Had you asked me the age old question ‘what do you want to be when you’re older?’ a good few years ago, you probably would have had ‘bus driver’ or ‘pilot’ as a response. But from an early age I was always drawing and designing, paying particular attention to the intricate detail of logos and could assure anybody that they probably needed a new logo. There weren’t many brands that escaped my imagination and got a full re-work courtesy of Microsoft’s Paint. It’s not a surprise that many years later the dream of becoming a bus driver is long gone, and Paint has moved aside, but my passion for design and creativity has stayed with me.
At the heart of any communication with our partners, members, customers and clients should be the message we want to send out about our organisation, product or service. From the colour we use right the way through to how we deliver it to them, graphic design and creative solutions are more than just putting a random collection of objects together. I’ve been designing a wide range of creative solutions for businesses and individuals for over eight years and have focused on community projects and new start-ups. From websites and brochures to CDs, banners and t-shirts, my low-cost, high-energy approach to graphic design has helped many groups and businesses establish themselves and reach out beyond their usual target audience. I’ve worked with many community groups, not-for-profit charities and organisations that need an effective solution to marketing, advertising and communication because these are the institutions that have less money and time to dedicate to getting their message across, but where the message is all the more important.
Whilst going through education, I’ve spent most of my time involved in creative projects. From event organisation and production management to policy and media advisory work for small and medium sized companies and community organisations. I’ve over five years experience in organising for live production – having produced and sound engineered for over 50 live music events, more than 14 musicals and 20 theatrical productions. I’ve produced graphic work and production solutions for events with up to and over 5,000 people in attendance including concerts, conferences and carnivals.
In 2003 I served as Chairman of local youth music project ‘South Norfolk Sounds Live’ and between 2007 and 2008 I was Musical Director at Pulham Players and during the latter year also worked as Musical Director for Old Buckenham Players. In 2006, I was appointed Entertainments Director for Diss Business Forum’s event ‘Party in the Park’ and also oversaw the branding, advertising and promotion of the event. Two years later I sat on the organising committee for the relaunch of the Diss Carnival, and have continued to support the event each year since. I was proud to become a Young Honoured Citizen of Diss in 2007, for services to the community, and continue to work in partnership with local councils and schools on youth engagement and education. As Secretary of my Sixth Form committee, I oversaw the introduction of Fairtrade products into the centre, a successful charity week raising nearly £2,500 and the refurbishment of the student kitchen. In partnership with Diss Town Council and South Norfolk District Council, I became the inaugural Chair of the Diss Youth Council in 2008, serving with 15 other Youth Councillors until September 2009 when I moved to study at the University of Hull. I was elected to serve a term as a student officer, responsible for campaigning and democracy, at Hull University Union from September 2010 until June 2011, in which I organised and advised on the charity’s campaign against the Coalition Government’s decision to raise tuition fees. I became Chair of Hull University Labour Club in May 2011.
I’ve been a member of the Labour Party since 2007, following Gordon Brown’s election as party leader, and have campaigned locally and nationally for the party ever since. In 2010 I supported the Ed Miliband for Leader campaign and have worked for many successful candidates in student union and National Union of Students elections.
