From designing leaflets for anti-bullying campaigns to making impactful social media graphics, Ellen John, a graphic designer at Ginger and Tall, shares her experience of working with charities and why she loves what she does.
My journey from hospitality to graphic design
Ginger and Tall was my first design job, and I’ve loved every second of it! Before joining, I studied Illustration at Falmouth University, but then took a bit of a detour, spending nearly three years working in hospitality to save up for regular travelling adventures.
I’d just got back from three months of exploring Europe in a self-converted Ford Transit camper with my partner (we call it ‘Spud’) when I saw the job advert for Ginger and Tall and thought, why not?
The team has been full of useful advice, really helping me grow in my role. Looking back now, I feel like those little nuggets of wisdom have made everything so much easier as I’ve progressed.
Every day is different
One of the things I love most about my job is that no two days are the same. When I start work each morning, I have no idea what I’ll be working on that day – it could be websites, leaflets, social media graphics… the list goes on!
Because we work with such a variety of clients, I get to experiment with different styles and approaches, which keeps things really fresh and exciting.
Designing for charities and why it matters
I’m really passionate about working with charities. At Ginger and Tall, we only work in the charity sector, and it’s something I really believe in.
Charities often rely on funding, and it’s so important that money is spent in a way that has the most impact. A strong design can help them communicate their message effectively and make every penny count.
One of my favourite clients is Bullies Out. I always love working on their projects because they’ve got great brand guidelines that are really fun to design with.
Plus, Linda, their director, is a dream to work with – she always sends clear briefs, which makes my job a lot easier!
The collaborative process
Working closely with clients is key to what I do. Once we’ve got an initial design, the process becomes a collaborative one. I always want to make sure the end result works for the client, so understanding and incorporating feedback is a huge part of that.
Sometimes, feedback can get a bit complicated. In those cases, it’s often easier to just hop on a quick Zoom call and go over everything. It saves a lot of time compared to trying to explain it all in an email, and we can get things sorted much quicker.
Canva versus professional design
Whilst I love that Canva gives people the chance to get involved in the design process, I do think there’s a difference between ‘having a go’ and creating a professional design. It reminds me of a quote from The Incredibles – “When everyone’s super… no one will be.”
Just because everyone ‘can’ create a design doesn’t always mean they ‘should’.
In the last couple of years, I’ve noticed more and more clients using Canva to create their own designs. The downside is that it often takes them a lot longer than they expect, and by the time they send it over for us to make print-ready, they could’ve just had us design it from scratch. A professionally designed document always stands out in the end.
That said, we’ve started designing templates for our clients in Canva, and that’s been a brilliant compromise. It allows them to get involved, but they still have access to professional-quality designs that are easy to work with.
Seeing my designs out in the world!
One of the things that makes me happiest as a designer is seeing my work out in the real world. Whether it’s leaflets, posters, or social media graphics, it’s so rewarding when clients post pictures of their designs in use. It’s funny, because I usually only see my work in 2D on a screen, so getting to see it in action is always a highlight.
Why Ginger and Tall is different
Ginger and Tall is a bit different from most other design companies out there. We focus on working with charities and offer friendly, affordable, and quick day-to-day design services.
Once a charity has their branding in place, we’re able to help them access professional-quality designs without breaking the bank, and we always work with a fast turnaround to make sure they get what they need, when they need it.
