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.
Lichfield
The city is built on the two sides of a shallow valley, in which two streams flow from the west, the Trunkfield Brook and the Leamonsley Brook, and out of which the Curborough Brook runs, eventually flowing into the River Trent.
Its magnificent Gothic cathedral is one of the most spectacular in the UK but even without this, the quaintly cobbled market town would be worth a visit to tread in the footsteps of lexicographer Samuel Johnson (the writer of the first Dictionary of the English Language) and philosopher Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of ground-breaking universally famed Charles. Johnson once described Lichfield folk as 'the most sober, decent people in England', which was rather generous considering that this was the last place in the country to stop burning people at the stake! In 2009, the Staffordshire Hoard, the largest hoard of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver metalwork, was found just under 6km southwest of Lichfield.
Today, the city still retains its old importance as an ecclesiastical centre, and its industrial and commercial development has been limited. The centre of the city retains an unspoilt charm with over 230 listed buildings bursting from its charming historic streets, fine Georgian architecture and old cultural traditions.
By the end of the 19th century, brewing was the principal industry, along with the neighbourhood market gardens that provided food for the growing populations of nearby Birmingham and the Black Country. The district is famous worldwide for two local products: Armitage Shanks, manufacturers of baths/bidets and showers, and Arthur Price of England, master cutlers and silversmiths. The city is also home to Central England Co-operative, the second largest independent consumer co-operative in the UK. Triennially the Lichfield Mysteries, the biggest community theatre event in the UK, takes places at the Cathedral and in the Market Place. It consists of a cycle of 24 medieval-style plays involving over 600 amateur actors; other hugely popular weekend summer festivals include the Lichfield Folk Festival and The Lichfield Real Ale, Jazz and Blues Festival.
