I’m Garry Stafford
I’m a freelance graphic designer and digital marketing consultant who jumps at opportunities to optimize the appearance and message of small to medium-sized businesses. I promote your business by creating your effective, singular and unique message–your brand–and by leveraging a variety of related products and services. This clarifies who you are and what you provide for your customers, increasing professionalism and brand recognition.
Tools I Use
Your message is broadcast by using some or all of the following tools: corporate ID (logo) design, Web/blog design, Social Media Optimization (SMO), printed collateral, ad layout, signage and more. I provide your optimized message for your customers by simply and creatively applying the appropriate tools and marketing channels.
How Can I Help?
I can help your business stand out from the rest. I’m drawn to and offer a clean, uncluttered, well presented and cleverly distributed message that pulls in your customers. Knowing how to do this is what makes Friendly Fish Media stand out from the rest! To get started, and to see it we’d make a great team, please take a moment to fill out my Design Questionnaire and learn more about my design process. Do you have any questions? Contact me.
I’ve had the opportunity to provide work for the following companies:
- RSC – Rental Service Corporation
- Ross Brown Partners
- EastGroup Properties
- Enchanted Island Amusement Park
- Camping Companies, Inc
- MBSi Capital Corp
- Adler School of Professional Coaching
- Cartwright School District No. 83
- WRP (Western Regional Partnership, a multi-state Federal partnership)
- Honeywell
- Corporate Office Centers: Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas
- City of Glendale
- City of Phoenix
- 99Cent Only Stores
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Let’s Get a Little More Personal
Work
Recently there was a question on Twitter that prompted people to list #jobsyouvehad. For me, that might take a few more than 140 characters.
In an industry that’s increasingly made up of teens and twenty-somethings, I tend to see myself as a bit of an anomaly. I’ve been around the block a few times. I’ve worked in numerous places, doing a variety of things, gaining a variety of experiences:
- Security at a sports/concert venue
- Toured the states in a rock band for 6 years
- Audio/Visual Technician
- Bartender and Karaoke VJ
- Bachelors, Business Management
Then a significant leap to…
- Masters in Counseling
- Psychiatric hospital assistant/counselor
- College instructor
- Instructor/job developer for the developmentally disabled
Another life changing leap to…
- Sign design & production
- Graphic designer
- Social Media Consultant
Leaps in life, that often come from adversity, are opportunities to refine our passions and define our direction. These are the seasons that, in retrospect, produce expressions like, “That’s the best thing that ever happened to me!” Because of this, I believe that I can offer a wider variety of experience and bring more to the table.
“Work”
The last dozen years have been devoted to the latter few items on this list. I eventually recognized the thread, the constant interest, that seemed to run through these twists and turns of life.
Design.
While in school, I was attracted to electives that were filled with art and design related courses such as drawing and composition, oils, watercolor, two & three-dimensional design and web design. Through this experience, I’ve developed an attraction to a style that is clean, clever, and minimalistic.
Earlier in life, I’d denied the possibility of employment in creative-focused areas. As we mature certain others-driven objectives that we try to live up to, tend to decrease over time. It’s extraordinary when a desired second act rises to the surface.
And that’s a passion to which the word “work” is seldom attached.
These experiences allow me to bring a unique perspective to your business. I’ve found this to be true as I’ve had the opportunity to work with very interesting, intelligent, and inspiring folks over the years, both colleagues and customers, whom I greatly appreciate and admire.
I Have a Life Too
When not “working” I enjoy the following:
- Being a single dad to my wonderful kids: son, Ian (17) and daughter, Chloe (8). Yep, that’s them up there.
- Sharing on my personal blog, Innovative Savings.
- Playing worship music at my church on my guitar or bass
- Trail riding on my bike or quad
- Drawing/painting
- Eating sushi
Colophon
This site is built on WordPress 3.3 and is self-hosted on Directnic.com (this is an affiliate link to a company I’ve used for over 10 years. Read why here). The theme is a customized Voosh theme, Santoshi. I blog here periodically when I see something important and helpful to share. I tend to post more consistently on my personal blog, Innovative Savings. You can find me sharing with others on Twitter and Facebook. And lastly, see the story behind the name, Friendly Fish Media.
Contact me for more information or if you have any questions.
