GJ’s Agency

Senior Designer / UX Designer

Jan 2017 - Dec 2022 (6 yrs)

As Art Director/UX Designer at GJ's Agency, I was responsible for leading the creative direction and user experience design for a diverse range of projects. With a primary focus on McDonald's Australia and New Zealand, I played a pivotal role in delivering exceptional digital design and products across various touchpoints.

Key Responsibilities

Led the conceptualisation, design, and execution of digital menu boards, kiosk interfaces, and both digital and print POS materials, ensuring a seamless and engaging customer experience.
Developed comprehensive customer journeys, mapping out the user flow and interactions to enhance usability and drive conversions for Macca’s digital platforms.
Art directed photo shoots, ensuring the visuals align with the brand aesthetic and effectively communicate the desired message to the target audience.
Created interactive ordering products, leveraging user-centred design principles to simplify and enhance the ordering process for Macca’s customers.
Provided creative leadership for promotional campaigns, such as Monopoly@Macca's, 30 Days 30 Deals, amongst others, overseeing the visual execution and ensuring consistency with the brand guidelines.
Collaborated with other agencies within the Macca's village, including DDB and Akcelo, to align creative strategies, share insights, and deliver cohesive campaigns across multiple channels.
Extended design expertise to other brands, including Woolworths, Lindt, amongst others, to develop impactful digital experiences and marketing collateral.
Drove in-house projects, such as agency website development, rebrands, and the creation of a revolutionary interactive digital proofing system designed to streamline feedback between the agency and clients.

Achievements

Successfully delivered innovative digital design solutions for McDonald's, resulting in improved customer engagement, streamlined ordering processes, and enhanced brand experiences.
Led the creative execution of high-profile promotional campaigns, including Monopoly@Macca's and 30 Days 30 Deals, achieving increased participation and driving positive customer response.
Established strong collaborative partnerships with external agencies, fostering seamless integration and delivering comprehensive creative campaigns.
Contributed to the success of other notable brands, including Woolworths and Lindt, by creating impactful digital experiences and marketing materials that aligned with their unique brand identities.
Spearheaded in-house projects, such as the development of the agency website and the revolutionary interactive digital proofing system, streamlining internal processes and enhancing client communication.

GP Advertising

Digital Creative Lead

Jul 2014 - Jan 2017 (2 yrs 7 mos)

As the Digital Creative Lead at Harvey Norman and Domayne, I played a pivotal role in driving the digital presence and brand experience for these esteemed Australian retailers. Leveraging my expertise in digital media and online marketing, I spearhead innovative and impactful creative strategies across various digital platforms.

Key Responsibilities

Developed and executed cutting-edge digital marketing campaigns, encompassing website design, social media content, online advertising, email marketing, and interactive experiences.
Collaborated closely with cross-functional teams, including marketing, design, and development, to ensure cohesive brand messaging and seamless integration of creative elements across digital touchpoints.
Led a team of designers, providing mentorship, guidance, and constructive feedback to elevate their creative output and drive continuous improvement.
Oversaw the end-to-end creative process, from conceptualisation and storyboarding to final execution, ensuring deliverables were aligned with brand guidelines, objectives, and industry best practices.
Stayed at the forefront of digital design trends, emerging technologies, and consumer behaviour to inform creative decisions and drive innovation in digital campaigns.
Monitored and analysed performance metrics, user feedback, and market trends to optimise digital creative strategies, enhance user experiences, and drive business growth.
Collaborated with external agencies and vendors to manage creative projects, ensuring high-quality deliverables were produced within established timelines and budgets.

Achievements

Successfully launched several high-impact digital campaigns that resulted in increased website traffic, improved engagement, and elevated brand awareness.
Led the development and implementation of a responsive web design strategy, enhancing the user experience and driving conversions across multiple devices.
Streamlined creative workflows and processes, resulting in improved efficiency, faster time-to-market, and enhanced collaboration among cross-functional teams.
Introduced innovative interactive experiences, such as augmented reality (AR), to enhance customer engagement and elevate the brand's digital presence.

Creative Lead

Jan 2010 - Jul 2014 (4 yrs 7 mos)

In the most senior creative role, I orchestrated seamless executions of integrated campaigns for Harvey Norman Australia across multiple channels, inc. catalogues, press, POS, and online platforms, fostering cohesive brand messaging and maximising audience engagement.
Spearheaded a robust team of Designers and Art Directors, ensuring the delivery of high-quality creative work that adhered to agency standards and stringent deadlines.
Oversaw the end-to-end process of hiring, management, and mentorship of talented Designers, fostering their professional growth and cultivating a collaborative and innovative studio environment.
Guided the creative team through immersive branding workshops, leveraging expert art direction to shape and enhance the visual identity of new brands, infusing them with originality and market appeal.
Directed photography shoots, curating visuals to align with brand aesthetics and evoke desired emotions, resulting in compelling and impactful imagery.
Drove the creative development of e-commerce initiatives, seamlessly integrating digital and print mediums to deliver cohesive and captivating brand experiences across multiple platforms.
Provided essential support in the day-to-day operations of the studio, ensuring smooth workflow, resource allocation, and effective coordination among team members, fostering an efficient and dynamic working environment.

Senior Designer

Nov 2007 - Jan 2010 (2 yrs 3 mos)

Reporting to the Creative Director, I provided art direction for print advertising campaigns for Harvey Norman Australia/New Zealand and Domayne, inc. catalogues, press ads, DM, magazine layouts and POS materials.
Innovated and executed creative concepts, ensuring they met the agency's exacting standards and were delivered within established deadlines. Offering guidance and support to Designers, assisting them in achieving their objectives and fostering their professional growth.
Conducted creative checks and sign-offs on artwork, proactively identifying and resolving any creative issues. Acted as a coach, trainer, and mentor to Designers, imparting industry expertise and refining their skills.

Graphic Designer

May 2006 - Nov 2007 (1 yr 3 mos)

Reporting to the Creative Team Leaders, I designed print advertising campaigns for renowned brands Harvey Norman, Domayne, Space Furniture and Rebel Sports, inc. catalogues and press ads.
Ensured a seamless blend of creativity and strategic messaging, capturing the unique essence of each brand while effectively communicating key selling points to the target audience.

Cromwell's Fine Auctioneers & Appraisers

Graphic Designer

Mar 2004 - Nov 2004 (9 mos)

Reporting to the Marketing Manager, I designed and produced all design collateral for auction events in the fine art, antiques, and classic car departments. This included creating visually stunning catalogues, captivating point-of-sale (POS) materials, compelling direct mail (DM) campaigns, and engaging website designs. The design collateral played a vital role in showcasing the auction items, attracting bidders, and enhancing the overall auction experience.
Successfully led a comprehensive rebranding initiative for the auction house, focusing on the fine art, antiques, and classic car departments. Spearheaded the redesign of the company's brand identity, logo, and marketing materials to align with the company's vision and appeal to a wider target audience. The rebranding efforts resulted in increased brand recognition, a more modern and sophisticated image, and a strengthened market position within the art and collectibles industry.

BSERK Solutions

Freelance Graphic Designer

Aug 2003 - Sep 2003 (2 mos)

Reporting to the Project Managers, I helped develop the branding for corporate and financial clients, as well as other industries.
Created designs and assets for a diverse range of print and digital media, inc. brochures, flyers, websites and email campaigns.

Huntingdales Advertising

Junior Graphic Designer (Internship)

Sep 2002 - Dec 2002 (4 mos)

Reporting to the Art Director, I assisted in the design and production of various print materials, inc. brochures, flyers, posters, and packaging, for both a fashion brand and new business ventures.
Developed skills in branding and retouching
Actively participated in creative brainstorming sessions with the creative team. Collaborated closely with team members to refine ideas and bring them to life.
Gained valuable hands-on experience in prepress preparation, ensuring that all files were print-ready and met the industry standards. Managed the technical aspects of preparing files for printing, including colour calibration, image resolution and file formats.
Assisted in the production process by coordinating with external vendors and overseeing print proofs. Collaborated closely with print partners to ensure accurate colour reproduction and adherence to design specifications.

Interested in working together? Leave me a message!