Happy to talk to you (almost!) any time – call 01793 420938 or 07939 326354, or email [email protected].
“Kate is one of those unique people who is able to give equal attention both to the big picture (thinking about how the communication will come across to its intended audience) and the fine detail. As a result, working with her is challenging, rewarding and fun.” Tany Alexander, Senior Campaign Executive, University of Oxford Development Office
approach / experience / qualifications
About Kate Parsons
My work is based around creating communications that are organised and researched, noticeable, memorable, easily understood and leave a positive impression. As well as B2B and B2C marketing communications and concepts for multi-nationals, SMEs and sole-traders, being good at communicating information has taken me into heritage interpretation, teaching, leading workshops with young people, charity communications and community arts, writing and designing books and organising exhibitions. I also work in a pub.
My design thinking is to put myself in the shoes of the ‘person’ you want to reach, to anticipate what ‘they’ want or need to know, and explain the things they might not. Here's an infographic CV:
I've worked freelance since 1999, sometimes combining with part-time employment for non-profit organisations. I've worked alongside copywriters, artworkers and art directors in creative team. Now I usually work as a consultant taking on those same roles.
in the order they came to mind
Client / project list
Texas Instruments GmbH (Principal Designer E&ME, based in Bavaria, managing pan-European marketing design, liaising with HQ in Texas); Zurich Financial Services (brand, BSB and B2C campaigns, mainly in-house); Nationwide Building Society (in-house campaign concepts; Network Rail (Visual Communications Lead, £multi-million, two-year safe system of work programme); Historic England/Swindon Borough Council (produced heritage interpretation for The Works Heritage Trail); Prime Theatre (heritage interpretation, exhibition); Swindon Museum & Art Gallery (heritage interpretation, community engagement, exhibition design and build ); Werbelicht GmbH (external signage design, German to English translation); Mahindra BT (German to English translation); Emmaus Bristol (charity communications, supporter stewardship, GDPR compliance and database management as Fundraising and Marketing Officer); Gloucestershire Rape & Sexual Abuse Centre (charity communications as Supporter Engagement and Fundraising Officer)); University of Oxford (Proposals Writer and, later, freelance fundraising and report design); Oxford Intensive School of English + others (Teacher of English as a Foreign Language); South Swindon Parish Council (walking trail design + interpretation panels); Platform Project CIC (Project Manager and Editor iDare magazine project); Arnos Vale Heritage Trust (campaign brand design, donor stewardship, event marketing and management as Development Manager); Isambard Community School (arts educator, Art teacher, Design & Technology teacher);
Envy Creative (Senior Designer and Studio Manager); Dyson (freelance in-house designer); Fineline Communications Ltd. (designer, multi-language typesetting, housing associations); Dolby Inc. (designer, multi-language typesetting); Flux Arts (exhibition organiser and arts workshops with young people); Wiltshire College (brochure design); Hallgarten Wine (press advertising and catalogue design); English Heritage (cartography); Three Big Names (freelance design – mainly financial sector); Thomas and Cosh (freelance design – mainly retail products); Compass Design (freelance designer – mainly hospitality); Real Ideas Organisation (arts workshops with young people); Gurt Lush Pub Co. (social media, menu and marketing design, exhibition co-ordination, and I work behind the bar); Swindon Heritage Preservation Trust (traditional sign writing); inSwindon BID Co. Ltd. (brand design, proposal writing, cartography); ToyGuard UK Ltd. (brand design and development); Design Types Ltd. (freelance design – mainly for Road Angel satnav brand); Fundacíon Juconi (arts workshops + graphic design + mural); Birmingham City Council (Arts Youth Worker); Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and National Museum of the Royal Navy (UX/UI design and audit); Swindon Heritage Action Zone (school workshops and mural design + interpretation panel design)