About Me

My name is Rachael Macken, I am a passionate graphic designer that strives to bridge the gap
between the client and end-user.

Hello! Nice to
meet you…

As a designer, it is my responsibility to communicate the clients’ thoughts visually and effectively. I’m constantly learning and eager to develop my skills by welcoming change and challenges. I’m involved in numerous roles such as: managing multiple projects, branding, print and idea creation. I am a resourceful, hard working and dedicated individual. I can combine a friendly, professional and reliable approach with excellent interpersonal skills and can communicate confidently at all levels.

Hello! Nice to meet you…

As a designer, it is my responsibility to communicate the clients’ thoughts visually and effectively. I’m constantly learning and eager to develop my skills by welcoming change and challenges. I’m involved in numerous roles such as: managing multiple projects, branding, print and idea creation. I am a resourceful, hard working and dedicated individual. I can combine a friendly, professional and reliable approach with excellent interpersonal skills and can communicate confidently at all levels.

Background

Experience

Education

Brands that I’ve worked with

Your personal brand serves as your best protection against business factors you can’t control.

I am so grateful for the opportunity that these companies have given me. Below are just some of the ones I have worked with to give you an idea.

Brands that I’ve worked with

Your personal brand serves as your best protection against business factors you can’t control.

I am so grateful for the opportunity that these companies have given me. Below are just some of the ones I have worked with to give you an idea.

Background

I truly love what I do. Design to me is a way of life, it’s not a job but a passion that I grow with every day.

As a child I was always sketching a cartoon or fictional creature (usually a dragon) in the corner of my notebooks. In secondary school, my dream was to go into a field with technology and design. So when I went to college, I decided to do something that had a bit of both – I got my Bachelors in Web Development & Creative Media (Graphic Design) from The Institute of Technology, Sligo.

Within the first couple of months of my degree, I knew how much I love digital design, then one thing led to another and 3 years went by and I found my true calling as a Graphic Designer. I love the world of digital design, how it’s constantly changing and we can continuously learn new things.

Over the last two years I’ve worked as a Graphic and Logo Designer with Cubicle 7 Entertainment, a roleplaying games (similar to Dungeons & Dragons). I established their visual & brand identity and creating eye-catching and intuitive designs. I am always enthusiastic and excited to start new projects and working with people.

As you can imagine, my design process always starts with a pencil and paper, scribbling ideas and concepts, then thinking about the problem and what the solution will be. Once I have an idea of what I want to achieve, I’ll then sit down at my computer and start with wireframes, add the imagery, typography design and details.

Along with a highly creative (and quirky) imagination, I have a strong strategic approach combined with a bubbly can-do attitude, that helps me to find the right solution to each and every task that is assigned to me. I enjoy a good challenge that gives me the opportunity to push my boundaries, think outside the box and allow me to experiment with new concepts and software.

When I’m not lost in Design

I love cooking, trying new recipes and perfecting the presentation. I enjoy organizing meals to cook for family and friends.
I get very excited and enthusiastic about arts and crafts with kids, especially the seasonal crafts. My nieces/nephews and I had a lot of fun with the projects, one of the best was the DIY snow globes 🙂
I’m a huge fan of a good steak! Enjoying that with whiskey peppercorn sauce, a glass of good red wine and friends/family – what more could you want.
I’m a cheese enthusiast with a nice chutney, grapes and crackers, of course 😉
Playing online games, object, puzzles. Although, I do miss the old consoles SEGA and PS1, playing games like ‘Crash Bandicoot’ and ‘Mario’. Those were the days.
I love dogs and cats, any animal really. I enjoy running on the beach with my dog and playing catch with her.
I enjoy hiking new trails and being in nature, also taking photographs of our experiences.

Technical Skills

As the graphic design industry continues to evolve, only the ones who keep up with the developments can stay ahead in the game. I believe there is always something we can improve on and learn

Branding - 90%
Product Mockup Design - 77%
BOOK LAYOUT- 70%

Photoshop - 85%
InDesign - 80%
Illustrator - 79%

Work Experience

You cannot use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.

June 2019 – Present

Cubicle 7 Entertainment Ltd.

Graphic & Layout Designer

Designing product branding. This includes but not limited to logos, sub logos and styling to help in the creation of book and PDF layout templates.
Illustrating limited edition covers for our licensed products. Ensuring the look and feel of the layout, marketing and production of each product I was involved in. Collaborating with producers, writers, artists, proof-readers, etc in the production of roleplaying games.
Ensuring that one day a week is dedicated to marketing and online sales advertising, to help promote our products Building training tutorials and templates for translators/third parties. Managing Graphic Design shared drive.
Consolidating all IP imagery, fonts and any other useful assets, to help facilitate the layout team and boost productivity.

Sept 2018
– Jun 2019

Nettl of Dublin

Brand Stylist (Web & Graphic Design)

Creating solutions for a huge variety of products and activities, such as websites, advertising, books, magazines, posters, apps, product packaging, exhibitions and displays, corporate communications and corporate identity, e.g. giving organisations a visual ‘brand’.
Meeting clients to discuss the business objectives and requirements of the design project. Estimating the time required to complete the work and agreeing artwork costs that reflect this for clients.
Developing design briefs by gathering information and data through research.
Using innovation to challenge design briefs within the constraints of cost and time.

Mar 2016
– Feb 2018

Tasktop Technologies
(Vancouver, Canada)

Graphic Designer

To conceptualize, design and execute creative solutions that consistently and clearly communicate the company’s brand identity, positioning and messaging through all brand touch points and effectively communicating the strategic intent for each task.
Graphic design training supervisor – overseeing workflow, coaching and performances for junior designers an entry-level entrants.
During my time here, I designed the book cover for CEO’s first book.

Aug 2010
– Jun 2019

Castle Park Slane Campsite
& Carpark

Senior Graphic Designer and Online Media Admin

As a family run business that takes place annually for three days of the year.

Creating graphics for all the elements for online and print media. I design everything from online social media promotional graphics, wireframes for new web pages and develop the branding guidelines.
Working with the team to brainstorm new and innovative ideas for social media content to help create more customers.

Oct 2015
– Feb 2016

Manguard Plus
(via Scotch Hall SC)

Graphic Designer, Digital Marketing & Customer Service

I worked with retailer managers in the centre to enhance the customer experience, keep their promotions and events up to date both online and throughout the centre. I managed the social media campaigns, creating graphics for posts and montioring google analytics.

Mar 2015
– Aug 2015

McMahon & Nagle

Digital Marketing Executive & Graphic Designer

Develop and execute a digital communications plan across all digital channels including: Social, Email, Online Advertising.
Use appropriate analytics to track, evaluate, and report on all digital marketing campaigns, providing weekly status reports
Work with an external design agency to create the new brand design.
Designing and printing business material for events such as; booklet, flyers, product mockups, business cards, car wrapping, and more.

Mar 2014
– Mar 2015

PwC Ireland

Digital Media Administrator

Within this role I was the liaison between the Digital team (the team of web developers, content and SEO specialists) and the Design studio (the in-house team of graphic designers).

I was responsible for all technical and design aspects of the PwC Ireland internal and external online/digital channels, including our corporate intranet system which involves working with the PwC AV team and internal communications team.

Sep 2013
– Jan 2014

Boylesports

Graphic & Screens Designer

Designed and developed the new screens system that Boylesports use to display in their shops nationwide using an ancient coding language. There was lots of trial and error, however being the determined person I am I found a way to recode the system.

After this we proposed an in-house development team to create a new system that enabled the company to populate betting information automatically their shop screens nationwide. My role in this was the create the look and feel for each type of betting available (i.e. horses, dogs, football, etc.)

I created a live demo using html, css and javascript to give the developers a visual of what we are looking for in this project.

Jun 2012
– Aug 2012

IQ Branding Solutions

Graphic Designer Internship

Reporting to the Senior Designer, helping create new external signage designs for our clients

Design and create a concept layout for the new rebrand website.
Designing new and exciting product packaging ideas.
Helping to create new logos, icon designs, business cards and other business material.
Learning about colour theory, typography and corporate branding.

Work Experience

You cannot use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.

June 2019 – Present

Cubicle 7 Entertainment Ltd.

Graphic & Layout Designer

Designing product branding. This includes but not limited to logos, sub logos and styling to help in the creation of book and PDF layout templates.
Illustrating limited edition covers for our licensed products. Ensuring the look and feel of the layout, marketing and production of each product I was involved in. Collaborating with producers, writers, artists, proof-readers, etc in the production of roleplaying games.
Ensuring that one day a week is dedicated to marketing and online sales advertising, to help promote our products Building training tutorials and templates for translators/third parties. Managing Graphic Design shared drive.
Consolidating all IP imagery, fonts and any other useful assets, to help facilitate the layout team and boost productivity.

Sept 2018 – Jun 2019

Nettl of Dublin

Brand Stylist (Web & Graphic Design)

Creating solutions for a huge variety of products and activities, such as websites, advertising, books, magazines, posters, apps, product packaging, exhibitions and displays, corporate communications and corporate identity, e.g. giving organisations a visual ‘brand’.
Meeting clients to discuss the business objectives and requirements of the design project. Estimating the time required to complete the work and agreeing artwork costs that reflect this for clients.
Developing design briefs by gathering information and data through research.
Using innovation to challenge design briefs within the constraints of cost and time.

Mar 2016 – Feb 2018

Tasktop Technologies
(Vancouver, Canada)

Graphic Designer

To conceptualize, design and execute creative solutions that consistently and clearly communicate the company’s brand identity, positioning and messaging through all brand touch points and effectively communicating the strategic intent for each task.
Graphic design training supervisor – overseeing workflow, coaching and performances for junior designers an entry-level entrants.
During my time here, I designed the book cover for CEO’s first book.

Aug 2010 – Jun 2019

Castle Park Slane Campsite & Carpark

Senior Graphic Designer and Online Media Admin

As a family run business that takes place annually for three days of the year.

Creating graphics for all the elements for online and print media. I design everything from online social media promotional graphics, wireframes for new web pages and develop the branding guidelines.
Working with the team to brainstorm new and innovative ideas for social media content to help create more customers.

Oct 2015 – Feb 2016

Manguard Plus (via Scotch Hall SC)

Graphic Designer, Digital Marketing & Customer Service

I worked with retailer managers in the centre to enhance the customer experience, keep their promotions and events up to date both online and throughout the centre. I managed the social media campaigns, creating graphics for posts and montioring google analytics.

Mar 2015 – Aug 2015

McMahon & Nagle

Digital Marketing Executive & Graphic Designer

Develop and execute a digital communications plan across all digital channels including: Social, Email, Online Advertising.
Use appropriate analytics to track, evaluate, and report on all digital marketing campaigns, providing weekly status reports
Work with an external design agency to create the new brand design.
Designing and printing business material for events such as; booklet, flyers, product mockups, business cards, car wrapping, and more.

Mar 2014 – Mar 2015

PwC Ireland

Digital Media Administrator

Within this role I was the liaison between the Digital team (the team of web developers, content and SEO specialists) and the Design studio (the in-house team of graphic designers).

I was responsible for all technical and design aspects of the PwC Ireland internal and external online/digital channels, including our corporate intranet system which involves working with the PwC AV team and internal communications team.

Sep 2013 – Jan 2014

Boylesports

Graphic & Screens Designer

Designed and developed the new screens system that Boylesports use to display in their shops nationwide using an ancient coding language. There was lots of trial and error, however being the determined person I am I found a way to recode the system.

After this we proposed an in-house development team to create a new system that enabled the company to populate betting information automatically their shop screens nationwide. My role in this was the create the look and feel for each type of betting available (i.e. horses, dogs, football, etc.)

I created a live demo using html, css and javascript to give the developers a visual of what we are looking for in this project.

Sep 2013 – Jan 2014

Boylesports

Graphic & Screens Designer

Designed and developed the new screens system that Boylesports use to display in their shops nationwide using an ancient coding language. There was lots of trial and error, however being the determined person I am I found a way to recode the system.

After this we proposed an in-house development team to create a new system that enabled the company to populate betting information automatically their shop screens nationwide. My role in this was the create the look and feel for each type of betting available (i.e. horses, dogs, football, etc.)

I created a live demo using html, css and javascript to give the developers a visual of what we are looking for in this project.

Jun 2012 – Aug 2012

IQ Branding Solutions

Graphic Designer Internship

Reporting to the Senior Designer, helping create new external signage designs for our clients

Design and create a concept layout for the new rebrand website.
Designing new and exciting product packaging ideas.
Helping to create new logos, icon designs, business cards and other business material.
Learning about colour theory, typography and corporate branding.

Projects

Satisfied Clients

Ongoing Projects

Cups Of Coffee

Education

Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.

2021 – Present

Udemy

Advanced Masterclass in InDesign CC 2021

You’ll learn advanced typography tricks using Typekit & Opentype fonts, font grouping & font pairing. Mastering color theory features like the color theme tool and color modes as well as professional proofing for colors for print. We’ll set permanent defaults for fonts, colors & will learn how to turn hyphenation off for good, once and for all.

What would an advanced InDesign course be without all the tactics to fully control paragraphs, auto expanding boxes, spanning & splitting columns. You’ll become a Styles master, using nested styles, grep styles, next styles & advanced object styles.

Making beautiful charts & graphs for your InDesign documents. Learning the pros & cons of various digital distribution methods including Interactive PDF’s, EPUBs & the amazing Publish Online.

Learning to become a master of long, text heavy documents, autoflowing, primary text frames & smart text reflow, cross referencing, indexes, text variables & the InDesign book feature. How to speed up my personal workflow & how to speed up InDesign and get it running super fast. We will look at interactive forms & scripts. There is just so much we cover and I want to share everything here in the intro but I can’t 🙂

Feb 2021 – Jun 2021

Udemy

InDesign & InCopy CC 2021 Masterclass

Course content on Adobe InDesign:

Adobe InDesign is one of the three core applications created by Adobe and will prove to be an essential tool in all sorts of design projects. Which is why it’s a must know for any Graphic Designer and mastering the software in and out will be extremely valuable when it comes to creating commercial work.

InDesign is the industry-leading page design and layout design application which allows you to work across desktop and mobile devices.
It’s ability to handle long documents with dozens or even hundreds of high resolution images without any lag or compromise on quality is unrivaled by any piece of software.
InDesign’s real strength lies in its immensely detailed typographic features, which allow users to refine the copy they work with to the smallest details.

Course content on Adobe InCopy:

Adobe InCopy is a professional word processor that integrates with Adobe InDesign. InCopy enables editors to write, edit, and design documents. In this course, I learnt about workflows, setting preferences, creating new documents, as well as working with workspaces, views, and tools. In addition, students will learn to use styles, how to import text from Word and Excel, how to add tables, how to copy fit text, and how to use Spellcheck and Find and Change.

Get an overview of InCopy’s interface and how to set preferences.
Add text to InCopy
Collaborate with InCopy.
Export from InCopy

Mar 2015 – May 2015

Shaw Academy

Diploma in Entrepreneurial Studies

Learning how to identify and attract your ideal customer as well as how to sell in a way that is both persuasive and ethical. I will learn the skills of networking, negotiation, efficiency and more.