Hello. Who are you?
I’m George (short for Georgina) and I’m a graphic designer, creative artworker and photoshopper. I’ve got over 20 years’ experience working full time and freelance at brilliant brands like Eurostar, Toshiba, National Maritime Museum and many more.
I’m George (short for Georgina) and I’m a graphic designer, creative artworker and photoshopper. I’ve got over 20 years’ experience working full time and freelance at brilliant brands like Eurostar, Toshiba, National Maritime Museum and many more.
What floats your boat, design-wise?
I’ve always loved typography. I’ve got a priceless collection of wooden type, old signs and vintage advertising all around my home. That and the iconic film title typography on old posters, title sequences, album covers created by geniuses like Saul Bass, Bill Gold and Hipgnosis Storm Thorgerson. That’s what keeps me inspired.
I’ve always loved typography. I’ve got a priceless collection of wooden type, old signs and vintage advertising all around my home. That and the iconic film title typography on old posters, title sequences, album covers created by geniuses like Saul Bass, Bill Gold and Hipgnosis Storm Thorgerson. That’s what keeps me inspired.
When I was a typography student, the dance scene of the 90s was in its heyday and I was massively inspired by the designs of the legendary Cream and Renaissance flyers. I’ve got a large collection of those stashed away, along with album cover art, which I dabbled in here and there.
I’m also obsessed with furniture. If it’s vintage, especially Art Deco, or unusual then I’ll fall in love with it. I’ve also got a rather expensive chair fetish! I spend my spare time upcycling old furniture (I’ve got an eBay shop for the pieces I can just about bear to part with), gardening and doing photography at my seaside chalet near Dungeness. All fuelled by back-to-back episodes of Find It, Fix It, Flog It!
What are your favourite kinds of jobs?
Ooh, give me a big, chunky, fiddly typesetting job and I’m in my element! I love those projects that other designers hate, and I’m good at them. At Eurostar they’d even wait for me to get back from a holiday to do things like big brochures, guidelines and timetables that need consistency and precision.
Ooh, give me a big, chunky, fiddly typesetting job and I’m in my element! I love those projects that other designers hate, and I’m good at them. At Eurostar they’d even wait for me to get back from a holiday to do things like big brochures, guidelines and timetables that need consistency and precision.
I also enjoy a good Photoshop job. Hiding what shouldn’t be there, adding what should, making it all completely seamless…love it.
What’s the work you’re proudest of?
In my 12 years working freelance at Eurostar, I’ve seen plenty of brand refreshes and changes, and I’ve helped to adapt, embed and apply these across a vast array of design work. And when I say ‘vast’, I mean everything from brochure design, station signage and exhibition material to large station hoardings, drawing destination maps, onboard magazine design and artworking posters and advertising campaigns.
In my 12 years working freelance at Eurostar, I’ve seen plenty of brand refreshes and changes, and I’ve helped to adapt, embed and apply these across a vast array of design work. And when I say ‘vast’, I mean everything from brochure design, station signage and exhibition material to large station hoardings, drawing destination maps, onboard magazine design and artworking posters and advertising campaigns.
My favourite project was collaborating with Sony Pictures on Eurostar’s partnership with the film The Da Vinci Code, which meant I could really tap into my love of film. I worked on The Da Vinci Code branded train livery, advertising, timetables, ticket wallets, menus, head rests, serviettes, branded popcorn, coffee cups, goodie bags, ‘Join the Eurostar Quest’ competitions, gift certificates, signage, buffet car tables, press folders, Cannes cinema signage, t-shirts…you name it, I did it! It took many long days into nights, but it’s still one of the most enjoyable and rewarding things I’ve ever done.