ART DIRECTOR & 3D SPECIALIST

• Confidence and high creativity in problem solving.

• Passion for precision and on-time project delivery.

• Invaluable commercial awareness and profitability focus.

• In-depth knowledge of print manufacturing processes.

• Strategic thinking with long term sustainability awareness.

• Strong interpersonal skills at all management levels.

• Ability to adapt in rapidly changing consumer and legislative environments.

SKILLS SUMMARY

• In-depth knowledge & experience in repro, print, art-working, net/template and cutter design, manufacturing techniques, costing, art direction, design briefing, retail development & visualisation.

• Paper Mechanics, Pop-Ups and packaging expert.

• 3D product solution expert, mechanical pop-up and technical execution, packaging and branding design, cutter & prototyping and art-working.

• Expert in Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop with knowledge of other Adobe Creative Suite applications.

• An ability to visualise and problem solve in 3D.

• Understanding the relationship between product shelf appeal and manufacturing cost constraints.

• Identifying consumer trends and commercialising new innovative solutions.

• An effective leader in mentoring and developing existing and emerging talent.

• Through university and college connections, skilled at discovering emerging influencers.

• Identifying alternative solutions with potential from non-traditional sources.

EDUCATION

BA Honours in Multidisciplinary Design (2.1)

Foundation in Art & Design.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Freelance

Hallmark Cards PLC (Art Director / 3D Specialist)

Unique Images (Creative Mac Manager)

Gallery Studios (Studio Artist)

Morris Design (Packaging / Construction Engineer)

British Greeting Cards Corporation (Studio Artist)

PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Instrumental in maintaining a pipeline of product innovation for Hallmark and its licensors.

• Development of Internal and external licensed portfolios from pitches to live product.

• Attended a year’s intensive Adobe systems training. Acquired in-depth knowledge of Illustrator and Photoshop. Mentored the wider design studio in digital transitioning.

• Implemented the digital pre-press unit at Hallmark Cards in Bradford.

• Managed a studio of Mac designers responsible for producing digitally designed product and packaging for the company’s customer base.

• Mentored designers at all levels and hosted workshops and collaborative design projects with universities, colleges and schools.

• Instrumental in acquiring many new licenses through innovative product design across greeting cards and party products. (Simpsons, Disney, Warner Bros.)

• Nominated and won several accolades and innovation awards for licensed products: ‘Henries’ for Disney’s Grand Gestures, Disney’s design award for Toy Story’s Woody Shelfie, NEC award for product of the year.

• Product sourcing and trend development trips to China, Hong Kong, Japan, America, and Europe.

• Instrumental in securing the Disney contract through Star Wars innovation product.

• Spearheaded product development using archive imagery from Hallmark, Getty, Corbis image libraries through extensive art history knowledge.

• Secondment on five separate special project initiatives at Hallmark Inc. Headquarters in Kansas City.

• Developed a future thinking process for long term future strategy.

INTERESTS AND HOBBIES

• Black Belt in Bugeisha Fighting Arts.

• Keen Squash player.

• Collector of Pop-Up books from around the globe.

• Titanic historian.

• Collector of Antiques (Spelter Statues, Toys, Games, Playing Cards, Books/Annuals).

• An extensive collection of Hand-Cut wooden Jigsaws from the 1920’s and 1930’s.

• Historic and contemporary art collector.