Maria Stavride

PERSONAL PROFILE: Highly proficient Graphic Designer, with 8 years experience in Graphic Design, and 3 years teaching experience. Diversity of work coming from two different backgrounds, studying in UK and working in Cyprus. Specialised in editorial Design processes, for publicity materials, magazine design layout, brochures and posters. Excellent background, in advertising, logo design, and packaging. Well organised and able to manage a team effectively as it was required during previous jobs to manage the graphic department of two fashion magazines, constituted of 7 people, as well as being proactive and reliable when working individually when it was required. With a high level of professionalism and planning, have achieved successfully, to design a great amount of magazine issues and to work at the same time on other projects. Committed to the timely completion of high quality work applied in every new task undertaken, keen to meet new challenges. RECENT CAREER: October 2004 - to date Intercollege, Nicosia, Cyprus The seventh consecutive semester working as a part-time lecturer at Intercollege. Teaching Lettering and Layout, Typography & Computer Imagery, Introduction to Computers for Designers, and Editorial Design. The academic qualifications together with the previous experience in the industry and the software knowledge helped in delivering the required material in each class in a way that students can understand the theoretical and the industrial application in each case. Willing to become more involved in the academic sector and continue the research started at MA level in a PhD level. EARLIER CAREER: February 2004- February 2005 To and Fro Creations (graphics agency), Nicosia, Cyprus Working as Senior Designer for one year. Responsible for the design, provision and support of different Graphic Design Projects, covering different fields of Graphic design mostly, advertising campaigns for press, advertising brochures, and leaflets etc. Client handling skills developed as it was required to communicate with clients for the completion of the projects. February 2001- November 2003 Point Blank (graphics agency), Phileleftheros Publishing House , Nicosia, Cyprus Hired by Point Blank (subsidiary company of Phileleftheros Group) to work as a Senior Editorial Designer for OMIKRON ANTRAS (a men's Fashion magazine), and then promoted to Assistant Creative Director for one year. Contributing on different publication materials within Phileleftheros; designing for OMIKRON (a women’s fashion magazine), OMIKRON ANTRAS, Brochures, Calendars, and Company Profiles and other magazine issues. The previous experience and performance successfully led to a Creative Director promotion, as well as many duties and responsibilities: general overview and responsibility for the two magazines; designing as well as co-ordinating the design department to ensure quality of artwork and to meet deadlines. Co-operation with the editors and journalist; to ensure co-ordination of work. Design, provision and support for the production of promotion materials or advertising materials for other projects of the group, in co- operation with different departments within Phileleftheros (for example, design and overview the promotional campaign for Sfera fm radio station). PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT: •Jun 1999- Sept.1999 - Ekkeshi Design Consultants, Nicosia, Cyprus Part-time employed as a junior designer. Working on small projects, mostly, advertisements for press, packaging design, invitations for events. First experience of communicating with clients and design under the needs of a brief. •May 1996- Sept.1996 - Stelios Haralambous-Designer, Nicosia, Cyprus Part time position, working as a designer assistant. First experience of different design stages procedure and design computer packages. SKILLS PROFILE •COMPUTER & DESIGN PROGRAMS SKILLS: Excellent knowledge of Design Programs: Quark Express, PhotoShop, Illustrator, and Freehandand In-Design. Twelve years of knowledge on the above mentioned, Design Programs gave the ability of working fast. Can operate Mac and PC, ability to use Microsoft Word, Microsoft Power Point can also be utilised for quality presentations. •DESIGN WORK: Flexibility and variety of work coming from studies and 8 years of working experience. Innovative, with the ability of transition from one project to the other, deriving from experience of working for two magazines at the same time, or other projects. Working in the Magazine Business gave the ability of communicating successfully different subjects to a wide range target audience. •WORK HANDLING SKILLS: Excellent problem solving skills, well organised and hard working when to achieve successful creative results and work well under pressure. Ambitious and diligent with long term projects. Work well within a team, able to manage a team effectively, as well as being proactive and reliable when working alone. •COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Previous employment and education led to good communication skills both in English and Greek, to support and explain artwork as well as to give effective presentations, to students, colleagues, and clients. EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS: 1999-2000 Ma Fine Art Kent Institute of Art & Design, Canterbury, UK 1997-1999 BA (Hons) Graphic Communications (Design) University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, UK 1995-1997 Foundation Graphic Design Course Intercollege, Nicosia, Cyprus EXHIBITIONS: Urban Soul Festival Sept. 29th 2007 – “A converted state of internal aliveness” installation a collaboration with Maria Yiannoura Kent Institute of Art & Design Sept. 8th 2000 -The Point (MA Exhibition) University of Wolverhampton Feb. 1999 - Ten minutes Two inches and Three Thousand (slide show) Jun. 1999 - Futures Exhibition (BA Exhibition) NON ACADEMIC INTERESTS: Reading from classical to contemporary literature; with a lean towards science fiction. Creating decorative objects, decorating spaces, with a keen interest in the contemporary interior and furniture design movement, decoration styles. Great interest also in Foreign Cultures and traveling.