About

Introduction

SwearingDad Design is the online home to Simon Watson, all-round creative (yet practical) graphic designer delivering effective solutions for logos, identity, websites and print.

Based in Maidenhead, Berkshire, I have worked as a professional designer since 1991 and I am experienced in many disciplines including:

  • Corporate Identity (logos, stationery, reports, literature, web and manuals).
  • Internet (website, blog and social media concept, design and implementation, email design, CMS, SEO, basic HTML, CSS and Flash).
  • Artwork (from concept to final production and pre-press artwork).
  • Packaging (graphics, concepts, materials and construction).
  • Advertising (consumer, business to business and recruitment).
  • Photography (art direction, location, retouching and comping).
  • Copywriting (packaging, press releases, websites, adverts and corporate literature).
  • Presentations (design, artwork and copywrite for Powerpoint, PDF and websites).
  • Events and Launches (consumer and B2B – plan, design and organise).
  • Proficient with Photoshop, Indesign, Illustrator, Acrobat, Office, Dreamweaver, XPress and so on.

Every piece of work I commit to is important to me. I aim for an honest and upfront relationship with all my clients and I make sure each project benefits from my personal ability and experience. So rather than the business equivalent of a one-night stand I try to say it like it is.

If I honestly don’t think your ideas will work – I’ll tell you.

And if something doesn’t fit right with you – I’ll take the criticism and do something about it.

I’m pragmatic. If I see an opportunity for you (and some more business for me) I’ll suggest other directions or initiatives that I think you should be considering. If all this sounds right, it’s simple to get started with some SwearingDad Design – to discuss a project or to sound me out on an idea, please contact me.

 

Experience

SwearingDad Design
Graphic Designer
July 1991 – Present

Clients / projects have included:

You can view some selected SwearingDad Design projects here.

 

The King of Shaves Company
Head of Design
May 2009 – Present

King of Shaves is the leading challenger brand in the shaving and skin care market. Product ranges include:

  • Azor System Razor
  • King of Shaves Shaving and Skincare for Men
  • Kings 1965 Grooming for Man
  • Queen Of… Collection for Women
  • Prostyle Electrical Grooming

I am responsible for the design, artwork and copywriting including packaging, literature, events, commissioning illustrators, print and photography as well as updating and maintaining the company’s websites (including consumer, online store, subscription store, corporate and blogs), Facebook pages and YouTube channel.

 

Knowledge and Merchandising Inc Ltd (KMI)
Head of Design
February 2001 – May 2009

KMI owned or licensed many brands and I oversaw all the design, artwork and copywriting including packaging, literature, company and brand websites (as well as online stores and blogs), events and photography. Product ranges included:

  • Azor System Razor
  • Fish Hairstyling
  • HED Hairstyling
  • Hed Kandi Fragrance and Body Sprays
  • King of Shaves Shaving and Skincare For Men
  • King of Shaves KOS.PRO (Professional Range for Barbers)
  • King of Shaves KU
  • King of Shaves K2
  • King of Shaves Woman (including the Azure System Razor)
  • King of Shaves XCD
  • Patently Obvious
  • Speedo Protek Hair and Body Care
  • Ted Baker Beauty (Cosmetics)
  • Ted Baker Bodywear
  • Ted Baker Fine Fragrances

 

Ambleglow Advertising & Design
Creative Director
April 1996 – January 2001

Art directed, designed and produced finished repro-ready artwork (including all photo retouching, images, illustrations, diagrams and typography) for consumer and B2B projects and advertising including corporate literature, promotional mailers and catalogues, employment manuals and incentive schemes, websites, packaging, logos and identities. Here I reached a milestone in design when I produced my first leaflet for a conservatory company!

Also designed, artworked and copywrote for the recruitment advertising side of the business for publication in both national and local press.

Clients included:

  • Berkshire College of Agriculture
  • Bray Pre-School
  • Coppid Beech Hotel
  • EMC
  • Honda
  • Johnson and Johnson
  • King of Shaves (KMI)
  • Legoland Windsor
  • Oakley Court Hotel
  • Renault
  • Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
  • Reading Borough Council
  • St Regis Paper Company
  • Topcon

 

Ludden Taylor
Designer
June 1991 – January 1996

Designed and produced finished repro-ready artwork (including all photo retouching, images, illustrations, diagrams and typography) for high-end corporate literature and identity design projects.

Clients included:

  • Alcatel
  • American Chamber of Commerce
  • Biscuits Delacre (subsidiary of Campbell Biscuits Europe)
  • BOC
  • European Commission
  • Ford New Holland
  • Lloyds Register
  • Panasonic
  • Philip Morris
  • Rolls Royce Aerospace

 

Education

Middlesex Polytechnic (now Middlesex University)
BA, Graphic Information Design
1986 – 1991