Design and illustration blog

Hi, my name is Paul...

Me and MacI'm one of those visual artist people that spend too long in dark rooms in front of computer screens. I've been working as/studying design for over 6 years, but my 'career' really started when I was in school selling homemade comics to my friends.I've worked for a wide range of clients and my work has been featured on a lot of publications/websites including Computer Arts, Deviart Art and Typography Served. If you're really sure you're interested in my background, read on...

After leaving school, I studied in NCAD doing Core Year and some Fine Art painting. After deciding that painting wasn't doing it for me I left college and landed a job in the music for schools company Coca-Cola Blastbeat, working designing flyers using my blagged art skills. Over the three years I worked in a range of areas for the company, from print to to developing company visual identity, web design and development, all while learning Photoshop, HTML, CSS, Flash and PHP coding on the job.

I began working freelance to try and do a wider variety of work. Over the last couple of years I have done a range of work for really wide range of clients including The Maire Keating Foundation, Yamaha, music stores, retail, fashion, musicians/ bands and even a festish club!

After putting it off for several years, in 2006 I realised that I really need to get a degree if I was to move from 'the guy who does funny doodles' to being a 'proper graphic designer'. Currently I am going into my fourth (and final) year in Dublin Institute of Technology in my Visual Communications degree and almost ready to step into the big, wide world (again).

What I can do:
  • Graphic design: from the all important concept that to the final proofing and signing-off on the printing press. Fully experienced in latest versions of Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign and Quark Xpress.
  • Illustration and Image Making: Hand drawing, Illustrator, Photoshop or a healthy mix of all three!
  • Photography and image manipulation
  • Web design: HTML, CSS and basic javascript skills.
  • Web development: I code in PHP and MySQL.
  • Flash: Flash banners, ads, applications, etc. Actionscript 2 & 3 and also versed in the basics of Papervision 3D plugin for Flash.
  • Motion: Fully versed in both Adobe Premier and Adobe After Effects. Also versed in the use of Cinema 4D.