Employment History
CSGWD / www.cgswd.eu
Creative Director | Aug 07 - Present
Having worked in the design, print and display industry for 6 years I setup my own graphic and web design company in August 07 after successfully completing the ‘Start a Business Programme’ (SABP) at the Fermanagh Enterprise Park. Working for myself had always been an ambition.
Responsibilities Include
Marketing and the promotion of CSGWD to potential clients and customers, as I took on a sales responsibility in order to acquire new business.
Producing creative, successful design, print and web solutions for the clients and customers that I’ve acquired since August 07.
Developing contacts and liasing with print companies and suppliers in order to provide clients with a wide range of design, print and web solutions catering for both large and small budgets.
Budget control, project planning, providing price estimates and quotes. Working with my account controller on issues such as payments, invoicing, VAT, PAYE and Income Tax etc.
Knowledge, Skills & Training
An increased knowledge of website design having produced many successful HTML brochure websites.
Mentoring – I have been working with Mallusk Enterprise in Belfast in conjunction with Cafre ‘College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise’ to provide a number of their clients with websites as part of the Government Sponsored ‘Farm Diversification Programme.’
Staying up-to-date with my knowledge of the Design and Print Industry standard software.
ACOS DESIGN / THE PRINT FACTORY
Graphic Design & Artworker | Nov 03 - Aug 07
Joined Acos Design & The Print Factory to further develop my knowledge and experience of the design and print industry and learn about full colour offset lithograph printing.
Responsibilities Include
Creating artwork for Acos Design & Print Factory customers in the form of business stationery, booklets, full colour brochures, marketing fliers, presentation folders and exhibition display stands.
Discussing layout, content and images required with clients.
Working as a team member of five graphic designers.
Communicating with Computer-To-Plate team to ensure artwork was positioned correctly on plate.
Communicating with Offset Lithograph Printers to ensure artwork is printed correctly.
Communicating with finishing team to ensure artwork is finished correctly.
Providing a weekly progress report to management.
Knowledge, Skills & Training
Direct-to-plate (computer to plate CTP) printing.
Process CMYK, RGB and Spot Colours.
Line Screen LPI, Dots Per Inch DPI, Pixels Per Inch PPI.
Imposition training for Imposition Publisher V4.6 Studio Professional.
Correct approach for scanning images and removing screen.
Gripper Margin, Crop, Registration and Trim Marks, Bleed, Choke, Creep, Colour Bars and Output Documents.
Colour matching and adjustment by use of the Curves and Levels tools in Adobe Photoshop.
ON DISPLAY LIMITED
Graphic Design & Artworker | May 02 – Nov 03
Joined ON Display to head up and develop an in-house design department offering a creative design service to ON Display customers. To learn about Large Format Digital Printing, Vinyl Cut Graphics and Screen Printing.
Involved in
Talking to graphic design, advertising and marketing customers about their digital print requirements.
Presenting design concepts to a number of high profile clients including Queen’s University Belfast and Diageo Guinness Belfast.
Responsible for the design and implementation of a job progress board and traffic sheets to enable jobs to be tracked throughout different departments.
Responsible for developing and maintaining a completed job backup and archive system.
Liasing with computer hardware and software engineers in order to best assess the company’s hardware and software requirements.
Site visits to take measurements and technical data that would be used to produce suitable artwork.
POSITIVE DESIGN CONSULTANTS
Graphic Designer | Mar 02 - Apr 02
Joined Positive Design Consultants because I was impressed by their portfolio, professionalism and attitude.
Responsibilities Include
Providing assistance to senior colleagues, learning about the design industry as I did so. Communicating with photographers and Illustrators and expressing my ideas clearly and confidently regarding commissioned work. Providing active input into brainstorming sessions on a number of the company’s design briefs.
MILLENNIUM ADVERTISING
Graphic Designer | Oct 01 - Feb 02
Joined Millennium after graduating with my BA (Hons) Degree in order to gain industrial experience of the design industry.
Responsibilities Include
Working alongside media buyers and an account manager in a busy advertising environment.
MARSTELLER ADVERTISING LONDON
(College Work Experience) May 00 - June 00
Marsteller Advertising, a four-week college placement to experience the working environment in London.
Involved in
The production of work, brainstorming sessions, traffic meetings, the production of a television advertisement and was advised about work backup systems and how to work from a computer network.
20-20 DESIGN / INSIDE NI MAGAZINE
(College Work Experience) APR 00 - MAY 00
Joined 20-20 Design to learn and experience editorial and magazine design.
Responsibilities Include
The production of printed and multi media publicity material for the company. Involved in discussions with the magazine’s editor regarding the content of the publication.
HIGGINS ADVERTISING, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, USA
(College Work Experience) NOV 98
Joined Higgins Advertising to gain an understanding of design in an American environment.
I was involved in:
Public relations and was invited along with the company CEO to an “American Association of Advertising Agencies” lunch where I met many of Nashville’s advertising community.
Strategic design and art direction, strategic & concept planning, production management, desktop publishing and media buying.
Read Press Release from the Bangor Spectator 'Student Builds Links with Nashville'
Read Press Release from the Nashville Business Journal
