Stuart McDowell | Graphic Design | Illustration

About me

Stuart McDowell

Graphic Design | Illustration | photography

Contact: +44 7903 341722

Studio Address: Chelveston, Northamptonshire, NN9 6AB

Introduction

Since 2005, I have been a self employed / freelance graphic designer trading as 'Creative Beast' in Northamptonshire working on a diverse range of projects for a wide portfolio of customers. I have created ﬁction book covers, magazines for law and business and souvenir guides for lifestyle events and live en-tertainment. Created brand identities for large corporates and SMEs together with strategic advertising campaigns and photography. Art directed photography and exhibition stands and created illustrations for clients in live entertainment and lifestyle events, created memorable advertising campaigns in automotive and Motorsport merchandise.

I am now looking for a new direction in my career as I want to reduce the time I spend time running a business and get back to sharing my passion for design as a full-time/Freelance graphic designer, illustrator and photographer at either a dynamic design agency or a company with a in-house design studio. I work well as part of a team but am equally happy to take on projects / briefs and work on them alone.

I have a large portfolio of work and design skills in Adobe Creative Cloud as well as vast experience as a studio manager. I have a degree qualiﬁcation having completed an HND in Graphic Design at Northampton University in 1998. Since graduating from Northampton University in 1998 and prior to starting my own business, I worked for some highly regarded design agencies mainly specialising in the Automotive and Motorsports industries. I have far-reaching design experience in print and have provided creative direction and design sol-utions on a diverse range of projects.

I produced some memorable advertising campaigns in the Automotive industry and was part of a team who produced some of the best brand and livery design in Formula 1 and for the Castrol Honda World Super Bike team. I was personally responsible for an awareness campaign for Formula 1 in New York, producing advertising and exhibition graphics seen in the heart of Times Square for a publicity stunt where the Jaguar R1 raced a yellow cab through the streets of Broadway.

I am devoted to illustration and photography in my own time away from the studio and am constantly striving to develop my skills to increase my portfolio. I like to illustrate using not only traditional skills and and materials but also using adobe software on iPad Pro and Wacom touch screen.

Wicksteed Park
Senior Graphic Designer
2020 - 2021 (10 months during Covid pandemic)

Created new brand guidelines and graphic assets for print and digital use Created information graphics and park maps for visitors Created themes and graphics for Park rides

Creative Beast Ltd
Creative Director | Senior Graphic Designer
2005 - present (16 yrs)

Working within a creative team & managing my own workload & projects. Working across many major brands & creating new brands, ensuring brand guide-lines are consistent across all platforms. Designing & illustrating book covers, eBooks & editorial design for magazines. Account managing, meeting & presenting to customers. Art directing & Photography for automotive, entertainment, & lifestyle events.

Creating & preparing marketing materials & advertising campaigns for lifestyle & music events. Creating collateral for automotive apprenticeship programmes a such as information graphics, prospectus, brochures, ﬂyers & stationery.

Clients include: Ford, DAF, Scania, KIA, BBP Law, London Tattoo Convention, Skillnet Apprenticeship Programme, Abington Park Vets, G4S, Bridgestone Tyres, Yokohama Tyres, English Authors

Key Parker
Mid weight Graphic Designer
2003 - 2005 (3 yrs)

Working within a creative team & managing my own workload & projects. Working across many automotive brands ensuring brand guidelines are consistent across all platforms. Art directing Photography for automotive Industry Creating & preparing marketing materials & advertising campaigns for major brand within automotive Industry Clients include: Volkswagen, Skoda, Audi, Seat, Bridgestone Tyres, Bentley

Perception Design
Studio Manager | Graphic Designer
2001 - 2003 (3 yrs)

Overseeing the resourcing of all creative projects, managing daily schedules, reporting on project status, workloads and accounts and rescheduling based on new and changing priorities. Making sure clear and detailed briefs are received. Reporting to management about the current workflow, and communicate any issues with workload coming in. Reacting quickly and efficiently to changing priorities and provide clear communication.

Continually improving processes and documentation to simplify workflow, and increase efficiencies. Proactively tackling situations at all levels in order to unblock and ensure the correct process and deadlines are met.

Identifying freelance/vendor requirements from initial request, to onboarding to suitable exit. Managing central studio budgets. Line managing 4 Creatives and supporting the Creative Director and Marketing Manager.

Racing graphics
Graphic Designer
1999 - 2001 (3 yrs)

Working within a creative team & managing my own workload & projects. Working across many Motorsport brands from Formula 1 and World Superbikes, ensuring brand guidelines are consistent on vehicles, team wear and printed collateral.
Clients include: F1, World Superbikes, Jordan, Jenson Button, Castrol Honda, Jaguar Racing, Kawasaki, MCN

Education:
University of Northampton - HND Graphic Design | 1996- 1999
Dunstable College - National Diploma Graphic Design | 1995- 1997
Milton Keynes College - National Diploma Graphic Design | 1994- 1995

VIEW PORTFOLIO