Victoria Tomlinson
Q What do you do?
“I am a brand strategist and graphic designer mostly working with brands in the lifestyle, fashion and FMCG sectors.”
I work with startups who are struggling with a clear path forward and with established brands who want a refresh or help producing consistent, beautiful design assets across digital and print.
Q What steps did you take to get to where you are now?
My first ever job was in publishing, working for Condé Nast Glamour South Africa. I then moved from Cape Town to London where I quickly made my way into the world of advertising and worked for top 100 agencies like Saatchi and Saatchi as well as in-house on the busy digital teams at e-com titans like NET-A-PORTER, Selfridges and ASOS.
Q How do you stand out in your field?
I've worn all the hats over my long career and over the last few years I have really been focusing on where my skills and interests are best utilised. Since getting clear on this, I have positioned myself in such a way that I get to work with the best clients who I feel very aligned with. I have a strong process and a clear way of presenting work to clients who are very much involved in their unique creative journey. I love getting into the finer details of each brand and helping my clients gain clarity on things like purpose, target market, brand voice and visual identity before I put together their brand guidelines and start designing their dream brand assets.
Q What are you working on right now?
I'm currently working on the brand strategy and guidelines for a female-led deli and lifestyle co-op who are looking to define their brand clearly and eventually scale the business.
Q What’s your style?
I do a lot of research into current market trends, so I design in many different styles. I particularly love to work with fun brands who have room to go a bit wild. I recently worked on some branding for a vegan, high fibre gummy brand and loved using bright acid colours, gummy textures and squishy fonts to bring the brand to life visually and texturally.
Q Out of all your slashies, which one do you wish you could do more often?
I would love to spend more time on consulting and brand strategy - I have come across many brands who have an amazing product but they don't know where to begin when it comes to their brand personality and how to get themselves to launch stage. It's such a joy to help them bring their vision to life.
Q What is frustrating you right now?
I'd like to be more active and promote my work on social media - just one platform for now would be fine but I am currently more focused on the work I have on the go!
Q If you could hire someone for $20/hour, what would you have them do to make your day easier?
I'd hire a junior creative to help with some of my work and to help me keep an updated list of exciting things happening in the design world. I've been blown away by what I have learned from listening to younger creatives who are coming into the field with a completely different skill set and mindset.
Q What do you wish you could have told yourself, when, and why?
I think I would have told myself to just create more of what I like, be confident and just trust the process - I find when I put out work that I love, the right clients always seem to come my way.
Q If you could talk to an expert to gain more insight on something, what would it be about?
I would love to work one on one with a really great coach to scale my business.
Q What kind of opportunities/projects are you looking for?
I have a passion for working with female-led brands in the lifestyle, fashion and FMCG world.
Q Describe your ideal job/client/collaboration.
In the past I have worked with women-owned businesses and agencies and it has been such a pleasure to work with women who see the best in one another, communicate well and cheer eachother on.
Q: What is your rate?
My hourly rate for shorter projects is $85-$100 per hour and then I have a selection of set project rates with different deliverables ranging from $6000-$11000 one off. I also offer retainer based monthly deliverables for general design startng from $3000-$5000 per month. Discounts on the retainer are offered for people who book me for an extended period of time.
Q How should someone approach you about working together?
You can get in touch with me on Vicky.tomlinson@email.com - I'd love to hear a bit about you, your brand and your budget so I can see how I can help you in the best way possible.
Q Who is a creative you admire?
I would recommend Jessica Fagan - a freelance email marketer at www.eatwelllivewild.com.
Q Oh! and… how do you stay creative?
I live right by the mountains so I get into nature a lot and I like to dip into creativity away from the screen in the form of watercolour painting and ceramics.
This member profile was originally published in January 2025.