Cruise.co.uk is Europe’s Leading Cruise Travel Agent and as a Senior Graphic Designer here, I predominantly create email marketing material (both html and image based) for major cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean, Celebrity & P&O Cruises. These are then sent to a database of 700,000 potential consumers which also accounts for over 8 million unique visits annually to the main website.

In addition I am involved with conducting interviews, training and supporting Junior Designers, creating brochures, html/image based banners, branding, info graphics and any other web based artefacts the product and online marketing team require. Each project demands attention to detail, high level of visual sense and a fast turnaround with emails being designed, approved and sent on the same day. This shows my ability to constantly work under pressure, maintaining multiple projects without compromising quality, in conjunction with other secondary tasks.

Employed as a creative designer primarily to generate design ideas and transition them into print ready artwork. I was also in charge of re-branding the company’s image across multiple formats such as stationary, literature and web-based work.

My passion is also my hobby. Since my one-year placement I have been undertaking local projects whenever the opportunity arises. This keeps my software skills refined, increases my experience level and allows me to research and experiment new design processes/software’s.

A small establishment where each member was required to be competent with all aspects of work, carrying out various tasks as well as their key roles. My role included meeting clients face-to-face, gaining user requirements, designing and implementing web projects where needed (from mock up to final product) and producing any marketing material i.e. business cards, booklets and folders using software from the Adobe Suite. Also, working here has increased my understanding of Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) and the business facet of the online sector.

Worked in three areas of design; Web Design, Graphic Design and Digital Print. I developed various software skills to produce static/dynamic websites, posters, magazines, business cards, leaflets, folders etc. at a professional level for various client campaigns. Also, working and liaising with clients daily has further enhanced my communication skills, interpersonal skills, customer care skills, conflict resolution and time management (working to tight deadlines).

Aesthetic and composition sense, colour sense, project management, critical thinking, creating HTML email templates, setting and maintaining corporate branding, expert typography, user-centred design, conceptual mock-ups, photo re-touching, free-hand sketching, stationary design, large-scale design, layout skills, digital print, meticulous design approach, creative and analytic thinking, following design protocols, proof reading, knowledge of SEO.

Major Project: What aspects of daily living are most compromised by complete paraplegic disability?
Modules: Product Innovation, Product Design, User Centred Design, CAD Modelling, Creative Studies and Modelling and Simulation

Major Project: To what extent would digital media based signage improve tourism in the Coventry City Centre?
Modules: Designing for Usability, Logic and Sets, Digital Media, Photography – the Digital Image, 3D Modelling and Animation, Interactive Pervasive Computing and Using Adobe Flash.

Both degrees have encouraged strong analytical and design skills and have focused substantially on developing research methods and problem solving techniques. As a result I have become competent in various aspects of multimedia computing while the MSc has shown my ability to successfully adapt into a new field and independently create high quality pieces of work.

• I.T. (B), Maths (C), Design (C)
• 10 GCSE’s (A* – A)