Welcome

I’m Simon Taylor, freelance graphic designer, and you’ve probably arrived at my site because you’re either sourcing a freelance designer for a project, or you just want to know more about myself and my work. Whatever the reason, please read on.

About I Like Creative

I Like Creative is myself, Simon Taylor, graphic designer and sole trader. I’m based in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire. I became a freelancer in 2003, having previously worked in design and advertising agencies where the customer base was mainly B2B.

I provide creative solutions for start-ups and established businesses alike.

If I was to characterise my design style in a sentence, I’d say it is logical, well-organised, accessible and even earnest.

My customers are diverse in type and size and include established SMEs and sole traders. I’m also available to help other design businesses when the need arises.

Whether you’re a start-up looking for design advice as well as creativity, or you’re a well-established enterprise that needs the input of a senior creative, my experience as a freelancer puts me in a great position to help.

Services

Design for Print

Design for print covers a wide range of materials. From something as simple as a business card to a glossy, heavyweight flagship brochure, it can take almost any shape. The skilful matching of message and media can change a piece from being a simple means of communication into a memorable and engaging object of desire that communicates brand values as well as a sales proposition.

Despite what you may have heard, print is a long way from dead and has some distinct advantages over digital content. It’s something tangible that your customers can keep for much longer than digital content and its extended shelf life is also useful for prolonging your brand’s presence.

Printing is also much more sustainable than it used to be. Almost all the paper and board used in the UK comes from managed forests and if used wisely, and combined with the use of materials like biodegradable laminates and quick-drying inks that don’t require heated presses, its impact on the environment is minimal.

Digital Publishing

Like many other areas of design and marketing, publishing now has a thriving digital dimension. Many magazines, both trade and consumer, are available to read online with the use of reader software for PCs and laptops, and apps for tablets and smartphones.

One of my biggest customers is a trade journal for the moving and international relocation industry called The Mover. It’s published monthly and features news, interviews, event coverage and opinions relating to the industry, and is widely read and respected.

It’s also published only in digital format, which means that the style and layout must resemble a traditional printed magazine, and also be able to function in a digital format.

Having worked on The Mover for several years, I’m now well versed in magazine style and layout for both applications.

Logo and Brand Design

A logo should be the single most recognisable visual element that any company has and if well-designed will clearly show the name and type of business, be as simple as it can be without omitting vital information and reflect the business’s personality. It should always be unique, as there’s never a good reason to copy another logo.

Get it right, and a logo will be an asset to any business. Get it wrong and a great opportunity to create a lasting impression has been missed.

A logo is also central to the wider visual brand. Good branding is essential in a competitive market, and should be applied consistently, wherever it appears. If it’s done right, it will set a business apart from its competition, represent stability to existing customers, and inspire confidence in potential customers.

There are no short cuts or quick fixes when you’re building an effective brand. It needs time and thought invested in it. Your brand needs to be as unique as your enterprise.

My job is to provide the creativity, experience and understanding required to build a successful visual brand. It’s also my favourite area of design. There’s no job I find more fulfilling than designing a logo that everyone’s happy with.

Advertising

Press advertising is a good way to communicate a clear, simple sales message to a potentially large target audience, and can be a cost-effective part of a wider marketing strategy.

It’s important to remember when creating an ad that products and services aren’t sold, they’re bought. This just means that the target audience is restricted to those who are already in the market for what the advertiser is selling, and the aim of the ad is to persuade the potential buyer to choose the advertiser over its competitors.

People still buy magazines and newspapers or read them online, and trade journals are widely read by professionals as a way of keeping up with news and opinion within a given industry. This means advertisers can reach a large readership audience with their sales message.

I worked in specialist B2B advertising companies for several years before going freelance, and I know how to put together effective press ads.