The "Northern Roots" part of my brand isn't just a tagline; it's the core of how I operate. Being based near Preston means being part of a community. I believe that good, no-nonsense design should be accessible to everyone—not just big corporations, but also the local organisations that form the lifeblood of our towns and villages.
That's why I'm incredibly proud to dedicate some of my time, free of charge, to helping local causes that do so much for the people here. It's a small way to support the amazing work they do.
Here are a couple of projects I've been thrilled to support recently.
Catterall Gala: Crafting a Brand for a Community Celebration
Catterall Gala is one of those brilliant local events that brings everyone together. It’s run by passionate volunteers and built on a foundation of community spirit.
I was delighted to donate my design time to help them with their branding. My goal was to provide them with a clear, professional, and joyful identity that matched the spirit of the gala itself. We worked together to create a cohesive look and feel that they can use across all their materials—from social media to banners—helping them look as fantastic and organised as the event itself.
Kirkland Memorial Hall: A Two-Part Problem Solved
Kirkland Memorial Hall is a vital hub for so many local groups and events. When they reached out, they had two distinct problems that needed solving—one creative and one technical.
As a way of supporting their fantastic work in the community, I offered my services to get them back on track. This is where being both a designer and a developer really comes in handy.
The Poster: First, they needed an eye-catching poster for an upcoming event. This was a classic graphic design job: get the information across clearly, make it look appealing, and design it so it could be printed and shared online.
The Website Rescue: The bigger challenge was that their website was offline, and they weren't sure why. This is a problem that can stop a community hub in its tracks. I was able to put my developer hat on, dive into the technical back-end, diagnose the issue, and get their site back up and running for them.
Design is About Solving Problems, Big and Small
For me, being able to help Kirkland Hall get its website back online is just as important as designing a brand for a commercial client. It’s the same "no-nonsense, find the solution" approach.
My philosophy is simple: I'm a partner in your project. Whether you're an ambitious business looking to rebrand, or a local hall that just needs a helping hand, I'm here to bring a straightforward, professional approach to solving your problem.