ONCE UPON A TIME...

 

Experienced Graphic designer and Art director with a wealth of artistic eye, sofware skills, printing knowledge acquired across 12 years in advertising and 6 years of running my own business.

 

 

 

But everything started a few years ago in Paris:

 

E.S.A.G PENINGHEN

(Ecole Superieur d’Arts Graphiques - Prepa) Paris 6e , France (1981-1982)

 

Preparation year, the first step leading to the Art Direction and Graphic design degree.

 

 

Académie Charpentier, Paris 6e,

Graphic Arts degree (1982- 1986)

 

 

Art director Assistant (1986 - 1988)

 

I have been lucky to start learning within a fantastic creative department, in one of the most creative agency.

 

 

Art Director - (1988 - 1996)

During those 8 years at J.Walter Thompson I had a very rich experience and the opportunity to work on locals and internationals brands as :
Guerlain, Lion chocolate bar (Nestlé), Brother computers (prospection won), Lux (Lever), Rolex, Shick, Winston, Kellogg’s, After Eight...

I had the chance to travel for commercial and print shootings as 3 weeks in Australia for Lion (shooting and editing in Sidney with Jeff Darling, the Australian Director and his Production, Black), in Mexico for Timothy Shampoo with Jean-marie Perrier, South Italy for Salem Cigarettes.... And local shooting for l’Or de Guerlain, Lux... with Satoshi Saikusa, Giovanni Gastel, Benjamin Kanarek, Michel Haddi...

I like all the steps to go through from the birth of an idea to the final result. And this, is only possible with a real team work and all the links between each department of an agency. This is certainly what I miss in my actual small business.

 

 

 

 

 

Graphic Designer, sole trader - (1997 - 2000)

After 10 years of advertising and the birth of my first son, I decided to make a "go of it" alone and started my own company called “Histoire de Faire-Part” in 1996. During my spare time, I created invitations for friends and family (wedding, birth announcements, change of address cards, business cards etc.), and what started out as being a small venture in my free time, became a full time and very successful enterprise from my front room.

During this time, I noticed that there was a real niche market opportunity because the people I was working for came to me to find a unique, elegant and original product that they were unable to find on the open market:

"the perfect compromise between originality, humour an elegance".To this end, I created a collection of mock-up invitations, announcements and greeting cards as well as “Arts de la table” which includes unique serviette rings, menus and place names.

I have been approched by The Galerie Lafayette and Printemps departement stores in Paris to take part of her wedding and birth announcementdepartment.

 

During those three years of running my own business I had many occasions to attend trade fairs (“Mariage au Carousel”, “Recevoir”… and the top end specialised shops selling similar products (Magna Carta, rue du Bac Paris 6e) to the ones I was creating.
I have been also contacted by the famous paper brand "G.LALO", Parisian and Elegant stationery since 1920,

to create an exclusive collection for them and we had a fantastic team work.

 

 

 

 

TS3 PRODUCTION, Paris - (Jan 2001 - June 2002)

Music Producer & Manager assistant.

In 2000, I was supposed to move abroad following my expat husband, so I had to shut down my small business "Histoire de Faire-part". But the project has been postponed...

During this time, I had the opportunity to start a new adventure in a company called TS3 Production which main part was production of concerts – such as Mylene Farmer, Claude Nougaro, MC Solaar, Etienne Daho, Henri Salvador, MC Solaar, Vanessa Paradis, Yannick Noah, Calogero, Raphael, … I worked as a production assistant which gave me a very rewarding and thoroughly fulfilling experience allowing me once again to appreciate working within a team.

 

MOVE TO LONDON... JULY 2002

 

In 2002, my husband was once again seconded – this time to London.

Sept 2002 / June 2005
Drama courses at Masbro Center, Hammersmith London

3 plays performed (in french) at Steiner Theatre and Chiswick Town Hall

 

Sept 2003 / Jan 2004
Plastic Arts teacher Asistant for children 6 to 10
French Lycee branch, Wix School London SW4

 

 

St Martins College of Art & design, London

Dreamweaver class, summer 2004

 

 

 

 

Graphic Designer, sole trader - Since Oct 2004

 

October 2004, “Histoire de Faire-Part” is once again resurrected, this time under a more British name :

“Cards and Design”

 

 

Identity, Logos, brochures, flyers, press print, dvd covers... Special Cards department for all events.

Clients include private and ltd companies or corporate as:

National Geographic

Royal Opera House

Square One ltd (Architecture company)

Perle de Lune (jewerly)

Chocolatine ltd (French patisserie)

Tray Gourmet ltd (french cattering company)

Distrifirst ltd

EJK ltd, Cashemere designer

Lovedefinitely.com ...

 

Working as a sole trader I also have to deal with:

 

- the production and promotion of my products

- secure deals with paper and printer suppliers

- supervising shooting, following printing process...

- I have taken part in various French Christmas market (Notting Hill, Chiswick & Chelsea)

- I have succesfully introduced my products (Cards...) to the english and french community.