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​​Mark Lawless 

Graphic Designer

Career summary

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GFT Financial LTD | Senior Graphic Designer

May 2016 – Present

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GFT is one of the world’s leading solutions providers in the finance sector offering consulting, implementation and maintenance for a broad range of IT applications.

Combining technological expertise and seamless project management with a deep understanding of the financial industry, GFT is a reliable partner for well-known companies all around the globe.

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  • Focus on developing and projecting the brand to the external market, UK and US

  • Provide and act as brand champion to deliver a high level of consistent design capability to all of our Sales and Marketing output

  • Responsible for owning and creating designs for RFP submissions, corporate collateral, both print and online

  • Interpret data and create clean and concise designs

  • Managing your own design projects and liaising with all stakeholders from start to finish

  • Responsible for developing and visualising creative stories that bring technology concepts, approaches and processes to life

  • Art directing, and final video editing for various projects needed by the business

 

Barclays/Williams Lea | Senior Graphic Designer/Team Leader 

November 2009 – Present

  • Take briefs from clients whilst advising them on the best possible style and layout for design whilst work within corporate guidelines

  • Project managing, problem solving, coordinating artwork for print and delivery

  • Art directing projects including concepts for campaigns, photo shoots through to final artwork

  • Guide and advise other members of the team in the design and use of template materials and providing training where necessary

  • Ensuring that all work that goes though the studio is brand compliant and adheres to corporate guidelines

  • Developing new design solutions for marketing collateral

  • Ensure quality control and pre-flight checking procedures are adhered to

  • Work closely and collaboratively with regional offices

  • Mentoring and advising designers of varying skill levels on procedure, brand guidelines and technical matters

  • Liaise with external suppliers, such as videographers, photographers, animators and printers to ensure all work is of a high standard.

      Working on large scale campaigns for example:

  • Pan disability, nominated for six awards and won all in each of its' categories

  • Pennies for London in conjunction with the Mayor of London and Barclaycard

  • Created concept, elements and art direction for Barclays global training animation. In compliance with FCA regulations

  • Design and production of bespoke pitch books for the Investment Banking Division, enabling them to pitch for  and win bids for billon pound accounts. Including: Burberry, Sainsbury’s, Bowleven, Cable & Wireless and St James Place.

 

Freelance Graphic Designer                                                                                                       

April 2009 – November 2009

Clients include: Société Générale, Barclays Capital and Medical Training and Resource Initiative.

 

Key Criteria | Senior Graphic Designer                                                                                   
February 2008 – March 2009

  • Provide marketing with innovative and creative designs and collateral for online and offline advertising that fit within project brands, budgets and campaign timings         

  • Deliver bespoke website designs that comply with brand, customer usability, technical capabilities and restraints, SEO requirements and project timings and budgets

  • Manage print buying, printer liaison to deliver quality product within timescales and budget

  • Brand guardian – controlling and delivering consistency of brand for on and offline projects and interpreting business needs whilst developing concepts which meet the set criteria

  • Develop and implement best practice for brand development, customer usability, website design and marketing materials.

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Williams Lea/Goldman Sachs | Graphic Designer                                                                

March 2007 – January 2008

Responsible for maintaining the standard of design that emanates from the department. Advise the clients on the best and most appropriate solutions to their visual communication needs and then create, design and implement these solutions to client satisfaction. Utilise and oversee the use of internal and external resources to fulfil these needs on a project by project basis.

  • Decision making authority on own projects

  • Account handling and general project management, inclusive of all client communications

  • Print buying, selection of printer and liaison

  • Undertake conceptual design work to visual standards

  • In-house art working, producing mock-ups, making conference material etc

  • Quality assure product and liaise with printers and external resources on price and delivery.

 

Freelance Graphic Designer                                                                                                       

January 2006 – March 2007

Working as a freelance graphic designer on various projects. Which included:

  • Re-design of the German Film Festival catalogue

  • Creating and designing The Jewish Film Festival catalogue

  • Designing exhibition boards for a tour of Camden libraries

  • Creating concepts and artwork for film poster and marketing materials for Buena Vista (Disney)

  • Touching up and manipulating photographic stills and producing packaging for DVD sleeves for
    Peccadillo Pictures

  • Producing estate agents selling cards for central London offices

  • Design and art working at Schroeder's, Accenture and Goldman Sachs.

 

2D Design | Graphic Designer                                                                                        
September 2004 – December 2005

Working as a graphic designer, with own portfolio of accounts. Duties include:

  • Creating artwork for posters, promotional literature, postcards, brochures, exhibition boards for a variety of differing client needs. Clients include: Buena Vista (Disney), The British Film Institute (BFI), The London Film School, Peccadillo Pictures and Tartan Films and Video.

 

British Film Institute (BFI) | Press and Marketing Assistant                                                                             

2001 – 2004

Worked for the BFI’s Press and Marketing department who produced marketing material for the theatrical, archive and touring programmes of the BFI. Duties included:

  • Design and implementation of templates for use in press invites, press packs, back catalogues and departmental reports

  • Design of marketing merchandise, promotional leaflets for films and ‘give aways’ for theatrical releases along with production of e-cards for use in internet marketing

  • Producing materials that conformed to corporately branded identities

  • Liaising with external designers and printers

  • Styling photographic shoots and using digital camera to photograph material for use in promotional literature.
     

Liberty | Assistant Manager                                                                                                                                        

1998 – 2001

 

Studying for Degree and working on Community Projects                                                                              

1995 – 1998

 

Holiday and Brown, Savile Row | Textile Designer                                                                                              

1988 – 1994

Worked as a Textile Designer for a company specialising in the manufacturer and wholesaling of textile based garments with annual sales of £4m in the: UK, France, Italy, USA and Far East markets.

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