. Things were taking time and deadlines were missed. Would this have been a different story had everyone involved been based in the same office? I think it would have been. We knew it wasn’t working, but there was no obvious solution, all we could do was learn how to improve for the future.What did I learn from this?
1. I learned that when working remotely, a single point of contact is essential, otherwise wires get crossed, things get missed and everything can get lost in translation. 2. A key decision maker is important. This goes hand in hand with a single point of contact. We can be meeting the needs of others involved, but is the client or person in charge happy with the output? 3. And processes. If there are processes in place, make sure that everyone knows what that process is and follows that established process. It’s sometimes trickier than it sounds, and sometimes it seems pointless, but if some people are following the process and others go off piste, it can lead to chaos… 4. Communication is key. I personally work 99% of the time with my clients via e-mail. It works for me and my clients. I have my instructions written down, I make a list of what is needed and I do it. Getting things in writing is always a good method in my eyes. Even if I have a meeting with a client, I will e-mail a round up of what I understand they are looking for with an expected date of delivery. 5. Deadlines. Know when a deadline is and work towards it. If the boundaries move so will the deadline and always keep clients informed. Oh, and be realistic with those deadlines. 6. Know your strengths and weaknesses. I am a graphic designer. I am 100% confident I can turn around a good job within a fair timeframe. I can even turn around a good job in a tight timeframe but this can lead to other clients being let down which I don’t like to do. If something isn’t my forte I think it is only fair to inform a client. I now have a whole load of contacts within the industry so can easily pass you on to someone who is more skilled in that field. 7. You can only do your best. Based on your experiences every day is a learning curve. Doing the best you can is often well received, however, in some circumstances this just isn’t enough and in those circumstances you will know it. In those times it is best to have a good think and decide what is best for you.So, the moral of this tale is…
If you’re considering using an external resource always know what you’re looking for before you approach a remote worker. As we are not there to discuss things at every point, set out your guidelines and needs, and really think about what you want. From a graphic design point of view, it is our job to bring your design to life, so if you have any ideas just let us know beforehand and we can get the results you’re looking for much sooner. Know when you need it for and give us the time to work our magic and keep us informed if the goal posts change. I know I try to accommodate everyone and am sure others do too. If you get your instructions and ideas down from the start, you will not need to keep a constant check on progress and so remote working will not become a problematic issue. And now as more and more companies are offering the possibility of remote working, trust is an essential part of working with a remote team. I personally feel proud that my clients trust me enough to give me the tasks that they do.To sum up
Working with a remote worker is a great option for some industries, but I know it’s not great for others. As a graphic designer I will always produce something and so you can see the fruits of my labour. I feel that I am a lot more productive working remotely as I am not involved in office life, be it meetings or conference calls, helping out others in a pickle or doing the “can you just….” tasks. I spend each day working towards a goal, hence why I meet the targets my clients set me. Having worked in a variety of environments, I know which one I prefer. This may change in the future but for now I love being a freelance remote worker as it gives me the flexibility I am looking for. In some ways I do miss office life, but I now provide a value for money service for my clients from the comfort of my own home. And did I mention the fact that I don’t have a commute? That for me and the flexibility I now have is worth missing out on office banter any day of the week.Thinking in pictures
I have been trying to think of something profound to add to this quote, but to be honest I think it speaks for itself, but I will have a go none the less...
In my line of business I have to create a BOOM moment, I have to make you look again and to take notice. I do this in tender documents and presentations, I do this in infographics and e-shots, I have to catch your attention and BOOM you've been enticed in.The art behind what I do is quite simple; I think in pictures. I make the complex simple, I make the complex digestible, there is more to graphic design than merely making it look pretty.
Jazz music was once described to me as a conversation. A call and response, you don't talk over someone in a conversation, but you're engaged and what you add next is in response to what has been said. You take their theme and take it to the next level, thus engaging a listener. This too is relevant in the design world, what I add as a designer adds and enhances what is already in place, but in this case engaging a viewer to read on. Take a tender for example, how many tender applications must a possible client receive? And how do you make your's stand out from the crowd? By creating hook points through branded text boxes, quotes, diagrams and images, entice the viewer in to read your finer points. Like jazz, your tender is a conversation. Engage a reader in the right way and they will respond by looking, and BOOM they've been enticed enough to read the small print. Creating the hook points are similar to a recurring theme in music, make it recognisable, make it memorable, have stop off points where they feel safe to break off for a cup of tea. In many ways music and art are very similar, they are both creative expressions of opinion through more than words. I may've been making the simple far more complicated than I needed to throughout this blog, but in simple terms, get the image, style and feel right for your audience, and people want to hang around for more...
Tags: Graphic design, graphic designer, infographic, jazz, music, presentation, tender
Do you have a degree?
Do you have a degree? Asked nobody, ever, hiring for a graphic design position.
At a time when every school student is freaking out about exams, exam results and life in general, I just thought I'd share my experiences of the design world and getting that foot in the door... I went to a senior school where the arts were something for oddball people to do, something that would get you nowhere in life and something that we really shouldn't talk about. So of course, I was attracted to them. I was the kid that always had a colouring book to hand and remember when I was off school with chicken pox drew all of the Roger Hargreaves characters, I was that rock 'n' roll. In my heart I was always was going to be an artist. Skip on a few years back to senior school. It came to that time when we were all filling in our UCAS form. We had talks from previous students; doctors, lawyers, accountants and what not, but no artists. The UCAS form was a real dilemma; UCAS or Art Foundation or what? "Students simply must go out and get a degree in something meaningful, it's the only way" was the general vibe of what I was up against. I was clever enough to have done anything, but at this point I was digging my heels in. Art is what I want to do - why should I only have it as a hobby? Why should I do something with my life that is somebody else's decision. Grrr. And so I did an Art Foundation course and went on to do a degree in Illustration with Animation, and nobody cared. Luckily for me it wasn't £9000 a year or whatever the ridiculous fee is these days, but it was time ill spent. The only good thing I got from university are my friends. Oh, and the title of my website. I was described as having an Off The Wall approach. I took it as a compliment, I'm not wholly sure if it was.... I left university with a somewhat bizarre portfolio of experimental animation and a selection of drawings in red and black. I did enjoy my playing card project though, I will have to share that with you sometime. And so it came to finding a job. During my time at university I had sought out work experience of my own. I had done a few graphic design projects for friends, but on the whole was unable to achieve anything of note. I wrote to companies, rang up companies and even managed to speak to companies, but due to the university I was at and it's lack of connections, I was not allowed to go ahead with anything as I wasn't one of the 50 universities they worked with. That and some companies mentioned insurance policies which I don't know what they were expecting me to do? And so finding a real job, in the real world was really hard. I worked in a hospital, I worked in a bar and I applied for hundreds of jobs a week all with little success. I applied to work on a cruise ship (just one application this time!) and got the job as a cruise videographer. Did he ask if I had a degree? Did he look at my video portfolio? No on both counts. On the cruise job I dabbled in poster and flyer design, but predominantly worked on the video - this was the experience I needed to break it into Hollywood blockbuster direction or so I thought...! The boss saw my posters and sent it out across the ships as a template for DVD and photo advertising - see I told everyone I could design, but nobody had believed me! Back home in the UK I continued to apply for hundreds of jobs a week, and stumbled across a web design agency in Preston. First question; do you have any experience? No... But happily they liked me and although they didn't give me the job, they gave me work experience on live briefs doing live things. These folks were Curly Kale and I still think they're awesome. With this under my belt, I came to my next very few and far between interview, and felt I needed to impress. But I had a new weapon now, experience! My portfolio had real things in it now and I could speak as if I knew what the real world of work was like. I landed the job! Years later, I still work closely with the lady who saw my potential, the Marketing Director of The Cordant Group. To both of these folks I will be eternally grateful as they could see potential and helped me grow as a designer and without them I wouldn't be here.So in brief, what was all of the above about?
Well, if I was to do it all again, yes I would do the ship again as that was a super awesome experience, but a degree? I'd really have to question that part. In this particular field, experience is what opens up the doors, not the whole cap and gown bit. If you are pursuing a degree - good luck and try to get some experience along the way. If you're not pursuing a degree it isn't the catastrophe that some paint the picture it will be. Whatever choice you make, dive in and get messy, because getting a foot in the door is tricky and competitive and sometimes soul destroying, but finding the experience you need will give you the confidence and something interesting to say should you get an interview. Being a graphic designer is the easy part, but getting others to believe you is the tricky bit.
Tags: degree, Graphic design, graphic designer, university
Power to the people
No this isn't anything related to the other thing going on today across the UK...
So what is this blog article all about I hear you cry? Well, it's an article appreciating just how fantastic people can be. This journey starts over a year ago when I plunged into the world of freelance graphic design. I knew I wanted to do it, my hand was kind of forced, but I ran with it anyway. Faced with the fact that the following Monday morning (and all following mornings) I would be getting a superb lie in for a change rather than diving head first into my horrendous commute, rather than plug away at job applications, no responses and general hair tearing out moments of depression, I decided to take that lie in and once the first cup of tea of the day had been consumed, update my job status on LinkedIn as freelance graphic designer. Within minutes (literally minutes if not seconds) I had likes and comments and general interest in my change of mode. I felt enlightened. It felt like what I did actually meant something. Those likes and comments have turned into a consistent amount of graphic design work, from former bosses, colleagues, friends, associates, friends of friends and new friends I didn't know were out there. I have folks I can turn to in a design related crisis, I am the person that some turn to in a design related crisis. It would seem I have a network, a network I never knew I had. Folks I wouldn't even call a network because I would call them friends. Power to the people.If you give it a go, whatever "it" may be, I bet you'll be surprised just who supports you.
So what is this article all about really? Well, the other day somebody was asking me about taking the plunge into the freelance world. He wasn't a designer, but a photographer, and all I had to say was you never know unless you try. If you try and you fail who cares, but if you don't try you're never going to know if you would succeed or fail. In some respects this is kind of similar to the other thing going on this Thursday across Britain. Putting your ideas forward is important, getting the support is important too, but just giving it a go is equally valuable. If you give it a go, whatever "it" may be, I bet you'll be surprised just who supports you. I am forever thankful for those folks who saw my potential, and continue to see my potential and more importantly are letting me achieve my potential on a daily basis, and if you've got something you want to give a go - do it, jump in feet first in your bathing costume with a cosmo in your hand, because no one can jump in for you. I should've jumped earlier, instead I was pushed, but I like to think I may've turned it into a superb Tom Daley-esque dive before hitting the water.
Tags: Freelance designer, Graphic design
superb, efficient, quality
Elizabeth is a superb designer, very fast and efficient and yet still maintains quality in her artwork. I've worked with Elizabeth on numerous projects - infographics, marketing literature and website designs and she always produces fantastic, creative designs. She's also very proactive with her ideas and patient in making any changes.
Julian Goldie, Group Marketing Manager, The Cordant Group It's always nice to know I'm meeting my clients expectations! Having worked with Julian for a number of years now, both as a colleague within the Brookfield Rose marketing team, and now on a freelance basis, we have covered numerous projects and work well together to get the job done.