Sole Proprietor of Tiara Publications.
Graphic Designer with close on 21 years of experience who specialises in design and layout of corporate publications.
If you also require a writer, photographer and/or printer for your project we have close and long-standing relationships with professionals in those areas and can manage the entire process for you.
We have done corporate publications for the following:
- Absa Capital
- ADT Security
- Banking Association of South Africa
- Cadbury
- Clinix
- Compass
- First National Bank, Branch Banking
- Gaffney Group
- Jeppe High School for Boys
- Momentum Short Term Insurance
- Permark
- The South African Banking Risk Information Centre
- Sechaba
- Text 100
- Tracker
We have also done layout work on annual reports for Hudaco, Illiad and InSure and handled a branding project for SABMiller Technical; as well as various other once-off design projects.
RESUME: KAREN SCHMIDT
July 1994 – April 2008
Westcom Public Relations (Johannesburg, South Africa)
Designer & Publications Studio Manager
As Publications Studio Manager she had full responsibility for all printed material produced for our clients — design process from concept to completion as well as proofreading. The variety of work included annual and employee reports, brochures, customer journals and newsletters, amongst others. Karen also supervised three graphic designers, four writers and a personal assistant. She dealt with suppliers which included photographers, designers, repro houses and printers. Managerial, financial and administrative duties as assigned as well as quoting of all design, print and repro work and related production management.
Westcom’s client base included, amongst others:
- The South African Breweries Limited
- Barloworld
- Coca-Cola Africa
- Kumba Resources (now Exxaro)
- Nampak Limited
- Amalgamated Beverage Industries
- VWV (through which we did work for McDonald’s, Transnet, Neotel and Samancor)
- Procter & Gamble
- Holcim
March 1991 – July 1994
Images with Impact (Johannesburg, South Africa)
Sole Proprietor
Publications for clients included:
- Wanderers Club Magazine (regular)
- Porsche Club Magazine (regular)
- Ferrari Club Magazine (regular)
- Keiser & Gentry Travel Magazine
- Coopers & Lybrand Company Profile Brochure
- Avroy Shlain Cosmetics Catalogue
- Regular newsletters for various golf clubs
- Youth for Christ studies.
Powerpoint slide presentations for clients:
- Volkswagen SA
- Soft Sheen
- Sun International
- Pizza Hut
- Avroy Shlain
- KPMG Aiken & Peat
- International Bank of SA
- Kelloggs
- Dimension Data
- Damelin School of Banking
Freelance DTP work done during this time at the following companies at their offices:
- Ogilvy & Mather
- Young & Rubicam
- DMB&B
- Auto Trader
- Enosi Publishing
- Kaye-Eddie Deale Lowery
- Keeping Track
February 1983 – May 1991
Sun International (Johannesburg, South Africa)
Co-editor & Casino Coordinator
This is where Karen started her career as a graphic designer. She co-edited a glossy casino magazine targeting the casino punter. Work included research, co-writing of articles, design of magazine in liaison with a graphic designer, typesetting, layout and proofreading. Completed two of these magazines before resigning in May 1991 to start her own business as a graphic designer.