Chris Woodrow (Date of Birth 18th July 1978)
Freelance Graphic Designer

2 Folly View, Bampton Road, Black Bourton, Oxfordshire OX16 2AX

Tel: 07801 811173   Email: design@chris-woodrow.co.uk

Versatile and intelligent, agency experienced designer, who has produced creative print and web solutions for a variety of clients.

A talent for conceiving design concepts, adept at developing ideas and interpreting feedback. Skilled in producing final artwork including page layouts, digital illustration, image retouching and manipulation, ensuring quality and consistency throughout the process. Natural compositional skills with vast experience of employing typography effectively.

A genuine interest in design and its range of applications has produced a varied career to date, working in environments such as advertising, publishing and marketing.

Design deliverables have included leaflets, brochures, mailers, stationery, advertisements, posters, websites, large format solutions, corporate identity, annual reports, newsletters, magazines, user interface and Flash animation. Client sectors covered include;

• Healthcare • Charity • The Arts • Publishing • Retail • Scientific
• Hospitality • Education • Public sector • Manufacturing • Environmental


SKILLS SUMMARY

• Concept creation
• Pitch work
• Copywriting
• Logo design and development
• Project management
• Advertisement slogans
• Photography direction
• Picture sourcing
• Website design
• Mac artworking
• Working to corporate guidelines

Design software: Apple Macintosh based Adobe CS3 (InDesign, Photoshop & Illustrator) and QuarkXPress. Also have experience of using Flash, Dreamweaver and Fireworks.

Design hardware: Dedicated home studio with Apple MacBook Pro.


WORK SUMMARY

October 2007 to Present
Freelance Graphic Designer

Currently working freelance in order to pursue a more flexible career and to gain experience of a wider variation of client sectors. Since turning freelance have worked on a product catalogue for furniture retailer The Pier and point-of-sale artwork for Braun. Also worked on the naming and branding of a restaurant for hotel chain the Crowne Plaza, producing logo suggestions and menu designs. Have shown capability to work with the minimum of supervision achieving effective results. Thorough agency experience has helped inform a creative and efficient work ethic in current freelance status.

October 2003 to October 2007
iad Advertising & Design, Oxford, Oxfordshire
Senior Graphic Designer

Worked as Senior Designer, dealing directly with clients, producing conceptual design ideas through to print-ready artwork, gaining four years solid agency experience. Clients ranged from large organisations to business start-ups. Also dealt with print buying as well as supervising freelancers and people gaining work experience in the studio. Most enjoyable work included creating fundraising material for the charity Helen & Douglas House. Designing its messaging and developing a visual style in order to project the brand and attract funding. Produced advertising concepts designed to entice graduates and people from ethnic backgrounds to join the Civil Nuclear Constabulary Police Force. Won this work as the result of a pitch, which also included a complete re-brand of the Forces' printed materials. Project-managed the design submissions process from start to completion.

April 2003 to October 2003
RPS Group Abingdon, Oxfordshire
Graphic Designer (6 month contract)

RPS Group is an environmental planning consultancy employing 2,000 people in over 50 offices. Worked within the Marketing department, acting as brand guardian for the group. Produced design collateral for exhibitions, leaflets, an annual report and trade press advertisements.

April 2002 to April 2003
Digital Workshop, Banbury, Oxfordshire
Designer/Illustrator

Digital Workshop is an award-winning software developer and distributor. Produced illustration work for a variety of software releases aimed at the home-user. These included greetings cards for a product called CardArt and illustrations for plugin clip-art galleries for use with Paint Shop Pro. Also worked on the visual identity of the products helping to ensure correct positioning in the market place.

March 2000 to March 2002
Peebles Media Group, Witney, Oxfordshire
Magazine Designer

Peebles Media Group is a business-to-business magazine publisher. Designed editorial content for a range of magazines aimed at a variety of markets, including Toy, Gift and Stationery retailers, Executive PA’s and Facilities Managers. Responsible for the look and feel of two monthly magazine titles reporting to editors and sales managers.


EDUCATION

July 2000
HNC Graphic Design
Oxford College of Further Education
2 year course with day release to a pre-press design & production department.

July 1995
GSCE’s including B grades in Art, Design, English and Business Studies
Henry Box School, Witney, Oxfordshire


INTERESTS

Online retailing; recently designed a range of T-shirts using licensed music photography to be sold on the internet.
Screenprinting; gained screenprinting skills award at London College of Printing in 2007. Planning to produce and sell prints as an artist printmaker.
Outdoor pursuits; including camping, walking and mountain biking. Also enjoy digital photography, drawing, cooking, Jamaican music and all things retro.

e:design@chris-woodrow.co.uk