Welcome

Web Development and Graphic Design

I can help you get the most out of your material to promote yourself online or in print.

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About

If you're a creative needing to promote yourself or your projects online or in print, Catmachine Design can help you get the most out of your material, both visual and written.

Whether you're looking for a poster and flyer campaign, a brand new website or simply to have your current website brought up to scratch, I will ensure that you end up with something eye catching, attractive, accessible, readable and affordable.

Skills

HTML5, CSS3, Javascript, PHP, mySQL, JQuery, LESS, Bootstrap, Graphic Design for web and print, Adobe CS6 (especially Photoshop and InDesign), editing, copywriting, consultancy, training

Training, Consultancy, Copywriting and Content

Of course these days maintaining an online presence means far more than just keeping your web site up to date.

I can advise on the best way to make the most of the social media available - make sure you're not Tumbling when you should be Tweeting - and how to incorporate these new channels into your existing site.

I can write succinct, comprehensible copy for the web or advise you on how to do this yourself.

I can also deliver one-to-one training in a number of software packages to bring your own design skills up to date.

Get in touch via the form in the contact section or via Twitter.

It's never too late to get plugged in.

Web Portfolio

Recent clients include:

The Detox Barn

The Detox Barn

The Detox Barn is the perfect place to get away from the demands of everyday living and recharge your batteries.

Sharon Gavin

We have been working with Chris for a number of years. He is a brilliant designer so easy to work with and always gets the jobs done in an amazing time. Can't recommend him enough!

Sharon Gavin

Danny Robins

Danny Robins

Danny Robins is an award-winning writer, broadcaster and journalist for TV and Radio.

Danny Robins

I was delighted with the work Chris did on my website. He was so easy to deal with, swift and reliable; taking my garbled ideas and making them come to life in a way that feels fresh, user-friendly and contemporary. I'd heartily recommend him.

Danny Robins

Gavin & Gavin

Gavin & Gavin

Gavin & Gavin are the sister comedy double act, Lauretta Gavin and Sharon Gavin.

Lauretta Gavin

Chris was helpful, efficient and professional. Could not recommend him more. Did the job super quick and we were delighted the the outcome.

Lauretta Gavin

Manchester Fringe

Manchester Fringe

Running since 2012 the Greater Manchester Fringe is a grass roots festival encompassing the best of Manchester's alternative scene and celebrating new and emerging talent.

Zena Barrie — Greater Manchester Fringe Festival Director

Catmachine look after all our web and design needs, speedy, helpful and super reliable. Wouldn't use anyone else!

Zena Barrie — Greater Manchester Fringe Festival Director

Camden Fringe

Camden Fringe

The Camden Fringe is an annual performing arts festival, established in 2006 See Case Study for more details.

Michelle Flower — Camden Fringe Director

Chris has been with us every step of the way as we've grown and developed over the past decade. From the design of a simple flyer in year one, to the creation of a performers site where participating acts can apply and upload all their details in 2011 and beyond, Chris has been a hugely important part of the Camden Fringe story.

Michelle Flower — Camden Fringe Director

Mihara Donegan Productions

Mihara Donegan Productions

Mihara Donegan is a theatre production company specialising in new plays, small scale musicals and cabaret.

David Donegan

Catmachine is a great asset. Chris Limb knows instinctively what is needed by way of great web and graphic design, and is always on hand for speedy advice.

David Donegan

Isabel Fay

Isabel Fay

Isabel is an award winning comedy writer and performer for stage, TV and film.

Isabel Fay

Chris took my “design brief” (a scribbled idea on a bit of paper) and turned it into a playful, slick website with bags of personality. He's super speedy, reliable, creative, quirky and brimming with ideas - I would thoroughly recommend his work if you want to stand out from the crowd!

Isabel Fay

Print Portfolio

Designs for flyers, posters, brochures, book layouts and even the occasional t-shirt. Print ready artwork delivered.

Case Study

The Camden Fringe

The first Camden Fringe was a festival that took place in August 2006 at the Etcetera Theatre and included 57 performances by 22 acts over a 4 week period.

Chris had already worked with Camden Fringe organisers Zena Barrie and Michelle Flower for some time — designing the website and posters for their production company It's Alright For Some as well as for the Etcetera Theatre itself — and so Catmachine was involved in the design of publicity for the festival from the beginning. In 2006 this simply consisted of a two sided A5 flyer.

However since its inception the success of the Camden Fringe has steadily grown.

In 2007 another venue was added and the first iteration of the web site was launched, as well as the first A5 brochure. By 2008 a total of 301 performances took place across 3 venues, requiring an even more comprehensive brochure.

The Camden Fringe Ltd was incorporated as a limited company in January 2009. This coincided with a major redesign of the website and publicity material and the introduction of the first "pigeon mascot". Aside from the brochure, a series of posters and flyers were produced for display around the borough at all 5 venues where 399 performances of 120 different shows took place for which 10,600 tickets were sold. A back end database of artists, shows and venues allowed the website to reflect the most up to date programme as well as being used as the basis for the information in the now 32-page brochure.

This increase in scale continued into 2010. A redesign of the site and publicity material - not to mention a new pigeon - promoted an even larger festival, consisting of 625 shows at 8 venues across Camden. This was also the year when social media came into it's own for the fringe, with Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and other networking tools embedded and incorporated into the site.

2011's Mod Pigeon oversaw a change in the way that the Camden Fringe itself was organised. A special web portal was written which allowed performers to login to update their own publicity material, show dates and press information that would then be reflected on the live site and in the printed brochure.

Social networking and online interaction is of increasing importance and the Camden Fringe has a consistent, recognisable and friendly brand across all platforms it engages with.

camdenfringe.com

Training

Whether you have a specific task you need to perform or simply need to get up to speed on Photoshop, InDesign or other software packages (use the form in the contact section for queries) I can deliver one-to-one training to suit your needs.

Rates are £20 an hour - discounts available for sessions of more than two hours.

I can advise on the best way to use social media and help devise a strategy for your business or your own projects.

Skills

16 years' experience delivering one-to-one support and training for packages including:

  • Photoshop and image manipulation principles
  • InDesign and desk top publishing
  • Dreamweaver and web design techniques
  • General computer housekeeping and good practice

Please contact me if you have a query about getting training in any other software packages or technologies.