Matt Bell

I am a highly experienced creative and skilled designer, best utilised in a creative design capacity, working on visual concepts through to finished graphics. Being a lover of all things design, I draw influence from lots of different areas such as music, art, fashion, film, tech and the digital world. Keeping on eye on the latest design trends is important to me, whilst also valuing the influence of classic design principles.

I love problem solving and seeing a job through to the end. As well as being a fluid team player, I have excellent time management and organisaional skills working on solo projects. I am a naturally creative thinker, and enjoy getting involved in communication campaigns, where a strategic approach is required.

I like to make sure whatever I am designing is part of a bigger idea, where the original concept arrives at a logical finished visual - I find this process leads to a more pleasing result, having depth and meaning.

Outside of work, my family keeps me busy, three boys tends to do that…. In my spare time I try and keep relatively fit by going to the gym and walking in the Peaks when I can. I like to set goals for myself outside of work, so the aim for 2024 is to try and fit in some snow boarding lessons with my youngest son.

After spending the last three years at Flutter, I’m looking for a new challenge, be it freelance or permanent.

I’m currently a Freelance Senior Designer, back freelancing since being perm the last 4 years in an internal Senior Brand Designer position where I worked as the main brand creative on their Sports campaigns, designing key visuals, online and social campaigns, brand toolkits and guidelines.

Before that, I was freelancing across the north of the UK for 8 years (2013-2020), working at agencies in Sheffield, Manchester, Leeds and Nottingham. I’m ideally utilised on creative and brand projects, but also a very flexible all-round designer who can artwork for both print and digital and develop design from concept to completion.

Before freelancing, I worked at a number of agencies (1999-2013), starting as a junior at a design and print company to senior positions, taking on a role as a studio manager along the way.

I’m looking for both freelance and perm roles at the minute - perm roles especially if they offer both hands on design with team management responsibility.

From 1996-1999 I studied at Huddersfield University where I gained a BA in Creative Imaging. This was a new digital and print focussed graphic design course that integrated a Marketing element into the curriculum. I've found that understanding the process of marketing has given me more insight on how strategic planning works with visual branding and design, and helps me focus on what my creative needs to achieve.