Michael Preston, Design, print/publishing and photography Expert in London, United Kingdom

About

Design

I've worked for all kinds of organisations from community groups/small businesses to national organisations/blue chip clients and for the print and publishing industry gaining a solid background of more than 30 years experience.

My experience spans all aspects of design and typography and I've handled everything from business cards to 96 sheet advertising posters. I'm especially skilled in corporate identity, annual reports, brochures, flyers and leaflets.

Previous clients include: The Daily Telegraph, The Quakers, Unison, Larousse Kingfisher Publishing, the MS Society, National Childbirth Trust, Wish, Birmingham & Solihull Mental Health Trust, Watford Borough Council and Clays Lane Housing Co-operative.

Photography

I'm a skilled digital photographer and I'm capable of originating high quality images for reproduction in both printed and web based media. I've produced images for a wide variety of commercial clients in addition to working freelance as a press photographer supplying images to agencies specialising in news.

I'm part of the Disability Images agency. This is a fresh new agency specialising in providing top quality photographs dealing with the issue of disability as well as Paralympic and disabled sport.

I'm listed on the NUJ freelance directory and have a current and valid UK press ID card. A portfolio of my news images can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/Demotix-MP

Previous clients include: the Camping and Caravanning Club, London & South Eastern Railway, Crisis, plus various newspapers: the Morning Star, the Hampstead Highgate Express, the Marylebone Express, and Disability Now.

Other Information

I have excellent interpersonal and communications skills as well as a 'can do’ attitude and a willingness to work hard. I'm an enthusiastic, involved and meticulous worker and have a good eye for detail. If you use me as your key creative you won't be disappointed.

Education

InDesign

NUJ Training

2011 - 2011

This was an intensive, two day course covering all aspects of Adobe InDesign.
Intensive Photojournalism

University of the Arts London

2008 - 2008

This was an intensive, five week course which gave students an opportunity to develop their skills in researching, photographing and writing photojournalistic stories. It also covered the areas of documentary, news, feature, portrait and sports photography as well as using light, editing, working effectively with professional processing labs, caption writing, and understanding the requirements of permissions and releases.
Adobe Illustrator Essentials

Aquent Training

2007 - 2007

This was an intensive, three day course covering all aspects of Adobe Illustrator.
Intermediate Adobe Photoshop

Augustus Martin In-House Training Programme

1997 - 1997

This was an intensive, one day course covering advanced Adobe Photoshop techniques.
Practical Journalism

Morley College, London

1994 - 1994

This was an intensive, three month course which gave students strong journalistic skills through practical hands-on class exercises and the study of news, features, reviews and sub-editing.
Intermediate Quark XPress

Unison In-House Training Program

1993 - 1993

This was an intensive, three day course covering advanced aspects of Quark XPress.
Distinction City And Guilds 532 Certificate in Typographic Design for Print

West Herts College

1988 - 1992

Level of pass achieved: Distinction
Credit City and Guilds Foundation Course in Art and Design

West Herts College

1980 - 1981

Level of pass achieved: Credit

Experience

Graphic Designer/Press & commercial photographer

Creative19

May 2007 - Present (19 years 1 month)

I currently freelance as a typographic/print designer, print procurement/production manager and commercial/press photographer, (I hold a valid UK press ID card).

I've worked as a designer for both large and small organisations on projects ranging from books for small publishers to complete corporate identity schemes for national charities, as well as all the normal kind of print projects, (booklets, leaflets, posters, stationery).

My design/print clients have included: The Daily Telegraph, The Quakers, Unison, Larousse Kingfisher Publishing, the MS Society, National Childbirth Trust, London Civic Forum, Watford Borough Council, Clays Lane Housing Co-operative, Housing 21 and Panoptic Sport.

My design style is clean and minimal. I use strong typography and layout rather than a cluttered collection of unnecessary graphic elements that lower readability.

I've worked as a photographer on a range of commercial photographic assignments for various clients including: Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, GolinHarris, Southeastern, Crisis and Le Cordon Bleu.

I've also worked as a freelance press photographer covering various events and news stories. I've had content used by several newspapers and magazines including: The Guardian, the Evening Standard, the Hampstead & Highgate Express, Southwark News, the Marylebone Express, the Wood and Vale Express, the Morning Star, Hackney Today, Disability Now and Virgin Trains magazine.

You can see my press images on Alamy (http://tinyurl.com/Alamy-MP) and also on Demotix.
I also shoot news and sport for the agency Disability Images, (http://www.disabilityimages.org).

I take pride in my work and make sure my clients are 100% satisfied. I have several testimonials which are below.
Print Procurement Manager

Multiple Sclerosis Society

May 2008 - Aug 2008 (3 months)

Procurement/project management of all kinds of print, (litho, screen, digital). Negotiation, liaison and problem solving with internal clients, designers, artworkers, printers, finishers and other contractors. Maintenance of the corporate identity and branding scheme.
Marketing Production Manager

Southeastern

Oct 2006 - Jun 2007 (8 months)

Procurement/project management of all print for station and train application. Negotiation, Liaison and problem solving with internal clients, designers, artworkers, printers, finishers and other contractors. Maintenance and control of the corporate identity and branding scheme.
Production Manager

McKenzie Clark

Apr 2006 - Sep 2006 (5 months)

Account/project management, (Elizabeth Arden, Bobbi Brown, Harvey Nichols, Alfred Dunhill, Hackney Council and The British Museum) co-ordination and responsibility for print and finishing. Liaison/problem solving and negotiation with clients, artworkers, printers and finishers.
Senior Production Controller

Augustus Martin

Sep 1995 - Jul 2005 (9 years 10 months)

Co-ordination and responsibility for print (screen, litho and digital) and finishing production. Project management, (Co-operative Retail, Viacom, L'Oreal, Marks & Spencer, Lloyds TSB, NatWest, Nestlé, Mothercare and The National Theatre). Liaison/problem solving. Account handling/negotiation with clients, artworkers, printers and finishers.
Designer/DTP Operator

Larousse Kingfisher

Jan 1995 - Apr 1995 (3 months)

DTP and paste-up using Quark XPress, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. Liaison/problem solving with senior editor, chief designer, planning, editorial and design staff. Control of work/photo archives and databases.
Designer/Communications Officer

Clays Lane Housing Co-operative

Apr 1994 - Jan 1995 (9 months)

Graphic design, typography and DTP using Quark XPress, Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. Development and creative control of identity/brand. Production of photography for use in publications and publicity. Copy writing. Print project management. Negotiation, liaison and problem solving with members, the management committee, office staff, printers and other contractors.
Print Designer

Unison

1989 - 1991 (2 years)

Graphic design, typography, DTP and paste-up using Quark XPress and Photoshop. Liaison/problem solving with national officers, editors, designers, typesetting and print staff. Maintaining work/photo archives.
Print Designer

Building Research Establishment (BRE)

1988 - 1989 (1 year)

Graphic design, typography, DTP and paste-up using traditional methods. Liaison/problem solving with scientists, editors, designers, typesetter and print staff. Maintaining work/photo archives.

Skills

Elsewhere on the Web

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On Coroflot

@Creative19-Design, member since 2013

Michael Preston

Industrial Design Director

Senior Product Designer, Eyewear