Professional Profile

Have you got what it takes? - A provocative question raised by most employers, daring candidates to come up with a witty reply...and rising to such a challenge demonstrates an ability to think outside... View More

Have you got what it takes? - A provocative question raised by most employers, daring candidates to come up with a witty reply...and rising to such a challenge demonstrates an ability to think outside the box, in itself a pre-requisite to the role of an accomplished designer or writer...apart from possessing the right sort of qualifications.

Due to my involvement in the Media Industry over a period of six years as a Graphic Designer, Editor, Journalist, and before that a PR Consultant and Artwork Assistant, I have become extremely familiar with the various aspects of feature writing, promotional work, magazine layouts and graphic design. This experience (together with a keen interest in all forms of artistic endeavours, whether of the digital or old-fashioned variety) is what I believe will make me an asset to any business.

Being of mixed British-Oriental descent has also endowed me with me a certain individuality, affecting my outlook regarding current issues, which is a quality my work often reflects. I have a good reputation as a professional with a flair for writing (evident in the awards I have won for short-story and play-writing a few years back), possessing a wide range of styles that are highly distinctive, resulting in published articles and press releases on a wide variety of subjects, from the Art of Asian Animators to the Art of Parenting.

Spending the latter years of my education completing a BA (Hons) in Journalism did not merely acquaint me with the glamorized Lois Lane complex (or the travails of learning shorthand!). I was also given the opportunity to gain excellent working knowledge of computers and the internet. Part of my degree course was devoted to training in desktop publishing, which allowed me to establish an aptitude in the usage of QuarkXpress, Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator on both Windows and Mac OS.

My penchant for art and design has remained with me since an early age, leading me to experiment with other roles in this field, including Fashion Modelling / Styling and as a performer in the Entertainment Industry. Lately, much of my personal work has been directed towards website construction where I have taught myself the ins and outs of Microsoft FrontPage, HTML, and am now attempting to furnish myself with skills in CSS and Macromedia Flash. This versatility has given me a unique pix-pective on the creative process, and fuelled an ambition to pursue a career in Media and Design.

Past references have described me as a fast and eager learner, who is confident, original and meticulous. I have finely-tuned communication skills, and am in my element whether in a busy interactive environment or working alone. This was demonstrated in previous jobs where I was given the responsibility of doing online research, organising databases, and liaising with clients and printing companies on a day-to-day basis. Working as a Freelance Journalist and Designer has also made me aware of the importance of meeting tight deadlines, so I can remain efficient even under pressure.

As a freelancer, I can offer a high standard of all these services either separately or in ONE PACKAGE, and at a very reasonable (fairly unbeatable) rate:

- Promotional Articles
- Magazine & Newsletter Features
- Graphic Design
- Web Content (includes some design work)
- Press Releases
- Copywriting
- Proofreading (very useful if you're a student, foreign or otherwise)
- Reviews (Book, Food, Product, Style or Entertainment)
- Slogans & Design for Flyers, Posters or Brochures
- Magazine & Newsletter Layouts
- Public Relations
- Research
- Company Profiles
- Word Processing
- Mailshots
- Affordable Photography (through some of my various contacts)
- Etc.

For more information, please visit my homepage to view my portfolio - www.charmainlee.co.uk - or contact me for a list of prices (negotiable).