About Me
My name is Lyndsey, a 20-something Web and Graphic Designer from Mississauga.
Growing up, I always knew I wanted to do something creative, (that is after I got over my brief “I want to be a teacher” phase). At first I thought I wanted to be an architect designing houses and buildings. I can remember sitting in my Grade 4 class doodling floor plans for my dream house and doing art project after art project revolving around the layout of a 3 level back-split. Sort of odd now that I think about it.
By grade 10 my creative outlets shifted and I found myself buying magazines to look at the ads. While other teenage girls were hanging posters of Kurt Cobain and Brad Pitt on their walls, I was hanging inspiring ads by Nike above my bed. I wanted to be an Advertising person thingie. I didn’t know what to call it. I also didn’t know how ads were made. As much as I loved my small-town high school, the opportunities to really figure out what you wanted to do in life just weren’t there. I actually clearly recall going to my guidance counsellor in grade 11 and saying “I want to work in advertising; Maybe not draw the ads, but be a part of it; Maybe the business side, or the creative ideas or something,” to which I was told “I don’t think such a college program exists.”
Needless to say, I may not have explored my options to the fullest at that time. I was lucky enough though to figure out on my own that Sheridan College offered an Advertising Program and it wasn’t all layout and design, that was only a part of it. Ultimately, this was exactly what I wanted at the time. So off I went, packed my bags and moved to the big city of Oakville to study “advertising” at Sheridan College. Best 2 years of my life so far I might add.
After graduating from Sheridan I bounced around at a couple of Event/Promotional Marketing Companies. I represented companies such as Schick, Claritin, Proctor and Gamble, and a few others at all kinds of fun events and trade-shows. Eventually ending up as an Account Coordinator for the MBNA MasterCard Promotions on many Eastern Canada University and College Campuses.
From there, I went on to be the Manager of Community Relations for a non-profit organization, one which I am still very much involved with, despite having resigned from my position. In this roll I gained a lot of marketing and PR experiences including local and national marketing campaigns, event planning, media relations, partnership building, writing for a local newspaper, fundraising and more. I really enjoyed many aspects of this job, but deep down I knew this still wasn’t it for me.
I returned to school again. Attending Humber College’s Post Diploma Certificate Program in Interactive Multimedia. I learned all kinds of stuff about web, design, video editing, flash, audio editing, and photo and graphic manipulation. (To sum it up in 12 words.)
So here I am, working full-time as a Web and Graphic Designer while always working to expand my freelance clientele. My freelance work to date includes websites, video editing, writing, logo design, print design, t-shirt design, and some photography. I am continuously reading and researching to upgrade my skills and knowledge in the field of web design and development.
In my spare time, when I’m not designing/coding/photographing/writing/producing videos/blogging etc., I enjoy riding my bike. I ride a hardtail mountain bike. This year I’ve been getting into more technical trails, and even some downhill, although I’m not going to lie, downhill scares the crap out of me, but I’m getting better each time!
When I’m not on my own bike, I spend a lot of time at BMX events, usually with my camera around my neck. I’ve been a volunteer with the Action Sports Coalition for three years; a non-profit organization in Mississauga dedicated to the advancement of BMX, Skateboarding and Freestyle Mountain Biking.
I have also chaired and coached a baseball league for people who have an intellectual disability for the past 5 years; In the winter months I like to get out snowboarding; And this past June I completed my first triathlon (a try-a-tri), and am currently training to run a 10k, so we’ll see where I go with that!