Charlotte Styles

Experience

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  Response Associates Ltd

  Jul 2000 - Sept 2004

  Product Designer

   Self run project selling, training and supporting customers on 3DESIGN>jewel, a French owned jewellery design CAD package.  Changing people’s way of thinking by introducing this new software to the Jewellery Industry to aid design and introduce new manufacturing techniques through wax printing and investment casting.  Exhibited at the NEC’s largest exhibition with continual customer demonstrations, to great success. I was also involved in most areas of design work throughout the company, from initial concept designs with the customer to engineering drawings, prototyping and finished products, mainly using IronCAD, similar to Solidworks.  Worked on projects with various clients from private customers to the MOD and Airbus. Show less

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  Intier Automotive Systems

  Jul 2000 - Jul 2001

  Placement Student

   Kept track of production in factory and worked to improve the transportation system and packaging boxes used to reduce cardboard disposal costs and introduce re-useable plastic containers.

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  A+G Architects

  Jan 2005 - Jan 2007

  Marketing Representative

   Despite being employed as the Marketing Representative for the company, the role diverged and increased due to my particular skill set. Primary tasks were to liaise with all three offices throughout the UK to represent the companies’ qualities.  Design, build and maintain the company website.  All graphic design from leaflets to large exhibition stands, which proved a huge success.  Photographing completed projects for client specific brochures, competitions and awards.  A major part of daily tasks was to support the architects and technicians in projects through Photoshop, CAD and other presentation techniques. Show less

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  The University of Bolton

  Apr 2007 - Oct 2011

  Product Design Consultant & Lecturer in Product Design Development & Innovation

   Working on a wide range of products with a variety of clients from individual entrepreneurs to larger organisations. Individually completing each task from concept stage, through design and on to manufacture. Working on products such as The iTeddy (as seen on Dragon’s Den and Argos’s no.1 selling toy Christmas 2009), Quit Clip (on sale in Lloyds Pharmacy) and Showerboat (in negotiations with Boots Pharmacy). Projects ranged from simple re-design to complete innovation, working with electronics and new materials, with the support of the experts within the University. Lecturing on a variety of courses, throughout all years but focussing on Product Design. Modules included Practical Skills (2D sketching techniques, Adobe suite, 3D modelling in foam and Ebalta), Design Studies (report writing, presentation techniques and the Design Process), Design Evolution (looking at key designers and the evolution of design) All my modules were supported through the Virtual Learning Environment, Moodle, which allowed students to access any class notes, presentations, video tutorials and extra support at any time from their personal computer. Show less

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  SMART GARDEN PRODUCTS LIMITED

  Nov 2011 - Oct 2014

  Product Development Manager

  • Management of the NPD process from concept to implementation, developing products and packaging solutions which generate target sales revenue and margin requirements for whichever channel they have been developed. Products have to be fit for purpose, conform to necessary quality standards and free of any 3rd party ID.• Ongoing management of the product lifecycle, testing, checking costs and understanding the rate of sale and sales values and volumes as well as customer channels, making refinements where necessary and successfully implementing the exit strategy of poor performing products.• Evaluate sales and market data of this range to ensure that all potential opportunities are being exploited through product, packaging, display and marketing opportunities.• Manage any customer specific products or projects from cradle to grave and promote the company's core brands.• Worked closely with the sales team (at all levels), supply chain and marketing teams to ensure that all new product deliveries are up to their expectations and are viable delivery options.• Foster strong relationships with partner factories in the Far East as well as our team in China to ensure the necessary product mix is delivered.• Identify and exploit opportunities to grow the business with both existing and new channels.• Understanding customer expectations and market conditions and competitor activity so that a sustained margin can be achieved throughout the entire product mix over the agreed lifespan. Show less

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  Dometic

  Feb 2016 - now

  Product Designer

  Ever evolving yacht design leads to progressively sophisticated window shapes, larger sizes and extreme inclines. Working to customer requirements, the award-winning design team are able to deliver intelligent solutions to the most complex of products with a balance between style and function, all delivered to an uncompromisingly high standard.