About me

I saw your advertisement for a graphic designer and would like to take the opportunity to apply for this interesting position.

As a brief summary, I have over 25 years experience working within the graphics industry. I am currently working as a senior designer at Organico Realfoods. My role includes working on promotional strategies within our wholesale network and outside in the independent organic marketplace. To achieve these objectives I produce various marketing materials and design support for Organico:- artwork for new visual identity for our three main brands, catalogues, inserts, adverts, web banners, Power Point presentations, website design and exhibition design..

I have extensive experience primarily in Adobe Creative Suite software but I also have experience

with Quark and Microsoft Office on both a Mac and PC.

I worked as a volunteer, in my spare time, for two years at Reading Association for the Blind, helping blind and visually impaired people with handicrafts giving them support and encouragement.

I hope my Curriculum Vitae and work samples are of interest, should you need any more information please contact me on the above number or email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Yours Sincerely

Gillian Watkins

Skills

Design, Analysing design briefs and producing effective creative strategies for the commercial market., Creating accurate digital artwork for print and web., Management and communication, Developing a team of suppliers and artworkers to extend creative output and provide specialist skills., Motivating and training staff to achieve company goals i.e. ISO9000, Negotiating good prices for photography, illustration and print., Computing, Evaluating potential of new equipment and software., Diagnosing problems with computer hardware and software., Improving technical skills through courses and self-study., Personal, Presenting design concepts verbally and visually to all levels of personnel., Meeting deadlines, ensuring projects are completed accurately, on time, and within budget., Training staff to achieve company goals.

Sector Experience

2004-Current Senior Designer, Organico Realfoods Ltd , Organico is an importer of organic speciality foods from all over the world. Working for the Managing Director, I am currently responsible for producing all design and artwork for packaging, advertising and promotional documents within the company., My role includes working on promotional strategies within our wholesale network and outside in the independent organic marketplace. To achieve these objectives I produce various marketing materials and design support for Organico:- artwork for new visual identity for our three main brands, catalogues, inserts, adverts, web banners, Power Point presentations, website design and exhibition design., Major Achievements:, - Strengthening Organico, Fish4Ever and The Organic Collection branding in the whole food marketplace., - Producing comprehensive, visual strategies which are helping our brands move into new markets., 2002-2004 Senior Designer, Bank of Ireland Mortgages , Bank of Ireland mortgages are part of Bristol and West group. Reporting to the Manager, I developed a cohesive design strategy for the bank’s direct mail campaigns and for all the consumer and financial broker marketing materials produced within the UK section of the Bank of Ireland group. I designed and produced 3D exhibition work and also interactive multimedia to promote our brand within the Financial Adviser community., Major Achievements:, - Organising outside design and print by both agencies and freelancers., - Producing new branding guidelines for the whole Bristol and West group., - Working alongside the in-house IT department to update and rejuvenate the company website. , 2001-2002 Graphic Designer, CFBT (one year contract), I worked for the Centre for School Standards; the government appointed body who delivered pupil and teacher training. Primarily, for Literacy and Numeracy Key stage three., I was responsible for the design of projects within the design department from initial ideas to digital artwork. I managed a team of freelance designers, illustrators and photographers and I ensured the smooth running of work within tight deadlines keeping control of project budgets, some of which were worth several million pounds., Major Achievements:, - Producing teaching material for a Youth Justice Board pilot project. A Literacy and Numeracy project to be used within the young offenders institutes, this consisted of forty twenty-four page students books each with the associated teaching manuals, packaging for the learning materials, videos, posters and also a multimedia teaching system to go alongside the printed articles. This work was all completed within tight deadline and budget constraints., 2000 - 2001 Senior Designer, Euromark Plc, Euromark are one of the foremost producers of licensed character toiletries in Europe. I managed a team of four in-house designers and three outside freelancers, as such; I was responsible for the throughput of such diverse projects as: packaging, brochures, advertising, phone fascias, 3D character toiletries, exhibitions, POS and interactive web pages. Other responsibilities included the purchase and upkeep of software, networks and servers that were used by the team and also managing the updating and archiving of information on the system., Major Achievements:, - Designing and art-directing of a major multimedia presentation which involved working closely with software houses, voiceover artists, musicians, printers and exhibition designers., 1997-2000 Freelance Graphic Designer, Working for myself, I produced creative strategies for a wide range of companies in the Thames valley; including Intel, Castrol, WH Smith and Newbury Building Society. My responsibilities for these clients included generating concepts and artwork for all types of materials: - from packaging design to brochures, web page design to product development. I also co-ordinated printers, photographers, illustrators and others to ensure the projects ran smoothly, to the highest standards and within any budget or time constraints., Major Achievements:, - Setting up and running my own company. Generating business leads and evolving those leads into successful working relationships., 1993-1997 Senior Designer, Nationwide Building Society, My responsibilities included the design and production of any type of work, from general advertising to magazine and exhibition design and mock-ups. This included presenting to large corporate clients e.g. Boots, Rolls Royce, British Gas and many others through the Corporate Markets department based in Northampton. The position also involved working with printers, both internal and external, as well as photographers and illustrators to ensure continuity and quality within strict brand standards., Major Achievements:, - Managing all the control documents for the Design department to attain the British Standards ISO9000, - Other responsibilities included training other members of staff in the various packages used within the department and mentoring our junior designer.

Awards

DATEC Diploma in Graphic Design., BTEC Higher National Diploma in Graphic Design.