vision
Maybe you arrived here looking for a logo, a brochure, or a website, but I will strive to give you much more than that. Whether you’re marketing a product, an organization or a professional service, you have a brand to communicate. That brand may be in its infancy, or it may already be well-established and well-loved by your customers. Maybe you’ve never even considered your brand before.
Simply put, your brand is what your product or service stands for; it is the value and commitment that extends to your customers, and every piece of communications you produce should support that promise.
I can help you design and hone your brand vision through every communications or marketing channel whether it’s a one-off project, or a complete campaign. I look beyond the surface of the project at hand to see how it fits within the context of your overall brand and how it can support your brand promise.
I want to get to know you and your business so that I can identify with your vision and help it to grow and flourish. You know your business best, so I am ready and willing to listen and work in complete partnership with you. I am not interested in imposing my creative will upon you, but I am interested in taking your vision to places you may never have imagined. So whether you’re designing a stationary package, writing an advertisement or producing an interactive sales presentation, you’ll be sure that the finished product will be creatively distinct, yet still a consistent element of your brand.
relationships
Relationships are of utmost importance at Mettle. I neither want to be an arrogant “creative-type”, nor do I want to be a lowly “order-taker.” I want to be your partner, an extension of your team. My greatest accomplishments are not slick, modish graphics or clever ad copy. I take the most pride in a satisfied customer; someone who is completely thrilled when they see their logo in print for the first time, or is blown away when their website launches.
When I work with you, the key is that I am working with you. Certainly, you’ve come to me for my creative expertise, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t value your input and direction. It’s doubtless that you have a lot on your plate, so I want to know how I can make the process easier for you. Let’s keep the communication lines open, define the appropriate expectations, and we’ll be sure to create a successful outcome for your next product launch, ad campaign or branding initiative.
I place the same value in my supplier relationships which has enabled me to build a dependable network of creative partners. It’s important to me to work with individuals who share my principles and work ethic, so I’ll always be able to assemble a cohesive team for your project. My network of partners include: graphic designers, writers, branding and marketing consultants, photographers, illustrators, videographers, video editors, sound engineers, printers, exhibit/signage manufacturers, web programmers and internet marketing specialists.
trust
The speed of business continues to increase. Multi-tasking is a necessity. Deadlines come and go relentlessly. Budgets are stretched thin. The simple truth to all this is that you need help, and I’m here to support you in that regard.
My services and expertise extend far beyond graphic design or writing. Any capable graphic designer can give you a layout, and any writer worth their salt can furnish you with a comprehensive draft. I embrace every job as a project manager, helping you to produce the very best marketing or communications piece within your budget and timeline. My goal is to make every aspect of the process go smoothly for you while keeping costs and schedules in check.
Maybe you’ve never commissioned graphic design services before, or you’ve never considered shooting custom photography. Maybe web design and digital media are still foreign territories for you. Or maybe you have that great idea in your mind, and you simply don’t know where to begin. I will guide you along every step of the way from initial consultation through the first presentation and onwards to final approvals and production.
This is way more than just a design job to me. My relationship with you is a partnership built on open, honest communication, flexibility and trust.
experience
Prior to launching a freelance career under the moniker of Mettle Creative Services, I had spent more than 10 years in the graphic design and communications field. In that time, I have worked with small businesses throughout the Greater Toronto Area and Southern Ontario, as well as large corporations such as Research In Motion, Aviva Canada and Unitron Hearing.
My career took off surprisingly quickly, graduating top-of-class from Humber College’s graphic design and advertising program. My subsequent time spent working for design firms in the GTA expanded my skills far beyond pure graphic design. Working on multi-national product launches and branding campaigns, I was able to broaden my skills to include creative direction, strategic planning, writing, and project management.
Freelance work with small businesses ignited my entrepreneurial passion, and Mettle Creative Services was born. Mettle now serves a range of clients both big and small, with the capability to assemble creative teams from a network of expert partners including graphic designers, writers, photographers, illustrators, videographers, web programmers, printers, exhibit/signage manufacturers and internet marketing specialists. All of this combined experience makes Mettle your creative source for any marketing or communications initiative.
