Hi there!

My name is Rachel, I'm 25 and I live in Newcastle upon Tyne (well I live in Gateshead now, but I'm a geordie through and through!)

I have studied design for 6 years, which involved an AS Level in Graphic Products, a National Diploma in Graphic Design and a Foundation Degree in Multimedia Design.

For the past two and a half years I have worked within the IT and Web Design industry, developing my skills and broadening my experience in a range of areas.

I have produced original design work in a variety of forms, for a variety of purposes, including:

• E-commerce
• New & Established Businesses
• Charitable Organisations
• Education
• Public Sector
• Freelancers

Design is all around us, and it's a subject I have always been passionate about. I firmly believe that a designer can only create good work if they are constantly involved in the design world. With this in mind, I always try to keep up with current trends and cultural shifts that influence design. Below are some of my favourite resources for this:

• Web Designer Wall - www.webdesignerwall.com
• Web Creme - www.webcreme.com
• Ingo J Ramin, my favourite designer at the moment - www.24-7media.de
• Computer Arts, magazine and online - www.computerarts.co.uk
• Smashing Magazine - www.smashingmagazine.com