Helder Olivier – Experienced Multimedia Designer

I am an experienced multimedia designer from Lisbon, one of the most beautiful and inspiring European cities. I made my first steps as a freelance graphic designer 15 years ago when I was 17 years old. I continued working as a freelance designer while I was studying Communication Design at the University of Lisbon. After I finished my university studies I started to occupy myself with advertising and branding.  Iceberg, Bulgari and Givenchy are some of the prestigious and worldwide well-known brands I had the privilege to work for. I also worked in print production and I was co-founder and art director of a startup here in Lisbon. In 2012 I decided that it was time to start my international career and I am currently working as a freelancer for several projects around the world, mainly startups.

If you would search my profile on Google the best and fastest way to find me would be by searching for my name “Helder Olivier”. However I would say that the three words that best describe my skills are “graphic design“, “web design” and “UX & UI“. If I could add a fourth one it would be “illustration”.

Towards the end of 2012 I was about to turn 30 and I thought it was the right moment in my life to improve my personal brand. At that point I had learned a lot by working with worldwide relevant brands. I helped a print production startup company becoming a market leader in Portugal and I co-founded my own startup which reinforced a dream that I always had: to learn more about the world as a whole and to use my knowledge to help entrepreneurs turn their dreams into reality.

I do it all. From art direction and brand strategy to its implementation in terms of the corporate identity (logo, business cards, etc.), web design and print design. I also work in digital marketing which means developing the campaign from its first concept to the final product that is released on the market. I have clients who request a product- and packaging-design.

In terms of web design I´m not a developer but I do all the aspects that a website requires concerning its design aspect. From the initial wire-frames and the user experience up to the final layout/interface, always taking into consideration the principles of a responsive design.

Developing graphics for social media is a much requested service and since I recently finished a course on human-computer interaction (UX & UI) I´m starting to work in developing interfaces for mobile apps. I also work with all kinds of illustrations: handmade illustrations, vector illustration and digital art. Furthermore I have an increasing number of clients who request my services as a consultant.

I have a small atelier in Lisbon that I share with my beloved wife who collaborates with me as an account manager and a copywriter. I also use the services of a small accounting firm and those of a freelance attorney. Occasionally I collaborate with a print company here in Lisbon. Since I´m not a developer and I´m not a motion graphic designer I have a few contacts that I use if it is necessary but more often the client already has those contacts or already has a developer in his team.

Most of those collaborations result from recommendations or by networking through social media.

My motto is that a happy client brings more clients who also would like to be happy. Word of mouth is definitely the most powerful tool you have. And to find those initial clients the secret is to network, network, network and network! Build a good network of contacts on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Define who you would like to work with and connect! You don´t want to have 1,000 connections on LinkedIn with whom you have never engaged. Another great tool that I use is Google Alerts. With the proper key words and by defining a region/location you can find great deals.

Freelancermap.com has been a very pleasant surprise and I will continue to recommend the services! Being an international freelance designer I need to work with clients who are willing to accept a remote/telecommuting collaboration and through freelancermap.com I finally found a platform where I can search for quality long-term projects which understand that I´m at the distance of a click without having a bidding system and the need of lowering my rates to get those projects.

When I start a project I fully embrace the client and his company. I don´t see it as a distant and cold business relationship. I am there as their business partner, to help them succeed and to celebrate their achievements. We are a team. My work has quality because it translates my clients’ and my own vision into something unique. I don´t only want to provide a service for my client, I want to provide an experience that she/he will remember with a smile.

These are the books, blogs and magazines that I see as fuel for my creativity:

Books:

“The Graphic Language of Neville Brody” by Jon Wozencroft

“The End of Print: The Grafik Design of David Carson” by Lewis Blackwell

“Designing for the Digital Age” by Kim Goodwin

Blogs:

http://pplware.sapo.pt/

http://www.pcworld.com/

http://www.indiegamegirl.com/

Magazines:

“Computer Arts”

“Wallpaper”

“Colors”

Working as an international freelance designer has been a very rewarding experience. Through networking I had the opportunity to meet some of the designers, artists and authors who inspired my career but most importantly I have met amazing human beings around the world who reinforced my believe that despite of our different cultural backgrounds, we all live under the same sky and we are all more alike than we tend to consider.

If you are interested in learning more about who I am, about my services or if I can help you in any way, you are all welcome to connect with me through Linkedin, like my Facebook page, follow me on Twitter and on my Behance portfolio.

—

Where to find  Helder Olivier?

• freelancer profile of Helder Olivier
• Link to website: http://helderolivier.wix.com/design
• Skype: helder_jpo1