Design firms are fun to work for!

For the first several years in my design career, I worked at a graphic design studio in Vancouver called SheldanWood Creative Associates. I have to say that working for a design firm is probably one of the best ways to get your portfolio going! You end up working on a whole variety on different types of projects. I got to work on everything from packaging and annual reports, to brochures and catalogues! Plus, as I was just starting out (mostly doing production work), I got to learn a TON of different techniques and rules on proper design. I also got to improve my skills in Photoshop and Illustrator a lot, since I was the go-to person for all touch-ups and photo manipulation. (I once had to put a baby's head from one picture onto the baby's body of another picture!).

Here are just a small sampling of some of the projects I worked on...

Wine hang tags and shelf talkers for the Australian consulate

Various collateral I worked on while employed at SheldanWood. Includes several years of Purdy's Chocolates order catalogues, and product advertising for food companies

Everything Transat!!

For 7 years, I worked as an internal Graphic Designer for Transat Tours Canada. The 4 designers in Vancouver were responsible for all the design needs, both internal and external, from BC to Manitoba. We were also responsible for most subsidiaries of the company (and there are a lot of them!). Every day we had anywhere from 10 to 50 advertising flyers that needed to be emailed/faxed out to our clients. Every week we had newspaper ads that needed to go out to just about every newspaper across the country (up to Manitoba of course). Add to that the magazine ads, promotions, and anything else you can think of that a big company needs, and you can see how busy we were! Never a dull moment working there, that's for sure!

Here are just a few samples of some of the projects I worked on while employed with Transat A.T....

A customizable folder and insert set I designed for our internal sales and groups departments to hand out to potential customers. This set included two different folder designs, info sheets for each different travel destination, excursions, airline and flights, and over 100 4-page hotel sheets which had addition info about each hotel not listed in the main brochure that is geared towards groups. This project included coordinating with the different departments on what their needs were, gathering printing quotes, collecting the additional info from the different hotels and destinations (along with any extra photos they may have of their resorts and surrounding area), producing and proofing all the information, and updating the info as required.

Various brochure I worked on while employed with the company

A small sample of newspaper ads and magazine ads

A small sample of the inside of a desktop calendar I designed. Each year we created and had printed a new calendar
to send out to repeat clients and for all internal employees

Other items I designed for the company. Includes a training manual with corresponding info CD I programmed using the program Adobe Flash, invites to company events, notepads, bags, and other advertising needs

Flyer, Posters & Cards... Oh My!

The next essential item for most personal & business needs are your basic advertising. Whether it be flyers that are mailed out, faxed out, emailed out, posters hung up, party invites, thank you cards... the list can go on forever! Most of the time the client knows what they want the item to say, they just don't know how to put it together. In comes the designer! It's our job to create something both visually appealing and functional, with whatever information is given. 

Here are some examples I have created for various clients...

The front and back of a flyer for a cabinet company

Various flyers, ads, and postcards for a pool cleaning company

A large poster and two handout flyers for a herbal massage therapy company

Various newspaper advertisement samples for a window decor company

A flyer for a window decorating supply company

And here are some custom cards that I have created for clients' personal use!

A custom Christmas card for a client. She wanted the front to be an interactive crossword with the various words used printed on the back, and the inside to be a generic Christmas message.

A custom anniversary invite for a client's surprise party she was throwing for her parents

Customized invites and thank you cards for several children's birthday parties

Announcement and invite cards for a client

Logo Design

As a graphic designer, you are often asked to create a logo for someone's business.

Most clients are unsure of the process or what they want, so tend to leave it up to the designer to come up with something. This can be very challenging, especially if you've never worked with someone before. It's hard to know what their style is! 

This is why most designers will come up with several different options. It helps designers get a sense of what the client likes (and doesn't like!). 

Here are some options of logos I created for a kitchen cabinet company...

The client was so impressed with the variety, they had a hard time choosing which they liked the best! They ultimately ended up getting their clients who came in, to vote on which one they liked. The winner was the bottom one, with a few modifications...

Cabinets R Us

Here are some more logos I have created using the same method...

Emily's Bow Spot, The Big Show, Messy Rooms Products, Eliza's Bowtique and More, Valutex, VanderHelm Farms, Natural Healing Jewelry, Green Bean, Crafting for a Cause, Captured Charm Photography, Rescued Rumps