Parow, Western Cape, South Africa
At my core I am a solid Designer, solid in the sense that I know what needs to be done and I get it done. I've never steered away from the new based on uncertainty or lack of. We live in such an amazing time, if anything is holding you back from achieving more dare I say it could be fear, fear of uncertainty. And with so many tools at your disposal, and yes I'm talking technology. I ask again what can we not achieve? I suppose what differentiates me is my love for people, at the end of the day work needs to get done and it gets done. It's the bonds in between that make the journey there so much more enjoyable. And that combined with a passion for what I do, makes me a cyclone with a creative hunger ready to devour any project I am fortunate enough to work on! I have been opportune enough to work on many national and international brands like: Kulula.com, British Airways, Vital Health Foods, Mecer, Wimpy, Renault Trucks, Cosmopolitan Dating, News 24, Marie Claire, Fair Lady, as well as European News Moguls IPM's: La libre and DH. My work extends to Paris/France and also Belgium for Gestener and De Standard (The Standard) a Flemish daily newspaper published in Belgium by Corelio (formerly VUM), coronation, Ceres, Kotex, The kove collection which comprises of it's ever growing portfolio from The bungalow to The Alphen Boutique Hotel. Specialties include: Creative Problem Solving, Branding Strategies and solutions, Promotional material, Publications & newsletters, Company stationery and Illustration, Corporate Identity, Company re-branding, Website design, email marketing, Outdoor advertising, Online advertising. Feel free to oversee my 10 years+ experience below. I’m always up for learning more! www.designerneeded.com
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Freelancing Never really stops, every opportunity has another opportunity for an opportunity haha. Whenever the chance arises to expand or grow my skils I jump in hands and feet, connected with the right network know-how. There is not a single Design challenge I won't consider, and this allowed me to meet and work on an array of amazing clients which include: Coronation, to the Kove Collection even Penflex. I make a point of keeping in mind that not everyone understands what goes into a design project so I keep all channels open between me and the client guiding and showing them exactly where and what the thought process is around the project.
Being Head of Design for such a luxurious brand means not only do I have to maintain a certain level of communication to a Specific Target Market. I need to maintain it throughout our +13 brands under the Kove Collection Umbrella. Each brand is catered for with it's own authenticity through all scopes of the Digital and Print Spectrum. From Brochures to emailers, including a constant refresh / re-evaluation to all brands ensuring the Kove Collection stays ahead of the curb. This includes actual Website planning, specifically seeking improvement among our various establishments, luckily this time around I did not have to code. Brands on which I work across all channels are: The Bungalow Restaurant, Paranga Restaurant, Zenzero Restaurant, 5 Rooms Restaurant, The Rose Bar, La Belle Camps Bay and Constantia, UMI Japanese Restaurant, The Whisky Bar, Kurobuta London, The Alphen Boutique Hotel, The Marly Boutique Hotel. And as I said If it can be designed...this guy will probably pull in the reigns to do so!
Contributing at key planning, design, and production stages to ensure that design considerations, cost implications, and schedules are well communicated and taken into account. Tasks included but not limited to: • Working Directly with Clients to ensure design correlates with requirements. • Quality control over concepts and projects. • The implementation of best practice guidelines and content creation standards for all design. • This also included Guiding and Mentoring Junior Designers. • See Project through from beginning to end stages. • Conducting brainstorms & idea activities to conceptualize various campaigns. • Coordinating project specific circulation and sign-off processes. • Goes without saying, but ensuring all deadlines are met • Apply established corporate branding specifications to ensure work meets organization guidelines. • Brands included: Ceres, Kotex, FieldOffice among others.
This is where I learnt to cut my teeth on the Digital Design forefront. And yes being a Graphic Designer does not make you a Web designer. This was my introductional step. Tasks included but not limited to: • Define a creative vision or strategy (innovation & evolution) for various Online Dating Sites • Managing creative outputs according to this vision. • Brand ambassador ensuring all designs done on a partners behalf adheres to their CI • Creating “skin packs” and/or Visual graphics for all the dating Sites. • Maintaining strict design guidelines & consistency standards. • Evaluating supplied artwork/resizing and creating any outstanding imagery from clients / partners • Presenting to Developers, Account Manager, CEO and Finally Clients. • The ability to argue reasoning’s behind design motivations, rationales & best practices. • Creating Info Graphics/Web banners that drive traffic to TDL’s Universe of Online Dating Sites. • Devising and planning a color palette to suite various Web sites • Sourcing relevant Stock pictures to suite Client needs. • Testing of css and html on my own working copy. • Logo and Icon Creation. • Clients varied from local to international with names like News24, MSN, Cosmopolitan.