Business Card
Letterhead
Invoice
Web Site Home Page Design Ideas
Favourite so far...
Sunday, 20 January 2008
Corporate Branding
Below are all the branding I've produced so far. They are all at the initial stages and will be reviewed until I am satisfied with the end result. So far I am happy as they show exactly what my company is all about: light, refreshing, eye-catching and simple
Business Card
Invoice
Web Site Home Page Design Ideas
Favourite so far...
Business Card
Invoice
Web Site Home Page Design Ideas
Favourite so far...
Saturday, 19 January 2008
Accounts 2008 - 2009
Click on any picture to see my cashflow, profit & loss sheet and sales forecast for the financial year of 2008 - 2009
Profit & Loss
Sales Forecast
Cashflow
Profit & Loss
Sales Forecast
Accounts 2007 - 2008
Click on any picture to see my cashflow, profit & loss sheet and sales forecast for the financial year of 2007 - 2008
Profit & Loss
Sales Forecast
Cashflow
Profit & Loss
Sales Forecast
Thursday, 17 January 2008
Business Plan
Business Plan completed Thursday 17th January 2008. Further updates and reviews to be added to this post on an ongoing basis. Click each image to view a larger image.
Page One
Page Two
Page Three
Page Four
Page Five
Page Two
Page Three
Page Four
Page Five
Page Six
Sunday, 2 December 2007
Action Plan
I am a very honest, down-to-earth person. I am very friendly and prefer dealing with similar people in a more informal situation. I do feel uncomfortable in formal situations however a personality test has placed me as having a more formal personality due to the type of clothes I wear and by how organised a person I am. Order, order, order! Yes that’s me! I like order, control and tidiness but I do also have a side to me that needs a break from all that. An example is my house; I can’t cope with it being too clean and tidy! I love contemporary design with clean angled edges and squares – probably because it looks tidy! I am very independent and would love the freedom of either working for myself or with a business partner which is what has happened! Christine Beal has agreed to join me in the business. She has natural writing ability and more search engine optimisation knowledge than me. We do therefore complement each other perfectly. I want the flexibility of working when I want, although I have no doubt I would work many more hours than a 9-5 job. I am going to work part time hours in my current job from 1st January so I feel as if I’m getting closer to making my dream become reality.
I am really drawn towards web design as I love all the technical aspects of it i.e. HTML coding and computer programming languages. My personality test also highlighted my analytical side so I’m sure this is why I enjoy the technical side and also research! I don’t enjoy creating logos and corporate identity as I feel a lot of pressure. I find it difficult translating the essence of a company into one logo and accompanying designs. However I’ve become more confident after designing my own company logo (Refreshing Web Design). Although it’s not finished yet, I do feel I’ve captured what I’m about.
I decided to design and build a website for my portrait business as part of my HND course where I realised just how much I enjoyed it! I researched good web design on the internet and came across the website http://newark1.com and loved the boldness of the main image which held the whole design together and dictated the colour scheme. Their designs looked so striking and attractive that this confirmed my desire to become a web designer.
I’ve spoken to friends and people who want websites creating for them and I’ve had so much positive feedback about the site I built for KramersDesigns. I feel like I can put my own style into it without sacrificing the company’s own identity. My potential customers are all down-to-earth friendly people so it doesn’t matter that I’m not long established or relatively inexperienced. A previous college friend advised me a year ago about the current prices so I knew where to pitch myself within the market. A meeting was arranged between myself, Gavin of KramersDesigns and a man who was thinking of setting up as a local web designer. He was interested in using my creative skills instead of designing with templates as he does now. He said that this allows him to offer very competitive prices but I knew then that I want to design websites from scratch, thus allowing flexibility and giving the customer exactly what they want. He has since set up freelance and does earn well from it which has encouraged me that there is plenty of local business out there.
Most of my knowledge comes through reading “Dreamweaver for Dummies” and researching on the internet. I designed the website at work thinking it would be quite easy but soon realised there was much more technical expertise required. The book just touched upon CGI (Common Gateway Interface) and other technical issues but this wasn’t enough alone so I had to spend many hours researching on the internet. This served me well though as I learnt many things and now automatically research things I don’t know instead of thinking I can’t do it. One example is a recent request from a customer who wanted a form on his website that would send a text to his phone. I now believe that anything is possible and found out how to do it by researching online.
A meeting with a potential customer showed the skills needed to really draw out of them what they want. This was extremely difficult as they didn’t actually know themselves! After creating a few design options and pricing strategies we learned what was appropriate to them. I would like to improve my skill in this area though to save time in the initial process, meaning we are more likely to get the business.
I’ll be studying Accessibility for the Graphic Design in Context module. After picking inclusive design as part of the Futures presentation I realised just how important it is! Before I saw it as something I could adapt into a web design after it was built but it needs to be in the design right from the beginning. It affects the whole web site structure and colour scheme. The Newark website, that got me so interested in the first place, is in fact the worst way to design from an accessibility point of view. The Futures presentation has therefore turned everything on its head for me! But if I am to be a successful designer, I want to still be here in the future and give customers the peace of mind that their websites will be accessible.
My Creative Design Project will be a website designed with the knowledge I have gained from the Graphic Design in Context project. I have a website to design for Wrenco Ltd and I also want to design my own website once my identity has been developed.
For the Technical Skills module I want to look into PHP and Javascript more. I’ll use Dreamweaver to develop the two languages as it has a validator. I have books on the subject but will also use the internet as my source too. I want to learn how to write forms with PHP as it is supported by both the Linux and Microsoft platforms.
As I am launching myself as a web designer I will have real design jobs lined up for the Personal Project modules. One potential customer is Brighouse Textiles and another North Dean Fabrications but I know there will be more to do in the next couple of years. I have potentially 6 websites to do so far, one of which has been recommended by the last web site I designed for Dent Vanish Ltd.
I am really drawn towards web design as I love all the technical aspects of it i.e. HTML coding and computer programming languages. My personality test also highlighted my analytical side so I’m sure this is why I enjoy the technical side and also research! I don’t enjoy creating logos and corporate identity as I feel a lot of pressure. I find it difficult translating the essence of a company into one logo and accompanying designs. However I’ve become more confident after designing my own company logo (Refreshing Web Design). Although it’s not finished yet, I do feel I’ve captured what I’m about.
I decided to design and build a website for my portrait business as part of my HND course where I realised just how much I enjoyed it! I researched good web design on the internet and came across the website http://newark1.com and loved the boldness of the main image which held the whole design together and dictated the colour scheme. Their designs looked so striking and attractive that this confirmed my desire to become a web designer.
I’ve spoken to friends and people who want websites creating for them and I’ve had so much positive feedback about the site I built for KramersDesigns. I feel like I can put my own style into it without sacrificing the company’s own identity. My potential customers are all down-to-earth friendly people so it doesn’t matter that I’m not long established or relatively inexperienced. A previous college friend advised me a year ago about the current prices so I knew where to pitch myself within the market. A meeting was arranged between myself, Gavin of KramersDesigns and a man who was thinking of setting up as a local web designer. He was interested in using my creative skills instead of designing with templates as he does now. He said that this allows him to offer very competitive prices but I knew then that I want to design websites from scratch, thus allowing flexibility and giving the customer exactly what they want. He has since set up freelance and does earn well from it which has encouraged me that there is plenty of local business out there.
Most of my knowledge comes through reading “Dreamweaver for Dummies” and researching on the internet. I designed the website at work thinking it would be quite easy but soon realised there was much more technical expertise required. The book just touched upon CGI (Common Gateway Interface) and other technical issues but this wasn’t enough alone so I had to spend many hours researching on the internet. This served me well though as I learnt many things and now automatically research things I don’t know instead of thinking I can’t do it. One example is a recent request from a customer who wanted a form on his website that would send a text to his phone. I now believe that anything is possible and found out how to do it by researching online.
A meeting with a potential customer showed the skills needed to really draw out of them what they want. This was extremely difficult as they didn’t actually know themselves! After creating a few design options and pricing strategies we learned what was appropriate to them. I would like to improve my skill in this area though to save time in the initial process, meaning we are more likely to get the business.
I’ll be studying Accessibility for the Graphic Design in Context module. After picking inclusive design as part of the Futures presentation I realised just how important it is! Before I saw it as something I could adapt into a web design after it was built but it needs to be in the design right from the beginning. It affects the whole web site structure and colour scheme. The Newark website, that got me so interested in the first place, is in fact the worst way to design from an accessibility point of view. The Futures presentation has therefore turned everything on its head for me! But if I am to be a successful designer, I want to still be here in the future and give customers the peace of mind that their websites will be accessible.
My Creative Design Project will be a website designed with the knowledge I have gained from the Graphic Design in Context project. I have a website to design for Wrenco Ltd and I also want to design my own website once my identity has been developed.
For the Technical Skills module I want to look into PHP and Javascript more. I’ll use Dreamweaver to develop the two languages as it has a validator. I have books on the subject but will also use the internet as my source too. I want to learn how to write forms with PHP as it is supported by both the Linux and Microsoft platforms.
As I am launching myself as a web designer I will have real design jobs lined up for the Personal Project modules. One potential customer is Brighouse Textiles and another North Dean Fabrications but I know there will be more to do in the next couple of years. I have potentially 6 websites to do so far, one of which has been recommended by the last web site I designed for Dent Vanish Ltd.
CV
PERSONAL PROFILE
A determined and enthusiastic team leader and team player and able to communicate with people at all levels. Conversant in web design and graphic design programs and uses initiative to contribute new ideas. Organised, assertive, friendly and confident with a great personality.
CAREER HISTORY
Northern Commercials, Brighouse
2006 - Present
Database and Marketing Manager
Current salary £18,526 + Commission
- Design and maintenance of company website http://www.nor-com.co.uk/ in Dreamweaver.
- Design of marketing and promotional materials. (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator)
- Manager of six sales personnel.
- Coordination of all sales reporting.
- Weekly customer satisfaction telephone calls.
- Regular prospecting telephone calls.
- Database cleansing and maintenance.
- Reporting to Sales Manager & Sales Director.
- Internal auditing ISO 9001.
- Ensuring sales personnel adhere to ISO guidelines.
- Redesigning corporate stationery, business forms and advertisements to maximise potential revenue.
Body Shop
2005 - 2006
Consultant
- Selling products and meeting sales targets.
- Building relationships with party hosts.
- Travelling across West Yorkshire to deliver the parties.
- Learning product range and adapting to changes.
- Working part-time as well as working full-time at Rosehill Polymers.
Rosehill Polymers Ltd, Sowerby Bridge
1998 - 2006
Sales Co-ordinator & Marketing Assistant
Current salary £17,600
- Point of sale contact for customer orders and enquiries.
- Organising exhibitions and ordering marketing equipment.
- Insight into marketing products and marketing strategies.
- Maintaining customer database.
- Overseeing customer satisfaction system.
- Preparing quotations and negotiating pricing.
- Training new recruits and staff on sales order processing programme.
- Internal auditing including Health and Safety.
- Pivotal role co-ordinating customer orders and production.
- Working to tight deadlines on order turnaround.
- Excellent communication skills liaising between departments and customers.
- Continually improving systems and procedures.
Weight Watchers Ltd
2003 - 2004
Leader
- Approached to become a Weight Watchers team leader.
- Motivated, inspired and supported members.
- Involved in major marketing campaigns.
- Constantly generated new ideas for weekly meetings.
- Teamwork building with other leaders.
- Successful part-time leader as well as holding a full-time job at Rosehill Polymers.
Yorkshire Building Society, Halifax
1996 - 1998
Investment/Mortgage Customer Adviser
- Customer Adviser on the counter.
- Dealing with mortgage, insurance and investment enquiries.
- Training new recruits on the counter.
- Training staff with new computer systems.
- Petty cash administration.
- Offering advice, information and support to colleagues.
Lloyds Bank, Elland & Halifax
1994 - 1996
Bank Clerk
- Dealing with customer statements.
- Cashiering on the counter at the Halifax branch.
- Selling general insurance over the telephone and face to face.
- Processing total day’s banking transactions.
- Supporting colleagues.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
- Approached to become a Weight Watchers leader.
- Having an illustration published in a magazine advertisement.
- Received two gifts through YBS ‘W.I.N. Scheme’ for my suggestions and ideas.
- My drawing of a Lloyds Bank building used for a centenary leaflet.
- Exhibiting my own work at Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield.
- Designing and publishing my own art website.
QUALIFICATIONS
- 10 GCSE’s achieved, including Maths & English.
- 2 Modules of Chartered Institute of Banking taken and passed.
- Attended several Customer Service Courses in every job held.
- Internal Auditing Training for ISO 9001:2000 procedures.
- Weight Watchers Team Leader status.
- Achieved a Merit in HND Graphic Design Course in June 2006.
- A Level in Art & Design.
Saturday, 24 November 2007
Refreshing Web Design
Wow... The logo has really changed since the start of this course! I must admit I've found it so hard to design the logo as I know it has to right as I'm planning on having it for a long time!
I know who I'm aiming at now - I want to appeal to small to medium local businesses.
I want to be a down-to-earth straight-talking web design company that doesn't baffle people with too much jargon or choice. I want my corporate identity to be approachable and friendly, as this is what both myself and my business partner both believe in.
The more it's developing the more excited I feel. I can really see an identity forming! I want to get a live website as soon as possible as business is picking up a little. When I go part-time next year in my current job, that will give me much more time to spend on my business and also on this course!
I know who I'm aiming at now - I want to appeal to small to medium local businesses.
I want to be a down-to-earth straight-talking web design company that doesn't baffle people with too much jargon or choice. I want my corporate identity to be approachable and friendly, as this is what both myself and my business partner both believe in.
The more it's developing the more excited I feel. I can really see an identity forming! I want to get a live website as soon as possible as business is picking up a little. When I go part-time next year in my current job, that will give me much more time to spend on my business and also on this course!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
