We recently sat down and interviewed our board members to give you a chance to get to know them better, and we’ll be featuring one of these Q+As each week on the blog. Today we introduce you to Fiona Brand, the Secretary of the CWC board.

What is your current business/creative pursuit/job?

Founder of Brand by Name, an award-winning brand identity, graphic design & web design studio based in Melbourne, Australia

Can you outline the journey that got you here? What previous work/creative pursuits/life decisions brought you to this place?

I’m a largely self-taught, hands-on graphic designer. I started out as a Finished Artist in the early 90s, in the last few years of paste-up, cow gum, spray adhesive and bromides. Over the years I have worked in various design-related industries – Advertising agencies, Children’s television, Public Relations and Marketing agencies. On April Fools’ Day in 2012, at a tiny school desk in my lounge room and a 2011 iMac, I started Brand By Name.

When did you first come across Creative Women’s Circle?

I discovered CWC in 2011, when I had recently moved to Melbourne, and was looking to connect with other creatives.

Which creative person, living or dead, do you most admire and why?

I admire anyone who tries to make a living as an artist! Right now that person would be Jess Thom – I just saw her show ‘Backstage in Biscuitland’ – it was joyous, moving & laugh out loud funny. The best theatre I’ve seen in ages. http://www.britishcouncil.us/tourettesheros-backstage-biscuit-land

How do you challenge yourself creatively?

I usually have a side project or two on the go.

What is your ‘other’ dream job/business?

If I weren’t a graphic designer, I would be a chocolatier

Fiona is a highly experienced designer with 20 years’ involvement in the design, advertising, web and interactive industries. Fiona’s strengths lie in her depth of knowledge across a variety of design areas: her understanding of interactive and accessibility issues on the web, knowing her way around printing processes, how to achieve a brilliant result within a tight budget, and a design style that adapts itself to every different client. In 2011 she founded Brand by Name, an award winning creative design studio, providing design expertise across branding, print and web communication. Connect with Fiona or check out her work via her website, Instagram or LinkedIn.