Paul J.

Experience

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  Somerfield

  Aug 1994 - Mar 2000

  Grocery Manager

  Whilst at college and university I had part-time employment with Somerfield Congleton, where I was the Grocery Manager and duty manager responsible for the store and staff. My duties included, grocery work, merchandising, goods receiving & 'back door', security checks and the regular close down and opening procedures of the store. The work at Somerfield constantly involved team work, whether I was leading the grocery team or part of the overall team, the store.

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  Think Design Consultants

  Mar 2000 - Feb 2001

  Graphic Designer

  During my time at Think Design, my main role was graphic designer working in a pre-press environment, therefore I am competent in preflight and checking artwork/files. My duties extended to client and supplier relations, plus all the technical aspects of the company whether it be a simple task such as installing software, back-up & recovery, all the way through to problem solving, configuring and upgrading hardware & networking.

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  20:20 mobile

  Mar 2001 - Oct 2009

  Graphic Designer

  Within my role as a graphic designer at 20:20, my duties involved working with a range of accounts from large Blue Chip international companies, local mobile phone dealerships to internal forms and corporate identity. Many of these accounts had tight and demanding deadlines that are critical to the clients and to 20:20's continued business. I was involved in producing the creative designs and artwork for 20:20’s account managers to present at client meetings and successfully win the business. Understanding the clients needs, brand guidelines and expectations was an essential part of my job. My duties include producing POS & designs for exhibition stands, FSDU's, packaging solutions, adverts for 20:20 in trade and consumer magazines, brochure designs, advert designs, and mobile phone fascia/cover designs. Show less

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  Dextra Solutions

  Mar 2001 - Oct 2009

  Graphic Designer

  Within my role as a graphic designer at 20:20, my duties involved working with a range of accounts from large Blue Chip international companies, local mobile phone dealerships to internal forms and corporate identity. Many of these accounts had tight and demanding deadlines that are critical to the clients and to 20:20's continued business. I was involved in producing the creative designs and artwork for 20:20’s account managers to present at client meetings and successfully win the business. Understanding the clients needs, brand guidelines and expectations was an essential part of my job. My duties include producing POS & designs for exhibition stands, FSDU's, packaging solutions, adverts for 20:20 in trade and consumer magazines, brochure designs, advert designs, and mobile phone fascia/cover designs. Show less

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  Phones 4u

  Apr 2010 - Sept 2014

  Designer / Apple Certified Technical Coordinator

  Within my role as Designer/Apple Certified Technical Coordinator at Phones 4u, I was responsible for all the Apple Macs in the team, liaising with the IT department to specify hardware, upgrades and ensuring the best integration in to the business infrastructure as possible. My design role involved producing all the POS for the stores, including: window posters, light boxes, price panels, product cards and packaging. I also designed internal communications and corporate material including: signage, newsletters, incentive & event branding, forms and legal documentation. In addition I created collateral for the 'Phones 4u Arena' and assisted the web designers producing various web graphics. The artwork I created at Phones 4u needed to be both accurate and produced to strict deadlines. It frequently involved working with various media and design agencies to create a solution that is both sympathetic to the manufacturers brand guidelines and the current campaign collateral Show less

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  Congleton Santa (Congleton Christmas Collection)

  May 2010 - now

  Charity trustee

  • Charity trustee

    Oct 2018 - now

  • Santa Claus, Social Media, PR, Procurement, Marketing & Design

    May 2010 - now
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  House Creative

  Nov 2014 - now

  As Artwork & IT Manager at House Creative, I am their “IT Guru/go to” personally responsible for all the IT hardware and software. From servers and routers, to desktops and mobile devices, remote working, cabling, security, general maintenance and Pat. I am also one of the agencies' Fire Marshals, a designated trained First Aider and qualified risk assessor.I specify and propose solutions, software, hardware and upgrades, ensuring the best integration into the businesses infrastructure as possible. I am extremely accurate and very quick, fully conversant in and use the following on a regular basis: Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop and Acrobat) On1 Resize, Microsoft 365 inc. teams & admin, Extensis Type Management, Forcepoint Email Security, Presstore P5 Backup, Mac OS, Server App, Profile Manager, Remote Desktop, Draytek, PFsense, QNAP NAS and CCTV, BT Cloud Phone administration and Dotmailer. My Artwork Management role utilises my extremely practical, methodical and logical mind, plus my excellent eye for detail gives me the ability to spot errors. By preflighting, checking, fixing, retouching, rebuilding, outputting and proofing all collateral that we produce, I make sure all collateral is suitable for print and I guarantee accurate results.I produce print and digital design jobs for UK and international clients, manage projects from initial concept through to build and production, and where necessary liase with clients and suppliers along the way.With over 30 years working with Apple hardware and creative software, plus being Apple Certified and an Apple Teacher, I also provide software support and training for House. Leading other team members by resolving issues and educating in the best way to tackle projects and specify the optimum way to construct artwork, including automation and templates. Using my experience in packaging and cardboard engineering, I create bespoke cutting formes to ensure designs will work as intended. Show less

  • Artwork & IT Manager

    Oct 2016 - now

  • Graphic Designer

    Nov 2014 - Oct 2016