Marquerite Steyn

Thank you for taking the time to view my resume.

I began my graphic design career at age 19, honing my design skills through hands-on work and then applying that discipline to the digital realm.

I am deeply passionate about creative thinking, whether conceptualizing ideas or crafting visually stunning environments. I have a constant drive to create. My work, client relationships, and team interactions all reflect my core values of trust, appreciation, and inspiration. As a designer, I strive for perfection, aiming to stand out through trustworthiness and excellence. I have even shared my industry insights by lecturing graduate graphic design students.

19 years ago, I founded my own specialized design agency. In this role, I've handled a wide range of responsibilities - from marketing and sales to serving as the senior creative representative. I liaise directly with clients, delegate work to my partner/team, present conceptual campaigns, manage quotations, invoices, and cash flow, and oversee the entire production process through to final delivery and administration.

I have extensive experience across a diverse range of industries, working with notable clients such as Imperial Logistics, Imperial Health Sciences, Imperial Managed Logistics, The UAEU, Adcock Ingram, Sanofi Pasteur, Plastics|SA, KPMG, and Miss Earth South Africa. I have also collaborated with international clients.

I'm excited at the prospect of collaborating with you to build your brand and visual identity.

SKILLS

Art Direction 95%

Creative Direction 95%

Graphic Design 95%

Entrepreneur 90%

Conceptual Design 95%

Client Relationships 95%

Motivator 85%

Leadership 85%

CommunicationS kills 95%

Deadlines 95%

CAREER

2003 TO CURRENT

MANAGING DIRECTOR | CLIENT LIAISON | CREATIVE DIRECTOR | GRAPHIC DESIGNER (Co-Owner)

RED Creative Studio cc

RESPONSIBILITIES

Services offered include branding, event management, brochure design, exhibition stands, training programs, web and social media branding, presentations, expo participation, competitions, advertisements, billboards, signage, illustrations, and photo editing.
Conducted meetings with clients to understand their requirements, objectives, and target audience, and provided suggestions and ideas on how to achieve their goals, with a focus on client-centricity.
Managed quotations, tracked deadlines, presented creative work, ensured quality control, handled invoicing, performed administrative tasks, and followed up with suppliers regarding deliveries.
Acted as the senior creative leader representing the agency to clients and the industry.
Kept abreast of new technology developments to stay up-to-date.
Demonstrated motivation, leadership abilities, and strong communication skills.
Inspired and led the team to deliver effective and creative output, building the agency's identity and fostering trust with clients.
Expanded and enhanced the agency's creative capabilities, contributing to its growth.

1984 TO 2003

CREATIVE DIRECTOR | SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Nicola-J Advertising and Promotions

RESPONSIBILITIES

Starting up an in-house studio. Liasing with all clients on briefs, concepts, branding, execution of artwork, kept track of timelines, feedback to management, created a support team of suppliers, profits and invoicing, made the studio a profitable entity.

LECTURE GRADUATE GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDENTS

AAA School of Advertising

RESPONSIBILITIES

The final year to prepare students for the industry, working closely with the copywriters, multimedia, art directors and marketing students to present campaigns to real clients. Execute modules, briefs, guide them through their concepts, execution, reproduction, paper choices, presentation skills and portfolio presentations. Always working closely with top agencies in the industry to create awareness of talent.

Student Loerie Award | Student selected to join an agency in Paris

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Diagonal Street Communications, JHB

RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsibilities: briefs from art director and|or clients, generate concepts, editing of images and create brands for well-known companies.

SENIOR DESIGNER | ART DIRECTION | TEAM LEADER

Sanlam HO Cape Town

RESPONSIBILITIES

Was promoted to start graphic and conceptual design in the department and taking responsibility in leading the team in high-pressured deadlines, overseeing the complete process - quality control of creatives, film processing, liasing with inhouse clients up to handing film over to printers.

Award for the Most Outstanding Employee

SENIOR DESIGNER | BRAND ACTIVIST

Outspan International Centurion, HO

RESPONSIBILITIES

Received my first training on Apple. Responsibilities: Designed their first 42page magazine inclusive of creating a new look and new brand for the company in a tight deadline. All in-house branding, newsletters, adverts and promotional item branding.

Outstanding performance on design of brand and delivery on deadlines

QUALIFICATIONS

DESIGN ELEMENTS & PRINCIPLES CERTIFICATE

AAA School of Advertising

DESCRIPTION

The principles of visual design include Contrast, Balance, Emphasis, Movement, White Space, Proportion, Hierarchy, Repetition, Rhythm, Pattern, Unity, and Variety. The course was about learning how these principles of design work together to create something that is aesthetically pleasing and optimizes the user experience.
After completion, I was approached by the Creative Director to join AAA as the lecturer for the graduate students.

Award for the Most Outstanding Student - passed with 98%

MARKETING - CONSUMER BEHAVIOUR

AAA School of Advertising

DESCRIPTION

I felt the need to understand my target market when engaging with the consumer through visual communication - how they select, buy, use, and dispose ideas, goods, and services to satisfy their needs and wants - the underlying motives for those actions.

Certificate with distinction (International recognition)

APPRENTICESHIP OF 3 YEARS

Promedia

DESCRIPTION

Working on the tables prior to Apple MacIntosh - learned the disciplines of design, worked directly with typesetters, did the impositioning, making bromides, liased with lithography department, printers, and overlooked the artwork being printed in the factory. Learned the foundation of the overall proses.

Award for the best student with distinction

REFERENCES

Michelle Neilson | +27 82 651 6304

Marketing Executive, Imperial Logistics

"Marquerite Steyn is a highly skilled designer with deep experience and profound skill. A constant source of visual inspiration, she has a unique ability to interpret a brief and translate strategy and technical detail into a compelling visual narrative. Astute and detail oriented, she delivers on even the toughest deadline and is always mindful of quality, cost and impact."

Liza Ralph | +27 12 001 1914

Packaging SA

"Our stand is going to look AMAZING!!! Thank you so much Maggie, for your creativity, patience, suggestions and guidance. Definitely couldn't have done it without you."

Monya Vermaak | +27 79 155 6266

Plastics|SA

"So excited!!! The Annual Report "Our Footprint" has been delivered. Thanks once again for yet another amazing annual report, all the long hours, the overtime, the one last change, all in keeping your customers happy."

Pauli Armstrong | +27 82 577 7456

Enkosi Advertising Agency

"Love Both Concepts!!! I just love it!!!!! Well done my Mags, as usual - you are the best!!"

↑ Back to Top

Creative and Art Director

SKILLS

CAREER

SOFTWARE

QUALIFICATIONS

ABOUT ME

PERSONAL

REFERENCES