About me

After 27 years it's difficult to condense my experience down to a few pieces/projects especially when perhaps much of my potential value is in the client handling I've done and the other supporting things that I've always considered to be part and parcel of being an effective Creative Director. I have been as comfortable presenting to Sir Peter Elwood, Chairman of Lloyds TSB, as I am to the chap down the road starting up his new enterprise.

For Lloyds TSB alone, I've run brand workshops, mentored many young men and women, held internal and external training sessions on print, consulted on fixtures and fittings for the interiors of the bank's retail outlets. Designed a bus inside and out for a touring charity. entertained clients for more late nights than I can remember. Written copy and edited others' work. Designed and help to erect many exhibition stands. Taken part in hundreds of successful pitches and experienced the unfamiliar feeling of pain when unsuccessful.

Achieved and accepted many consecutive internal brand awards at Lloyds TSB.

I'm currently managing a nearly £3M budget across my department of 19 managers and assistants in a field that a few years ago I knew little about. I'm happy talking about all aspects of strategy, creativity, design, marketing, print and communication. On and off line.

I oversee costs and the smooth running of suppliers, contractors and freelance resource in an environment of incredible stress to hilariously tight deadlines with a smile and even behaviour.

Single and with no family-ties I am able to relocate. I can be available for interview at your convenience.

Kind regards,

John Stevens.

Skills

- Branding: on and offline - research, conception, launch, guidelines, development and continued growth, - Conceptual and ideas generation, Brand, Packaging, Brochures, POS, Campaigns, Catalogues, Above the line, Presentations, Workshops, - Art Direction, - High Level Visualising, - Illustration, - Design, - Copywriting, - Client services direction at the highest level, - Presenting and pitching at the highest level, - MAC skills including: Illustrator, Quark XPress, Photoshop and InDesign, - Traditional and Digital, - Strategy and Planning, - Leadership and managing / directing team, - Training and mentoring

Sector Experience

Print, advertising, exhibition, design, branding, direct marketing, online and web, packaging, retail., FMCG, financial, telecomms, insurance, retail, direct retail and many more.

Awards

'O' levels: 6 - Art, English Language, English Literature, Biology, History, French, 'A' levels: 3 - Art, English Literature, General Studies, Foundation Course, BTEC HND Graphic Design and Illustration

Clients

AXA, Booker Wholesale Foods, Cornhill Direct, DAB Radio, kenco, Kingston Communications, Lloyds TSB, Lucent Technologies, MACE and VG Supermarkets, Orange, Screwfix, Sunjuice, Swissotel, The Groovy Food Co., The YHA, Timex