Would you like to have a designer on hand who
can mentor you through the design process?
Working Dog Resources provides a unique blend of a complete graphic design service and/or design training. So, you have options. We can either do it for you, do it with you or show you how to do it.
where are you on the DIY dial?
I bring a unique offering to the graphic design marketplace. To cut a very long story short I have had many years of experience as both an educator of graphic design and a practitioner. I have run a successful business since 1997 and over the years I have worked on so many varied and interesting projects. Many have challenged me; some have forced me out of my comfort zone, and all have contributed to an enormous breadth of understanding and experience. I now offer that experience to you. And just in case you’re interested, here’s the long story…
The long story
1987
1987
I started in the workforce as a computer operator in the data centre of a major bank. I worked shift work around the clock and the job itself was rather ho-hum. Odd hours and a dull job made it very difficult to drag myself to work every day (and night).
1988
1988
So, I saved hard and after a year or so of monotony I took a trip – a lap of the map. I loved every moment of my travels and I came to a big realization on that trip. I did not want to work in a ho-hum job anymore. I wanted a career I would love.
1989
1989
When I returned from my trip, I enrolled myself straight into design college. It was at this time I was introduced to graphics creation software and I was using the very early versions of computer software for graphic design.
1990
1990
I worked with a photographic reproduction studio during the day developing and color correcting photos to go onto souvenirs such as t-spoons and magnets. At night I went to design college.
1992
1992
In a self-promo branding assignment at design college I came up with the business name Who Dunnit? Graphic Design. (My maiden name being Dunn). I knew then starting this business one day would be my goal.
1994
1994
My first job out of design college was as a line artist for display advertisements in the Yellow Pages directories. I illustrated both by hand and digitally using Adobe Photoshop and Aldus Freehand on a black and white Macintosh computer.
1996
1996
By ’96 I had a side gig at night with TAFE NSW, the largest technical college in Australia teaching Photoshop. In those early days there was a lot of teaching students how to learn the skill to double-click a mouse.
1997
1997
Who Dunnit? Graphic Design was registered in 1997.
I had started a business – a side hustle. Invoice #1 was an emblem design for a Queensland high school.
My day job – National Training Manager was to develop a graphics training department for Printing Industries Association of Australia (PIAA).
2000
2000
My side hustle became my main hustle for the next 20 years. PIAA went from employer to client.
I contracted to Computer Workgroup Training (CWT) – a small yet innovative business. I undertook many amazing customised assignments for the next decade.
2001
2001
Through CWT a training development initiative with Adobe to cement InDesign into an Australian market. One significant project was with Fairfax Media.
I developed a range of courses endorsed by PIAA. I delivered these to many groups, for the next 11 years.
2002
2002
I designed a day-by-day guide and activity book to accompany a trip to cross the Simpson Desert. This would lead to my first venture into self-publishing.
I was also designing for a tourism publisher of guides on the Norther Beaches of Sydney region.
2003
2003
Teaching graphic design at TAFE NSW – Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) to high school students.
Teaching an Adobe workflow to many organisations using the new Adobe Creative Suite.
2004
2004
Conceptualized a guidebook on the Blue Mountains and co-authored it with my husband. I photographed, designed, typeset, and illustrated the book.
Ongoing Adobe Acrobat training to the print department of law firm Clayton Utz.
2005
2005
Picked up a design contract with a marketing agency (Marketing Angels) providing strategic branding.
Started teaching Bachelor of Graphic Design at Wesley Institute Ministry and Arts. Art directed the yearbook magazine with students for the next 4 years.
2006
2006
Launched my self-published travel guide called Out and All About the Blue Mountains. I print managed, marketed and distributed the entire publication. I also secured sponsorship from the major tourist attractions in the area. 1st edition sold out.
2007
2007
Although I had been teaching at university level for some years now, it became necessary I hold a higher qualification then those I was teaching. Started a master’s degree around the time my first son was born. My self-published Out and All About formed the basis of my research. 2nd edition was launched.
2008
2008
New mum – post-grad student – teacher – designer. It sounds like a lot and it was, but it would not have been possible without online learning. I could study when my baby slept.
2009
2009
My second son was born as I finished the degree. My 6-day old son came along to one of my last lectures – the only handful of face-to-face lectures I attended.
Contract with Canon Australia to run a customized version of my Print Awareness course to 50 engineers in the Research & Development Department.
2010
2010
Moved from Sydney to Melbourne. Continued working relationship with PIAA from Melbourne. 10+ years with PIAA – design projects included a bi-monthly, 24-page industry journal, annual marketing collateral and 50-page catalog of the National Print Awards, 13 years of annual reports.
2011
2011
Australian Academy of Design (AAD) teaching Bachelor of Arts – Graphic Design.
Early Childhood Management Services (ECMS) contract. Designed procedural and marketing collateral for 40+ early childhood learning centres.
2012
2012
Volunteered to design the marketing material for Auburn South Public School’s annual fete.
Art directed the base grid and design set-up of a travel publication called Postcards Magazine.
2013
2013
Contracted to author, photograph and design two guidebooks. One on classic pubs and the other on 4WD treks. Designed a 6-book series of 4WD treks.
Design contract with academic publisher Lexis Nexis – worked on over 50 titles over the next 5 years.
2014
2014
Moved to Brisbane and started contract work with cartographic publisher, Hema Maps. Worked on over 70 atlases and sheet maps over the next 3 years.
Volunteered as Fete Marketing Convenor for Jindalee State School for the next 2 years.
2015
2015
Took up a sessional position at Griffith University teaching Design Futures to under grad students. I would teach this for the next 2 years.
Started selling my travel images to major stock libraries and directly to publishers.
2017
2017
Contracted as a graphic design studio manager to set up and run a training and design studio within a prison. Employed 10 prisoners to work in the studio called Barbed Design. The initiative was facilitated by Queensland Correctional Services.
2018
2018
A change of pace and a change of lifestyle, I moved to paradise and took up my first full-time job in 20 years as an employee. I am now a graphic designer of instructional material for TAFE NSW.
Continued to run Who Dunnit in a reduced capacity.
2019
2019
Working Dog Resources was born falling under the umbrella of Who Dunnit? Graphic Design. Started a store on the online marketplace Teachers Pay Teachers.
Became a contributor for Getty Images.
2020
2020
In an initiative from the NSW State Government and TAFE NSW I was asked to write and present a unit for an online course Women in Business. The unit I developed Photography and Your Brand.
Started development on a range of graphic design courses through Working Dog Resources.
