How did you get into the industry?
I knew from when I was around 14 I wanted to be a graphic designer, someone came into my school and did a graphic design class, based on drawing in perspective, after that class I knew that’s what I wanted to do. I went on to study at art at college and Vis Comm at Birmingham City Uni. I then reached out to a bunch of cool agencies and some really cool clients and my portfolio grew from there.
Where are you based now and who do you work for?
I’m currently based in Sheffield, and I’m originally from the Midlands. I worked for a marketing agency for around 3 years, but they shut down early 2022, so since then I’ve set up on my own, I love it and I haven’t looked back!
If you weren’t in your current industry, what would you be doing?
If I had another life, I would love to be a radio presenter. I’m a chatterbox, I can talk for England. I love music, I’d love to live and breathe music, artists, and get totally stuck into the scene.
Can you explain your creative process? What makes it unique?
I’m admittedly not someone who starts on paper, I know some people will wince at that. I start on Pinterest, I create a visual board and save ideas that suit the brief I’m working on. If the client is an existing company I’ll research the brand and get myself familiar with what the company has achieved already.
If it’s a new company that needs a logo and brand, I’ll begin looking for typefaces, awesome colour palettes, brand personalities and images that suit the industry, and of course research their competitors.
How would you describe your style?
All my designs are bright and bold, I use flat colours, rather than going into a lot of detail. I also think it’s important to have meaning behind your designs, not just eye-candy.
I love delving deeper into a logo to find a subtle hint to the subject matter or something the client/designer wanted to subtly reference, so that’s something I would say I like to add to my own designs… meaning!
Which individuals do you gain inspiration from? Do you have any heroes in the industry?
I wouldn’t say there is any individuals that inspire me, my eye’s jump to anything with bright colours, beautiful typefaces, quirky fun personalities.
What tips would you give to aspiring creatives looking for work?
Put yourself out there, get yourself on all the platforms, communicate with artists, designers, reach out to companies that you aspire to work for. Keep yourself busy, keep designing, practice makes perfect!
Since going freelance I’ve got stuck into online briefs (Instagram weekly brief accounts) which give me an opportunity to create something I really love, it keeps my brain creative, and it gives me materials for my online portfolio that I’m proud of. Also, don’t sell yourself short, know your worth!
What tips would you give to other professionals to get more clients?
Getting clients is the toughest thing when it comes to freelancing, and getting trust worthy, top quality clients is even harder. I’d recommend using sites like Creative pool and LinkedIn to find new clients.
I’d also recommend emailing local marketing/creative agencies, or companies you aspire to work for, even if they don’t have any need for your services now, they might pop you on file for when they do!
What kind of tools/kit/software could you not do without?
I couldn’t live without Adobe Illustrator, it’s my one and only, with a sprinkle of Photoshop.
What’s your secret to staying inspired and motivated?
I do a lot of work, always finding new personal projects and testing my skills. I also follow a lot of other freelancers and that community keeps me inspired.
What’s the work achievement you’re most proud of?
When I first started up as a freelancer I had no idea what I was doing, so I’m proud of where I am now, and how much I have learned.
What is the one thing that you would change about the industry?
I’d love to educate clients on how much time all this design business takes! I’d also like for pricing to be discussed more openly as a community, so that people starting out know what they are worth, and feel more confident quoting clients.
Any websites, books or resources you would recommend?
Creativepool, Pinterest, Instagram, Behance, google fonts, envato elements.
