My skills and experience

I’ve been a designer for years. Probably since primary school when I won three Blue Peter badges for drawing competitions! I believe that design is the secret to being seen and remembered. 

I remember watching careers videos at school and nothing appealed until I saw the story of a commercial artist. I can still recall that moment as if a light bulb was switched on. That was my vocation, and I claimed it! I’ve since gained a Masters degree in graphic design and typography. 

Collaboration

I believe in collaboration and guiding people through the pitfalls from learning about the audience to development, creation and delivery. I’m passionate about design and how it can add value to our lives, and translating this impact with clarity and avoid acronyms so that we learn together,

Typical workflow

• Strategy and briefing so the deliverables are clear and milestones agreed together. 

• Content delivery from client to me with support provided through external editors, developers and writers if agreed in the brief. 

• Design and creation to agreed milestone dates with clear guides on feedback delivery, and taking in of corrections. 

• Handover with guidance on how to use the deliverables and formats. 

• Support with product or service launch. 

Past work

I have created printed material for United Business Media, My In-House Lawyer, United Parcels Service, The Teenage Cancer Trust, South Cambs District Council, Cambridge City Council, Ageing Without Children, Cambridge and Peterborough NHS. Exhibition material for The David Parr House and Young Designer of the Year for United Business Media at The Furniture Show held at the NEC. I organised a branch launch with a design team including bus and lorry wraps for Ridgeons builders merchants. Much of this was pre-internet and online newsletters and it has instilled best practice in my work.

Many of these projects involved adapting complex client branding, and applying this to new products whilst collaborating with client marketing teams, copywriters, editors, and senior stakeholders to create a completed piece. In some instances, I added to client branding guidelines and template libraries or developed a brand.

Awards and training

I hold a Masters in Graphic Design and Typography, BA (Hons) in English Literature. I have studied with The Publishing Training Centre, UX Academy and Interaction UX design. I have trained in accessible design, and coding, and public speaking.

I was awarded the Unsung Hero of Publishing by Whitefox, listed by Cofinitive in the Cambridge People awards and a finalist in the Cambridgeshire Digital Awards. I’m a Digital Woman of the Year, and The Alliance of Independent Authors approved partner member. I was a finalist in the podcaster of the year by IPSE.

I have lectured at Anglia Ruskin University, presented design strategies at board level and to clients in person and online. I have also spoken at launches at venues in Cambridge, The Barbican in London, Storyhouse Theatre in Chester (I’m part of a focus group for an annual event), and at the Fertility Fest at Shepherd’s Bush Theatre.

I’m aware of gender balance in the design industry and use my experiences to encourage the designers of tomorrow, speaking at Work In Publishing events, mentoring work experience students, and induction sessions.

Software expertise

Adobe Creative Cloud including Adobe Express • Canva • Click Up • Dubsado • Dropbox • Google Workspace • Loom • Sketch • Squarespace • Trello • WordPress 

Design expertise

Magazine and editorial design • fiction and non-fiction book covers and inside pages • marketing leaflets • annual reports • accessible PDF files • website design with training • project management • social media templates