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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.
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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.
