Graphic Designer
Graphic Designers combine strong conceptual design capabilities with equally strong Mac skills, so must have a high level of expertise with all the common Adobe Creative Suite products (Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator in particular).
A graphic designer’s role is to work closely with other members of the client services, brand and marketing teams to bring all forms of brand communications to life. The best designers combine a keen brand and commercial awareness, with natural creative flair, in order to create work that is both in line with brand guidelines and that creates stand out in their respective industry sector.
The core responsibilities for graphic designers are largely the same, however, there are variations depending on the environment they are working in. For example, in branding or design agencies, graphic designers are generally responsible for all conceptual creative input and ideation, under the guidance of a Creative or Design Director. However, in advertising agencies, it is still common to have conceptual teams, comprised of an Art Director and a Copywriter, who develop the overall campaign concepts, which a graphic designer then takes and uses their design skill to translate the ideas in to beautifully crafter design.
It’s important that graphic designers have a real understanding of layout, typography and different forms of brand communications. They’ll be involved in projects ranging from full advertising campaigns (including press adverts, billboards and posters), to direct mail, brand development, logos, brochures, point of sale (POS), packaging and other forms of corporate literature.
In some smaller agencies where there isn’t the luxury of separate conceptual and artwork teams, graphic designers are responsible for taking briefs from initial concept development, through to final artwork. Therefore, a designer with excellent artwork skills is always highly favoured.
Some graphic designers may deal directly with their clients, or internal stakeholders if you’re working in an in-house design studio. Those working in an agency will often take briefs from an account manager who has responsibility for client contact. You’ll then work to a brief agreed with the client, creative director and account manager. It’s therefore essential that you’re a team player and comfortable working with a wide range of people.
In smaller agencies and in-house teams, graphic designers are increasingly required to have good digital design skills, so that campaigns can be developed that work effectively across all media channels and devices. This covers everything from responsive web design, to email templates, banner adverts and mobile apps. This isn’t the case for all creative departments as many have specialist digital designers and front-end developers, but a combination of graphic and digital design skills is likely to become more and more desirable.
Salary wise outside of London the role generally pays between £20,000 to £40,000 depending on regional variance and level of experience.
Royal Leamington Spa
Royal Leamington Spa is one of only four Royal towns in the UK. The Royal Pump Rooms opened in 1814 attracting the wealthy and famous, leading to the construction of numerous Georgian townhouses. With its growing status and popularity Queen Victoria granted the town its Royal prefix in 1838.
A statue of Queen Victoria was almost destroyed by a German bomb during World War II which moved the statue one inch on its plinth by the blast.
The first tennis club in the world was also formed in 1872 by Major Henry Gem and Augurio Pereira and the modern rules of lawn tennis were drawn up in 1874 at the Leamington Tennis Club.
With its period properties, stunning Jephson Garden Park, proximity to the luscious Warwickshire countryside (whilst still being commutable to Birmingham and Coventry) Royal Leamington Spa is a popular place to live within affluent south Warwickshire. Though the town has expanded its suburbs amalgamating nearby villages, the town’s Council have gone to great length to preserve the town center’s buildings and heritage. This also makes it popular for weekend shoppers visiting its wide array of independent boutiques and restaurants, as well as with film crews looking for period property features.
Royal Leamington Spa also boasts a hive of SMEs profiting for its great rail and motorway network connecting the town easily to the West Midlands, Birmingham Airport and London.
