I often find it somewhat of a task trying to explain to people what it is I do exactly. If I talk about my marketing strategy and communications experience, it is easy to lose sight of my creative and technical skills set. If I talk about the brands I have developed and launched, you could miss the pages of copy and catchy slogans I have written over the years.

Until they develop a job description for people who have broad skills set such as myself, I guess I am just a Marketing Strategist, Design Creative Brand & Project Manager ™. In an industry, that's all about grabbing peoples attention you could hardly call that catchy. So until somebody thinks of something better to call me...'iamgaz'.

This is my website. I hope it gives you a brief oversight of a few of the projects I have been working on recently and illustrates the type of thing I could be doing for you.

We are Leeds University Union Branding.

Concept / Art Direction / Project Management / Brand Managment /

For this treatment, I wanted to give Leeds University Union a modern and exciting image. As well as subtly illustrating, how we have presence and influence that extends further than our building, but onto campus and beyond into the city of Leeds itself.

The sign is sprayed polystyrene, mounted on a brushed Perspex frame. I wanted to build the sign for real to give it a sense of solidity and location, rather than reproduce it in a 3D package.

These images have been used for various publications and promotional material, and provide a strong and visually challenging visual style for the union.

Iamgaz business card.

Brand Development / Concept / Design & Art Working / Client /

Seeking a new, bolder look. These new business cards have prompted the tweak of iamgaz.co.uk. Opting for a sleek gloss and matt black look and feel they feature GF Smith ColourPlan 450gsm ebony board. With gloss black blocking. I worked closely with my printers to produce this jaw dropping look and I am overwhelmed with the finished product.

New Tunnel Club promoshots and posters.

Concept / Design & Art Working / Art Direction / Branding / Print Deliverables /

The Tunnel Club the renowned indie and art-rock night at Leeds University Union, was in need of a re-launch since winning the hearts of the Leeds indie-goers two years ago. The idea and treatment for the new identity / art direction happened quickly, with a photoshoot taking place only a few days after the initial concept meetings with the client.

Using real Tunnel Club devotees, myself and Kerry Harrison reproduced the feeling of a 'messy' night out, as taken by one of their friends. The result is a mix of the vernacular and a high fashion shoot, visually arresting and brimming with attitude.

Handbook 2007/2008.

Concept / Art Direction / Design & Art Working / Project Managment /

I set the bar high for our flagship publication this year. The Handbook, is for many new members, the first point of contact they have with us. I wanted to extend and develop peoples expectations of the quality of design and communications a Student Union design team could produce.

Using full page photographs and real life interviews and case studies with out members, I sort to illustrate how it is our members (the students at Leeds University) who are the Union. It is only through their participation and involvement that we have so much to offer new members.

The finished handbook is 28pp A5 on a uncoated stock and features a muted natural pallet minimal amounts of copy.

It is a great looking publication and a solid piece of communication, which always draws comments on the quality of its production and execution.

We are Leeds University Union Student Portraits.

Concept / Art Direction /

A closer look at a few more of the student portrait shots as featured in the handbook. With art direction by myself and photography by Kerry Harrions this was the first shoot we had worked on together and launched a great working partnership.

We struggled to get the right visual tone to the images for the best part of the day, however, after deep consideration as to what it was we were both trying to achieve we found the style we were after and rest came easily.

We set a camera up around various busy areas around Leeds University campus and asked passing students if they would like to feature in the series. The result is a really natural and honest set of images, that provide a great counter to the safe and corporate imagery of students by the University.

Featuring models of all ages and ethnicities we were able to demonstrate the diversity of our organisation.

Knowledge.

Concept / Art Direction / Branding / Lead Creative / Brand & Campaign Manager / Design & Art Working / Copywriter / Project Managment / Print Deliverables /

I was asked to lead in a communications role, for a multi-agency group who seek to work with students in the city on issues of crime and personal safety. With representation from both Universities in the city, local collages, West Yorkshire Police and Leeds City Council I presented the group with phased and costed year long communications plan, which I followed up with a visual treatment and brand.

My basic premise behind Knowledge was not to trivialise or on the other hand scare students (an approach I feel has been taken in the past) in to acting on safety information. By delivering a contemporary brand, the group can deliver key messages and facts in a simple manner.

My role in the group has seen me produce a website, teaser campaign, and various print and press publications, while pushing me to use my full skills set; project management, art direction, branding, web design, copy writing, graphic design and layout. It's been hard work but after only 6 months into the campaign, Knowledge has been well revived by students and local originations.

Visit the website at www.knowledge-leeds.co.uk

Gear branding, store POS and publicity shots.

Concept / Marketing / Art Direction / Design & Art Working /

I was asked to provide a new brand for this new store, from scratch. A process which started with researching and proposing a name for the unit. I selected Gear as it felt chunky, big and was a nice snappy word to say. I think it also said a lot about the stock the store would be selling, which is University branded items....essentially university gear.

Following the naming process. I developed a suitably chunky type treatment for usage on signage, in-store P.O.S. and fittings. I again called on Kerry Harrison for product and model photography and taking a lead from our previous work we used real students as models.

The result is an uncluttered and simple identity to help develop brand recognition for this new unit.

'The Document' covers.

Design & Art Working / Concept /

The Document is a bi-monthly gigs and club night listing publication with a distribution of 10,000 in and around the city of Leeds. It's a cheeky A6 size when folded and a less cheeky A3 when flat, printed on 170gsm uncoated stock.

It has been my team's responsibility to deliver something engaging and different for the publication's cover to attract more discerning music fans to the publication.

My initial role was to develop the publication's name and branding, then to see the delivery of the first issue. Now The Document is into its 2nd year. It is still a great opportunity to work a few ideas and styles that you can't really fit in to a more conventional brief. I always look forward to working on it as I can go anywhere with its design, as long as it meets the brief of appealing to fans of the alternative music scene in Leeds. So it means I have to keep up with current styles and contemporary design, achieved by doing research in the bars, clubs and venues around the city. It's a dirty job.

Here are two of my favourite covers.

Line-up A3 posters.

Design & Art Working / Concept /

Folding out from A6 to A3, these gig posters allow me the opportunity to really have a good play around with various themes and ideas in an open brief. Either taking lyrics from the album I am listening to the most at the time of production, or elements of popular culture such as computer games and TV shows.

Info Point Leeds University Union.

Project Manager / Design & Art Working / Copywriter /

What would you do if you were given a big room to redesign, in a building that sees 18,000 people come through it every day?

The senior management at Leeds University Union wanted to make the most of the free space that had just become available in the foyer of the building.

They wanted a space that reflected what the union is all about, its goals and its values. A space where members and visitors could find the latest information about the union which would serve as a reception area and a place for students to relax during a busy campus day. All with a very tight budget and an even tighter time scale.

The solution I delivered was based around the union's newly consolidated visual identity. I covered the walls in text detailing how the union works and how it is there to serve and represent its members - the hard part was making it concise enough to provide enough detail, but short enough not to look overpowering. This was done using cut vinyl, which is a very cost- effective method of dressing large areas of space.

It was fantastic to work on such a large scale, and to have control over every visual element of this important space in a busy building.

Branding and identity.

Design & Art Working / Concept /

I enjoy working on identity and branding the most I would say. The concept of visually communicating the values, ideas and services of a brand using design was what first attracted me to the creative industry.

Above are a few examples of the logos and bands I have developed. I have loads more examples of branding and type treatments I have produced, so feel free to get in touch for more examples.