About Me
I am a Vancouver-based freelance graphic designer with over 18 years of experience in web and print work. I have worked primarily with small business owners and professionals to develop their unique visual style and web presence. It's rarely a simple task — translating the fluidity of a person or company into a concrete graphic identity — but I take pride in making it feel smooth and easy.
With a degree in Psychology and Philosophy, and a fascination with all topics related, it is my disposition to care greatly about what's at the heart of a project. My designs are informed by this curiosity, and the genuine desire for you to be seen clearly.
About My Designs
More and more, I have been moving to Wordpress based designs — these days, almost exclusively. This powerful blogging software not only saves time in set-up (saving money, for you), but can be designed to take on any appearance or functionality imaginable, and most importantly, puts the website's control right in your hands. I find it very satisfying when I hand a website off to a client, knowing they've been empowered to make all they changes they wish (for the most part), on their own.
Lately I've been using the Genesis Framework as a foundation from which to build my Wordpress websites, and will continue to use it by default in most of my projects to come. This powerful back-end structure provides clean and solid code, search engine optimization, mobile responsiveness, and security for your website. You will know it's built on stable ground, and is ready to meet the modern web.
The visuals are always custom-designed by me, so your website will be one of a kind. It emerges, always, from a unique insight into your philosophy, and a close, collaborative process between you and me.
About My Process
It begins with questions — a phone call. It's okay if you know exactly what you want, or if you don't have a clue where to start. I take great care to understand, clearly, not only what you hope to achieve, but the unique place you are coming from, and the heart of what you are offering. From these philosophical understandings, the design springs forth intuitively.
Websites
I send you a concept within one week, and we go together from there, changing directions as we need. I don't keep an official "concept limit," with the expectation that we work within reason — my clients tend to be happy by the first or second concept. We can take however much time you want at this design stage. There will be a lot of back and forth, but I am prompt in returning emails. You can call me any time (during the day).
After the final tweaks to the design, you are excited about it and feel like it is fully yours — you pass it off to me to turn into a functioning website*. I will take one more week to get your website fully functional. If you have all your content, then we are ready to go, and we can launch! If you are still preparing it, don't worry, we can take as long as you want.
Once it is up, I will call you to teach you everything you need to know about using your brand new website. I will show you how to edit or add pages, upload pictures, and make posts to the blog, if you have one.
*After you've given me the OK on a design and I've gone ahead and started turning it into a functioning website, any new, significant changes to the core design will be billed additionally to the project cost, per hour. (Minor changes may not be billed if they do not affect the core structure.)
- Pricing
- Websites are priced at a total project cost that is decided at the beginning.
- After we agree to work together, I will invoice a non-refundable deposit of $500, before getting started on the design concept.
Portions of the remaining project cost will be invoiced at key junctions along the way.
(I'm flexible with how you'd like to divide it up.) - The cost of a website can normally range between $3000 to $25,000 depending on the complexity of the design and its functional elements.
- A custom designed Wordpress website for a professional or small business typically costs between $3500-$8000.
- Updating or outside-project work is done at a per hour rate of $105.
Need a website? Book a phone call.
Print Work
Similarly, if we are starting fresh with a print design, I will send you a concept within one week for us to continue developing together. Once your design is complete, I will send you the high quality print files in whatever format you prefer — or, I can speak to your print company directly, to arrange it all for you. Don't have a print company? I have a few favourites I can recommend.
- Pricing
- Print work is done at a per hour rate of $105.
- I will provide you with my best time estimate at the beginning, and give you ample notice if I anticipate changes.
- After we agree to work together, I will invoice a non-refundable deposit of either $500 or half the total estimate cost (whatever is less), before getting started on the design concept.
- Business cards typically take between 1-3 hours to make.
Need print work done? Send me an email.
(web portfolio)
Always the Sun
Design and custom Wordpress website for a massage & holistic bodywork practitioner. Logo and matching business card were also designed (in print portfolio).
High Seas Newfoundlands
Design and custom Wordpress website for a dog breeding company.
Michael Talbot-Kelly 3
Design and custom Wordpress website for counsellor and coach.
Ginnie Cramer Counselling
Design and custom Wordpress website for a counsellor. Business card was also designed (in print portfolio).
Kaela Scott Counselling
Design and custom Wordpress website, along with matching newsletter template (not shown), for a counsellor. Brochures and PDF covers were also designed (in print portfolio).
Backyard Bounty Collective
Design and website for a collective of urban farmers. Logo, icons, and other matching print work were also designed (in print portfolio).
Safe-T-Sleeve
Design and website, marketing a new acupuncture needle technology. Matching magazine print ad was also designed (in print portfolio).
Stepping Stones Workshops
Design and website for a company offering workshops on health and wellness. Logo and matching business card were also designed (in print portfolio).
Martial Arts Axis
Design, custom Wordpress website, and facebook banner ad for martial arts club.
Michael Talbot-Kelly 2
Design and custom Wordpress website for a life coach.
Leanne Dorish Counselling
Design and custom Wordpress website for a counsellor. Matching business card was also designed (in print portfolio).
Juliet Austin Marketing Coach
Design only, for marketing coach, to be implemented into a Wordpress website.
Living-Spirit
Design and website for a life coach. Logo and matching business card were also designed .
Dr. Jeff Morley
Design and custom Wordpress website for a psychologist. Matching letterhead and business card were also designed (in print portfolio).
Late Nite Art
Landing page design and customization of pre-existing Wordpress template to showcase art workshops.
Dr. Avni
Design and custom Wordpress website for a counsellor.
911 Resilience
Design and custom Wordpress website for emergency responder support and resources.
Vacation In Style
Design and website to showcase luxury vacation rentals. Rack and business cards were also designed (in print portfolio).
The Couples Wellness Expert
Design and custom Wordpress website, along with newsletter and email template, for a relationship counsellor. Matching brochure, business card, and letterhead were also designed (in print portfolio).
Jan Sutherland Redesign
Redesign of a website header, and the creation of a matching newsletter template.
India & Claire
Design and Wordpress website for a travel blog.
Jill Hasman Interior Design
Design and website portfolio for an interior designer. Matching business card was also designed (in print portfolio).
Heart Centered Adventure Therapy
Design and custom Wordpress website, as well facebook banner and newsletter template, for a therapist.
Splash Recreation
Design and website for a swimming instruction company.
Muscle Recovery
Design and custom Wordpress website, along with matching newsletter template (not shown), for a massage therapist. Matching business card, letterhead, newsprint ad, and notepad were also designed (in print portfolio).
Invera Domnului
Design and custom Wordpress website for a Romanian Chuch.
Kaya Healing
Design and website for an energetic healer. Matching business card was also designed (in print portfolio).
Birth Takes a Village
Design only, for a birth doula, to be implemented into a Wordpress website.
Music by Dylan
Personal design and website to showcase songwriting.
Integrated Medical Association
Design and website for a holistic medical association. Matching business card was also designed (in print portfolio).
The Renaissance Code
Design and website for a life coach's project. Thematically similar personal site was also designed (in print portfolio).
Tree Spirit Wood Carvings
Design and website for a wood carver. Logo and matching business card were also designed (in print portfolio).
Michael Talbot-Kelly 1
Design and website for a life coach.
Always the Sun Massage
Logo and business card for a massage & holistic bodywork practitioner. Matching website was also designed (in web portfolio).
Aut Pucks Aut Bellum
Digitized logo from a sketch for a school hockey team.
Aboriginal Law Speaker Series
Set of posters for a law conference.
Leanne Dorish Counselling
Business card for a counsellor. Matching website was also designed (in web portfolio).
Ginnie Cramer Counselling
Business card for a counsellor. Website was also designed (in web portfolio).
Backyard Bounty Collective
Logo and icon, as well as business cards, rack cards, and a canvas banner for a collective of urban farmers. Matching website was also designed (in web portfolio).
AcuFast Needles
Logo concept for an acupuncture needle brand.
Chai Recipes
Posters hand drawn and designed for proportional tea recipes.
Vacation In Style
Rack and business cards designed to showcase luxury rental properties. Matching website was also designed (in web portfolio).
Safe-T-Sleeve
Magazine print-ad, marketing a new acupuncture needle technology. Matching website was also designed (in web portfolio).
Speakeasy
Poster and leaflet for a campus peer-support center.
Kaela Scott Counselling
Brochures and PDF covers for a counsellor. Website was also designed (in web portfolio).
Jill Hasman Interior Design
Business card for an interior designer. Matching website was also designed (in web portfolio).
UAEM Film Screening
Poster for a film screening.
Andrea Jonsson Counselling
Logo for a counsellor.
Kaela and Peter
Card to be handed out at a wedding.
Dr. Jeff Morley
Letterhead and business card for a psychologist. Matching website was also designed (in web portfolio).
ah-ha Counselling and Consulting
Logo, business card, and newspaper ad for a counsellor.
The Mushroom Man
Poster and matching leaflet design for a mushroom cultivator and educator.
AMH Aquatics
Business card for a swimming instruction company.
The Couple Wellness Expert
Business card, brochure, and letterhead for a relationship counsellor. Matching website was also designed (in web portfolio).
Tree Spirit Wood Carvings
Logo and business card for a wood carver. Matching website was also designed (in web portfolio).
Integrated Medical Association
Business card for a holistic medical association. Matching website was also designed (in web portfolio).
Muscle Recovery
Newspaper ad, business card, letterhead, and notepad for a massage therapist. Matching website was also designed (in web portfolio).
Kaya Healing
Business card for an energy healer. Matching website was also designed (in web portfolio).
Four Strings Studio
Flyer for a violin lesson company.
Living-Spirit
Logo and business card for a life coach. Matching website was also designed (in web portfolio).
Stepping Stones Workshops
Logo and business card for a company offering health and wellness workshops. Matching website was also designed (in web portfolio).
