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Elemental Paul Zabihi Curriculum Vitae
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Key Statement:
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Career Summary:
I am currently looking for my next exciting career move to join a dynamic company team in a
permanent role with new challenges thereby futureproofing my career. I have over 17 years
professional design experience in the following mixed roles:
Graphic Design & Illustration including Branding, Marketing
Structural & Interior Design, Pitch Design & Presentation & FF&E
Sketching, 2D & 3D modelling (CAD programs & craft
Production Design & Art Director for Film & TV
I have worked internationally on premium projects for Sony, Ch4,
Virgin, Panasonic, KPMG, HMRC, Singapore Armed Forces, BBC, etc.
Honing both my technical and conceptual design skills and
providing great experience in CRM, B2B interaction and client
account management.
With passion and dynamism I look to collaborate with colleagues in the development and
delivery of strong, effective design projects, creating new pathways for design and its
relevance to a wider public audience. Drawing on my experience I seek to identify the best-
fit solution with positive project value and comprehensive oversight to solid project
management whilst retaining sensitivity to project integrity and ultimately client goals.
During college I gained professional experience working on my own
commercial projects that I successfully pitched for: CAFOD slave
labour campaign and School Murals (1) as well as a studio assist/art
worker & installer for my contemporaries and peers. I gained great
experience in the commercial sector working with Claes Oldenburg
(2), Antony Gormley (3) and the Chapman brothers (4) with the
Tate & ICA galleries.
Graphic Design, Branding
Concept Design, Pitch Design & Presentation
2D & 3D Sketching and Illustration
Production Design & Art Direction for Film & TV
Interior & Structural Design & FF&E
Craft Design & General Art working
Project Management, Administration & Client Relationship Management
“With every project I
work on I keep my
trained eye on the ever
evolving world both in
design & culture and
business. I integrate
this experience into my
work with conceptual
relevance to client
briefs”
“My aims are to
develop and improve
public and personal
interaction through the
use of design in order
to support the evolution
of an ever growing
modern & retrospective
‘future-world’
environment”.
Profession: Senior Designer
Date of Birth: 27.01.1977
Nationality: British
Language: Native English
36 Ellington Street
London
N7 8PL
Tel: +44 (0) 20 3561 4479
Mob: +44 (0) 7564 499 185 Email: [email protected]
Professional Profiles: Linkedin: LINKEDIN P.ZABIHI
Film & TV Pro: FTV PRO ZABIHI PROFILE
Website: www.zabihidesign.com/
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Education: Formal Education: Extra Curricular
1997/2009 Freelance
Production Dept., Production Design
& Art Direction London
2002-2005 Information
Transfer Prod. Designer & Art Director
London/UK
2005-2007 Picture on the Wall
Prod. Dept., Prod. Design &
Art Direction London
2008-2010 Opium Bars Senior Lead
Designer & Project Manager
London/UK
2009 Done & Dusted
CH4 T4otB Art Director
UK
2011-2012 Harry's Intl
The Club Hotel Senior Designer
Singapore
2012-2013 Elemental
Design Midweight Designer
2D/3D Modeller London
2015/2016 The
Distinguished Gentleman
London Senior Designer
London
2001 Loaded
Magazine Junior Artworker
& Graphics London
2002 LFS
Guest Art Director
London
2006-2007 COI
Art Director London/UK
1993/2001 Education
RCA Saint Martin’s S.ofA
Parsons S.ofA Chelsea S.ofA
Cleveland S.ofA
2008 Giant Films Art Director
London
2008 Coutts
Davidson, Nick House
Bespoke Design London
2011 MOD
Head of Design Singapore
2013-2015 James Cubitt & Partners
Senior Designer London
1999 TBWA - Internship
Junior Artworker & Creative
London
2002-2003 Raintree/
Mediacorp Production Assist. Art
Director Singapore
2002-2003 Zhao Wei Films
Art Director Singapore
2005-2008 Anonymous Films
Art Director London
2010/2011 Logopaint
Bamboo Media Senior
Media Director Singapore
1998/2013 KZDesigns
Senior Designer London/
Singapore/ HK
1994/2007 Freelance Public Art & Experiential
Design (Multidisciplinary
Projects) International
1996/2015 Razor Design Designer/MD
London
Career Summery Timeline shows key points from my career:
2000 – RCA, UK
MA, Sculpture & Fine Art
1997 – Saint Martin’s School of Art, UK
BA (Hons), Graphic Design & Illustration
1995 – Chelsea College of Art, UK
BA (Hons), Public Art & Installation
1993 – Cleveland College of Art & Design, UK
BTEC, Fine Art & Graphic Design,
!988 – Ayton (Friends) School, UK
14 GCSE’s (A/B Grades)
2003 – TEFL Online
TEFL – Business.
2003 – Floodlight
Final Cut & Colour, Grade 1-4
1999 – Centurion, UK
HEFAT for Media
1998 – Parsons New School of Design, NY, US
Credits 4 - Grade 6, Urban Design
1996 - Slade School of Art, UK (evening course)
Casting Production & Fine Art Portraiture
1995 – Henry Moore Foundation, UK (summer course)
Foundation Short Course, Sculpture
1994 – Newcastle Polytechnic (summer course)
Glass Blowing Workshop
Comprehensive career listings can be found on my website: www.zabihidesign.com/
Guide Dogs for the Blind
Volunteer Boarder & Trainer, 2015 - Current
Vietnamese Orphanage Ngô Quyền Centre
Sponsor & Online Volunteer, 2003 – 2004
Bojangles Nursey
Volunteer Arts & Crafts Teacher, 1998
RSPCA, North Middlesborough, UK
Animal welfare Volunteer
Volunteer & Social Responsibilities:
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Concept Design
Graphic Design
Pitch Design
2D & 3D Drawing
Print Management
Digital Marketing
Production Design
Art Direction
Set Design
Interior Design
Prod. Management
CRM
Procurement
Key Skills:
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____________________
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MS Office Suite
CS6
(PS,AI,PR,AE,ID)
Acrobat
Sketchup
CAD
Podium
Trimble Layout
Lightworks
CSS/Html
I am Proficient in
Windows & Mac
Computing:
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Support Detail: Employment Record:
2015 - Present: Senior Designer – The Distinguished Gentleman Design Projects: Pitch Design, Digital Marketing, Graphics, Branding & Events
This featured project can be found on my website - www.zabihidesign.com/ I designed and project managed this successful & unique, bespoke residential wedding. This was a five day celebration with key design features from graphics, craft, handmade products and packaging and decoration. All aspects of guest accommodation and services were conceptually designed to individual requirements; sensitivity to allergens and environment.
2015 - 2016: Freelance Designer – YMBBT Design Projects: Structural Planning, 3D Visualisations and Modelling
Volunteer Project helping to orientate and deliver 3D modelling of a
disused building (formerly a bookstore) on Charing Cross Rd, Soho also
designing of 3D sketches for set design.
2015 - 2016 Senior Designer – Razor Design Design Projects: Concept Designer, Graphics & Branding, UX Design
My brief was to design a strong info based interactive website for a
new health sales company. There were several requirements from the
client the challenged my knowledge and extended my skillset.
Achievements: Creation of a dynamic website, conceptually astute to the client
brief.
A back-end platform with numerous swim lanes but still user friendly for
staff. A simple learning tool was also created for in-house use.
Dynamic marketing strategy using SM Platforms was delivered.
2015 - 2016: Senior Designer – Zabihi Design Design Projects: Branding, Product Design, Web Design
I worked on the following freelance projects, commissioned by repeat
clients.
Angus Dundee Ltd - Product Label Designs
Alphadog - Corporate graphics and commercial graphics &
P&A
Kiwei - Corporate Branding Website and Corporate Graphics as
well as commercial graphics and collateral for business
operations.
2015 - 2016: Senior Designer – Elemental Design
Design Projects: Design of Experiential, POS, Interior Fit-outs
I was designing commercial interiors for shop windows, experiential
displays, and commercial fit-outs. 2D/3D plans and Sketches,
visualisations, mood boards & material specifications.
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2013 – 2015: Lead Project Design Consultant/ Lead Senior Interior
Designer,
James Cubitt & Partners, UK (Relocation back to UK) This featured project can be found on my website - www.zabihidesign.com/
My main client was Cummins Global Engines & CES. I was tasked with
lead design of a new facility in Germany $52M. This involved a small
team that I ran within the office and a syndicate of contractors,
consultants and project managers both in the UK and Germany. I
travelled bi-monthly back and forth from the UK to the site near
Frankfurt for progress meetings, contractor and client site visits,
procurement and supply presentations, display and sign-off. This
project was a turnkey project for my company involving RIBA stage 0-
6 architecture, full interior design & FF&E package and Change
Management Program in alignment with client corporate regulations.
Achievements: Successful completion of project, delivered on deadline.
Successful change management programme between company
facilities.
Solid Client Relationship Management with future scope for project
booked.
Strengthening of Client account resulting in new projects for client
offered and tenders won.
Evolved B2B relationships with contractors, suppliers and consultants.
I also worked on other projects for the same client as well as pitch
designs, conceptual schemes, commercial planning and refurb and
full FF&E delivery packages. A summary is below: Eldo City, Kenya - Masterplan and pitch design ($220M)
Cummins Doha, QA – Design of new D&B facility Arch & Interior
($34M)
Cummins Daventry, UK – Refurbishment of offices & conference
facilities (£160K), structural design & refit of Atrium (£176K), full
corporate FF&E package and branding guidelines.
Pitch design for redevelopment of Benghazi university, Libya ($8.5M)
2011 – 2012: Senior Designer/Project Management, The Club Hotel,
Harry’s Intl, Singapore Design Project: Residential & Hospitality
Working directly underneath the CEO of this international hospitality
company I designed and managed the complete Implementation of
a refurbishment concept to this famous boutique hotel in Central
Singapore. I designed a contemporary refurbishment scheme based
on a historical retrospective of the cultural area. Receiving a green
light from the company, it was then in my remit to negotiate and
license the design with the Singaporean Heritage Board and their
approved contractors. In adopting this process I accessed funding
opportunities and my design won funding from city regeneration
bursaries which helped reduce project costs to the client and
created positive publicity.
Achievements: Project completed on time and under budget.
Maintaining the hotels daily operations with minimal disturbance
Executing a strong, successful marketing campaign and launch in
both digital and print media.
Planning and hosting a successful launch party for clients, VIP’s and
press.
Post project increase of revenue and media focus.
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1998 – 2013 (Intermittent Project works): Senior Interior Designer, KZ
Designs, Singapore
Design Projects: Residential, Hospitality & Commercial
Lead designer and project supervisor on high-end residential, leisure and
commercial Interior projects. I held a rolling freelance contract position at this
agency.
Achievements:
I completed several successful Interior projects in Singapore raising
awareness of the agency and increasing publicity, commissions and
therefore turnover.
Designed and developed bespoke furniture products that were
reused in many design schemes.
Designed and formatted company website including collaterals,
photoshoot of interiors, 3D model VTR’s, Corporate Graphics, etc.
Boosted Agency FF&E B2B relations and library. Forging strong
relationships with suppliers and negotiating procurement deals.
Increasing my knowledge of Interior Design and enlarging skill base.
Improving my CRM skills and client account Management
administrative skills.
2008 - 2010: Senior Designer/Project Management, Opium Bars, Nosh for Posh,
Bath, UK
Design Project: Structural & Interior Design & Business Management
This featured project can be found on my website - www.zabihidesign.com/
I was commissioned to design & build a new bar and restaurant in a
reclaimed space; a set of arched chambers that were previously an
entrance to a 16th century dungeon in the centre of Bath, Somerset,
UK. This project involved structural design and interior fit-out with M&E.
I was then asked to extend my contract and undertake
comprehensive management of the business including a 3 year plan
marketing and financial return plan.
Achievements: I achieved wide press coverage in 2009 with awards for ‘Best Bar &
Restaurant’ from many polls.
I hit my financial plan KPI’s month on month and recovered seed
investment within 18 months with a full investment return within 24
months.
A comprehensive marketing campaign with national reach
A year on year business growth leading to an extension o the business
into additional premises (I designed and refurbed these also).
Celebrated design reviews.
No.1 event venue in Bath, for photoshoots, celebrations, cocktail
training.
2010: Art Director/Interior Designer, Done & Dusted - T4OTB Productions: Design & Installation of VIP Guest Rooms & Hospitality
This featured project can be found on my website - www.zabihidesign.com/
I Designed and fitted-out VIP and Corporate hospitality, green areas
within the T4OTB site. Complicity to the concept theme of T4OTB 2009.
I managed the procurement of all independent suppliers with security
permissions and licenses.
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1997 – 2009 (Intermittent Project works): Production Design./Art Director,
Freelance SE Asia
Productions: Film, Broadcast & Theatre
I took up a contract position at this company and worked in the pre-
production, development and principal photography of a slate of
features. I worked in many areas ‘as hands on’ crew. Due to
Singapore’s emerging film market at the time a mixed role was essential.
I went on location in Malaysia, Mongolia, Thailand and China with both
large and skeleton crews. Filming was a mix of digital and film.
Achievements:
Working with large crews on location and developing new skillsets
Creating strong, visually impactful content that was well received.
2008: Production Designer/Art Director, Freelance UK Productions: Film Features
Film Design on 2 Feature Films for theatrical distribution.
Work included and set design and sketches, storyboards, prop
manufacture and procurement, graphics and illustration, on-set art
direction, team control, SFX, armoury.
Productions: Daylight Robbery – Theatrical Release Act of God – Theatrical Release
2008: Designer, FF&E, Whisky Mist, Coutts Davidson, Nick House,
London, UK Design Projects: Bespoke Design, Graphics & FF&E
I was commissioned to create design collaterals for the branding of
Whisky Mist, a nightclub under the Hilton, Park Lane. I created bespoke
graphic visuals and also FF&E supply. The club has achieved success as
a high luxury venue.
2005 - 2008 Producer & Designer – Anonymous Films Productions: Feature Film Production Development & Financing & Design
Development and Sales of a feature film, searching for investment of
£2.6M for a low budget shoot.
I was tasked in two areas:
Art & Design:
Crafting promo Pre-Production Design pieces for pre-sales
presentations; mechanical props that told sections of the story in
small vignettes. I also created all P&A collateral, sales brochures and
show reels for pre-sales
Production:
Arrangement and co-ordination of screenings, sales meetings with
sales agents and funds around Europe. I held negotiations with
financiers and funds and pitch presentations. This project is still in
development.
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…Continued:
Achievements:
After 18 months we managed to accrue £2.4M of investment thereby
reducing the completion funding to minimal and also managed to
attach an A-B list premier cast with some well-known faces in
supporting roles.
2006 – 2007: Art Director, Central Office of Information, London, UK
Film Production: Commercial Broadcast
I worked on varied commercials for the department of health, working
as Art Director, Set Designer and graphic artist. Creating original props
and media materials and overseeing a project by project team. I was
commended for delivering easy solutions to complex sets, creating
bespoke products free from copyright (a value engineered solution) and
quick turnarounds for tight project deadlines.
2006: Art Director &Stylist, Jacaranda, London UK
Production: Commercial/Promo
This featured project can be found on my website - www.zabihidesign.com/
I created the styling and design for a promo of Eyetoy. This was mostly
CG but required key props and location work. The styling was integral to
this promo due to the delivery of the commercial to different territories
globally and the length of the roll-out of marketing strategy. All
wardrobe items had to be non-branded and also pantone matched to
the designed scheme. This was essential for the CGI, another value
engineered solution to expensive post production costs. Compositors
needed high contrast to key out the green screen and easily preserve
live action visuals.
2006 – 2007: Writer, Producer, Designer, London, UK Productions: Rotten apple 35mm and HiDef This featured project can be found on my website - www.zabihidesign.com/
I wrote and produced this Feature Short in co-production with Film
London East, Pre-sales with Micro Films and private funding.
The script was developed to highlight areas of social integration
within the British ways of life and cultural heritage. This film project
was given 10 months from conceptual development to delivery
and was premiered on behalf of Film London as part of the
cultural programme at the Raindance Film Festival. This film
surpassed expectations and went on to win Best Film PRIX UIP in
Berlin 2007 and was a nominee at the European Academy
Awards 2008 and Toronto, Hong Kong, Claremont Ferrand,
Cannes and toured the Americas with the Academy. It is now in
the BFI collection.
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2002-2005: Production Design, Art Direction & Production Dept.
Information Transfer, UK Film Production: Commercial Broadcast
I worked on a slate of financial corporates and learning tools. These
consisted of short film drama, corporate videos,, tutorial videos and
virals, learning modules and graphics. I created strong a multitude of
sets in studio and on location. Management of props, set dressing, set
standby, action props, armoury, action vehicles, and construction. The
material was script heavy usually with emphasis on IT and software
systems. I created graphic content and created dynamic sets usually
involving multi-screen and monitor filming.
Achievements:
The productions won awards in the infographic learning markets.
Due to the production value sales of products improved
My skillset expanded with knowledge of technical.
2002 – 2003: Production Assistant/Art Director, Raintree, Mediacorp,
Singapore
Productions: Commercials
I worked as an Art Director and Production Assistant attached to the Raintree
agency, Singapore’s leading media agency at the time. The brief was to
update the Singapore Armed Forces brand and promo commercials. We hot
in Indonesia, Malaysia and islands surrounding Singapore on land and at sea.
We filmed manoeuvres and field action as well as following the ‘Hearts & Minds’
story, “one nation under one flag”. These were premiered on National TV in the
run up to National day and were played on large stadium screens.
Achievements:
I gained a lot of location filming experience in hostile environments and
unhospitable conditions. This was on a very strict and tight production
schedule and my experience accelerated.
2002 – 2003: Art Director, Zhao Wei Films, Singapore Productions: Feature Film
I worked on varied film productions working as Art Director and in the
production offices translating and negotiating on European co-productions on
Singapore based shoots.
Achievements:
I created strong set design using Singapore as a backdrop for other
countries.
I also gained experience of designing Asian cultural historic sets for TV
and Film.
2002: Guest Art Director, London Film School
Productions: Film Shorts
I joined the LFS on invitation from the Production Design Lecturer and helped
the students realise their productions. As studio space was tight I managed to
build sets back to back on a shooting schedule whilst observing studio H&S and
Fire Regs at all times.
I worked on 3 films within this time.
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Membership of Professional Societies:
HKIDA – Hong Kong Interior Design Association
BFI - British Film Institute
BECTU – Broadcast, Entertainment, Cinematograph & Theatre Union
2002: Junior Artworker/Graphic Designer, Loaded Magazine, London,
UK
Design Projects: Commercial Graphics
This was a junior training position within the graphics department. I was
typesetting copy, picture handling and retouching. A great job at the time
which taught me a lot of process graphics and layout.
1999: Production Design & Build, Virgin Radio, V Fest’99, UK
Design Projects: Commercial Graphics
This featured project can be found on my website - www.zabihidesign.com/
Commissioned by Virgin radio in sponsorship with Evian.
To create a luxury Alpine chalet and pool for the backstage VIP
hospitality & overnight accommodation for invited guests. I co-
designed a two storey Alpine chalet with attached swimming pool
and 360 degree wooden deck. The chalet was fully fitted with
wooden panelling, fitted wet bar and kitchen/diner, sunken living
room, and mezzanine, galleried bedroom and ensuite bathroom
with outdoor balconette hot tub overlooking the festival. The chalet
was located backstage in the artists area - perpendicular to the
stage.
The pool 8m x 5m x 1.4m was surrounded by a mountain scape that
replicated the corporate product logo created out of 12ft (hotwire)
carved and painted polyblocks. The pool was then filled with Evian
water supplied by Evian. This was pumped in from a branded tanker
visibly parked onsite. 2002: Internship, Art worker/Studio Assist, Public Art Project, ‘Bottle of
Notes’ Art Project: Publix Art Sculpture
This featured project can be found on my website - www.zabihidesign.com/
To celebrate the anniversary of Captain Cook, Middlesborough’s
most famous son and Sea-faring Explorer a Pubic Sculpture was
commissioned for Landscape gardens outside city hall.
This was my first professional commercial art job and was based
on internship awarded as part of an honour scheme reward from
my college (Cleveland College of Art & Design). My work was
multi-task based Consisting of the following:
Studio assistant; documenting the design process in video
and stills, Making presentation boards for local mayoral
sign-off (client gates).
Sketching visualisations alongside Claes Oldenberg of
finalised installation.
Detailing construction drawings
General Studio management; tele-conferencing, basic IT in
1994, Administration and keyholder of studio.