ONE
07/06/1987 // Graphic Designer and Illustrator // Cardiff matt.needle@hotmail.co.uk // +44 (0) 7800 905 951 // http://www.mattneedle.co.uk
07/06/1987 // Graphic Designer & Illustrator // Cardiff matt.needle@hotmail.co.uk // +44 (0) 7800 905 951 // http://www.mattneedle.co.uk
ABOUT ME: I am a perceptive, intuitive, dedicated and hard working young Designer & Illustrator, currently studying in m y final year f or m y BA (Hons) in Graphic Design at University of Wales, Newport. As well as my studies, I am steadily building a vast freelance portfolio of work from clients such as the Chelsea Flower Show, The Guardian & Hugo Boss. I also enter m any design competitions, s ubmit work to a wide variety of publications & generally try to get my work seen by as many people as possible. Interests include Design, Illustration, Typography, Reading, Writing, Film, Photography, M usic & Current E vents to name but a few; These interests i nfluence both my c reative process and my lifestyle very heavily. As of 2009 I am launching my own creative arts magazine (Genero) to coincide with my final major project, and as a way of networking and collaborating with lots of new and exciting people.
EDUCATION: BA ( Hons) Graphic Design, University o f Wales, Newport. 2006-2009* [Grade Pending] ND G raphic D esign, O xford & Cherwell V alley College. 2004-2006 Grade: Distinction, Distinction, Merit GNVQ Art, D esign & Photography, O xford & Cherwell Valley College. 2003-2004 Grade: Merit
WORK EXPERIENCE: Prontaprint, Banbury, 2002 [1 Week work placement] A Design, Printers, and Copywriters, this is where I was first introduced to Apple Mac and t he p rinting process. I l earned s ome
valuable skills here and some knowledge on how the print process works. Marmalade Magazine, London, 2006 [Summer Work Placement] I got involved with various activities during my time at Marmalade and learned a l ot o f editorial design skills (Including Typesetting, Studio Photography and Illustration; As well as perfecting my digital design skills.
SOFTWARE: [I am fully competent in both Mac & PC.] -Adobe Creative Suite [Illustrator, Photoshop, Indesign.] -Flash. -Quark Express. -iMovie. -Microsoft Office. (I am currently learning Dreamweaver)
EXHIBITIONS: Synth Eastwood 5, Dublin (June 2008) YCN LIVE, London (August 2008) Synth Eastwood 6, Dublin (October 2008)
AWARDS: YCN Young Designer Of The Year 08 Hugo Boss Create 2008 (Commended
PUBLICATION: Online: Work Featured On Visuelle.co.uk (Blog) Work Featured On TheSerif.net (Blog) Work Featured On Aboutcreation.nl (Blog)
Printed: Report Magazine (April/May 2008) A5 Magazine (September/October 2008) Clash Magazine (October 2008) YCN Book 08/09 Hugo Create Book 2008/09 Computer Arts (March 09 Issue - Coming soon)
BRAHMART. Illustration // Competition // 2008 This Piece was created in response to a challenge set by Brahma beer to create a design that reflect some or all of Brazilian culture, I have gone for the vibrant and c olourful approach i nspired b y the famous Rio carnival.
Illustration // Freelance (Collaboration with Eric Smith) // 2009 This is a piece I designed in collaboration with Eric Smith (USA) as part of his Livenow project. The idea was to take a positive motto and create a visual or typographic solution. The m otto i c hose was “The W orld I s Yours� (Ironically f rom Scarface), and c reated a literal response is the style of digital montage.
Graphic Design, Illustration, Art Direction // Freelance Commission// 2008 In 2008 i was commissioned on a series of editorial designs, illustrations and layouts for Clash Music Magazine. This was my largest and most successful piece, a double page illustration and type layout.
Illustration // Personal // 2008 This is a self initiated project i set around the time of the presidential election 08. I Was fascinated watching history in the making, with America getting there first Black president in Barack Obama.
Graphic Design, Typographic Treatment, Art Direction // Awards Submission // 2009 These are a series of book covers I have recently been w orking o n for this y ears D&AD S tudent Award. The brief was to create a series of book covers for Faber & Fabers film books. The series was to be uniformed and typographically strong, which is something i have achieved by issuing a colourscheme for each different book genre.
Graphic Design, Typographic Treatment, Art Direction // Freelance Commission// 2008 This is a poster I designed for a friend of mines skateboard film premiere in Buffalo Bar, Cardiff. I think that it has a very profeesional feel which is added to by the composistion of both the photo and typographic solution.
Illustration, Typographic Treatment, Art Direction // Awards Submission // 2009 These are a series of advertisment illustrations I have recently completed for ASOS.com’s online menswear collection. Trying to aim at every possible dress situation and event, and boosting the companies male custom base.