Karen Arnott, Arnott Design
I first saw Karen speak at Freelance Heroes day (remember in person events???) in 2019. And I really loved what she had to say about design and website design.
I’ve followed her work since meeting her, I have real admiration for the way Karen ran her business. And it goes without saying that I think she’s very talented.
Karen recently made the decision to close her business and go to back to employment as an in-house designer. In her words, she felt like it was time for a massive change and then fate stepped in with the perfect job!
With her permission, I still wanted to share her interview because she’s got really great insights to share.
Email: karen@arnottdesign.co.uk
Website: Arnott Design
What coffee do you like to drink?
Proper Americano in a cafe!
Tell me about the work you do
I create brand identity, digital and print design for marketing managers, agencies and small businesses from my graphic design studio near Cambridge. I bring 20+ years of design experience, including managing in-house teams, combined with a friendly, calm and organised approach to client projects.
My favourite projects are print brochures, working with new business owners on their brand identities and building WordPress websites.
Great design should be invisible.
Finish this sentence. Great design should be...
Invisible.
Finish this sentence. Great design elevates your brand by...
Providing a visual representation of what you stand for and communicates this clearly.
When lockdown eases, the first project I would like to design would be... because…
A suite of brochures showcasing endangered animals and conservation projects around the world
What piece of design do you wish you’d created?
This poster for David Attenborough’s A Perfect Planet series.
While aesthetically pleasing design is important, the most important factor is that good design solves a problem
What do you think makes someone a great designer?
Someone who is a good listener, and really hears the client’s problems. While aesthetically pleasing design is important, the most important factor is that good design solves a problem and achieves the client’s goal.
If you weren't doing design, what would you be doing?
Yoga or fitness instructor (in my dreams!)
And finally, can you tell me about 3 other freelance designers or small biz owners whose work you admire
You can read the previous A Coffee With…interview here.
I’ll be posting more blogs, interviews and case studies so be sure to check back here soon. Follow me on social media for regular updates, handy hints, tips and design inspiration! See you soon!
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