Helder Olivier - Multimedia Designer

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• Helder Olivier
• Multimedia Designer

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Helder Olivier

• It is doubtful that anyone ever types expert
  with big heart into the search bar to find a
  freelancer. But this is who we think should be
  found through these keywords our freelancer of
  the week, Helder Olivier. The very talented and
  qualified multimedia designer values a kind and
  compassionate relationship with his clients and
  project partners and always gives 100. That
  being said check out his awesome looking CV and
  get an example of his outstanding creative work.
  And lets see what colorful picture he paints in
  our heads while telling us about his life as a
  freelancer

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Helder Olivier

• 1) First off, can you tell us a bit about
  yourself?
• I am an experienced multimedia designer from
  Lisbon, one of the most beautiful and inspiring
  European cities. I made my first steps as a
  freelance graphic designer 15 years ago when I
  was 17 years old. I continued working as a
  freelance designer while I was studying
  Communication Design at the University of Lisbon.
  After I finished my university studies I started
  to occupy myself with advertising and branding.
  Iceberg, Bulgari and Givenchy are some of the
  prestigious and worldwide well-known brands I had
  the privilege to work for. I also worked in print
  production and I was co-founder and art director
  of a startup here in Lisbon. In 2012 I decided
  that it was time to start my international career
  and I am currently working as a freelancer for
  several projects around the world, mainly
  startups.

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Helder Olivier

• 2) If you would search for your profile on
  Google, which are the three keywords you would
  type in the search bar?
• If you would search my profile on Google the best
  and fastest way to find me would be by searching
  for my name "Helder Olivier". However I would say
  that the three words that best describe my skills
  are "graphic design", "web design" and "UX UI".
  If I could add a fourth one it would be
  "illustration".

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Helder Olivier

• 3) What was your inspiration and when did you
  actually decide to become a freelancer?
• Towards the end of 2012 I was about to turn 30
  and I thought it was the right moment in my life
  to improve my personal brand. At that point I had
  learned a lot by working with worldwide relevant
  brands. I helped a print production startup
  company becoming a market leader in Portugal and
  I co-founded my own startup which reinforced a
  dream that I always had to learn more about the
  world as a whole and to use my knowledge to help
  entrepreneurs turn their dreams into reality.

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Helder Olivier

• 4) What kind of services have your clients asked
  you to provide?
• I do it all. From art direction and brand
  strategy to its implementation in terms of the
  corporate identity (logo, business cards, etc.),
  web design and print design. I also work in
  digital marketing which means developing the
  campaign from its first concept to the final
  product that is released on the market. I have
  clients who request a product- and
  packaging-design.
• In terms of web design Im not a developer but I
  do all the aspects that a website requires
  concerning its design aspect. From the initial
  wire-frames and the user experience up to the
  final layout/interface, always taking into
  consideration the principles of a responsive
  design.
• Developing graphics for social media is a much
  requested service and since I recently finished a
  course on human-computer interaction (UX UI)
  Im starting to work in developing interfaces for
  mobile apps. I also work with all kinds of
  illustrations handmade illustrations, vector
  illustration and digital art. Furthermore I have
  an increasing number of clients who request my
  services as a consultant.

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Helder Olivier

• 5) Do you use other freelancers or companies to
  provide skills that you dont possess?
• I have a small atelier in Lisbon that I share
  with my beloved wife who collaborates with me as
  an account manager and a copywriter. I also use
  the services of a small accounting firm and those
  of a freelance attorney. Occasionally I
  collaborate with a print company here in Lisbon.
  Since Im not a developer and Im not a motion
  graphic designer I have a few contacts that I use
  if it is necessary but more often the client
  already has those contacts or already has a
  developer in his team.
• Most of those collaborations result from
  recommendations or by networking through social
  media.

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Helder Olivier

• 6) Now tell us, how do you find new clients that
  are interested in your services?
• My motto is that a happy client brings more
  clients who also would like to be happy. Word of
  mouth is definitely the most powerful tool you
  have. And to find those initial clients the
  secret is to network, network, network and
  network! Build a good network of contacts on
  LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Define who you
  would like to work with and connect! You dont
  want to have 1,000 connections on LinkedIn with
  whom you have never engaged. Another great tool
  that I use is Google Alerts. With the proper key
  words and by defining a region/location you can
  find great deals.

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Helder Olivier

• 7) What about freelancermap.com? Can you tell us
  a little bit about your experience with our
  IT-network?
• Freelancermap.com has been a very pleasant
  surprise and I will continue to recommend the
  services! Being an international freelance
  designer I need to work with clients who are
  willing to accept a remote/telecommuting
  collaboration and through freelancermap.com I
  finally found a platform where I can search for
  quality long-term projects which understand that
  Im at the distance of a click without having a
  bidding system and the need of lowering my rates
  to get those projects.

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Helder Olivier

• 8) How do you set yourself apart from your
  competitors? What makes you special? 
• When I start a project I fully embrace the client
  and his company. I dont see it as a distant and
  cold business relationship. I am there as their
  business partner, to help them succeed and to
  celebrate their achievements. We are a team. My
  work has quality because it translates my
  clients and my own vision into something unique.
  I dont only want to provide a service for my
  client, I want to provide an experience that
  she/he will remember with a smile.

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Helder Olivier

• 9) What are the top three books, blogs or
  magazines you read to stay up to date in the
  IT-market?
• These are the books, blogs and magazines that I
  see as fuel for my creativity
• Books
• The Graphic Language of Neville Brody by Jon
  Wozencroft
• The End of Print The Grafik Design of David
  Carson by Lewis Blackwell
• Designing for the Digital Age by Kim Goodwin
•  Blogs
• http//pplware.sapo.pt/
• http//www.pcworld.com/
• http//www.indiegamegirl.com/

•  Magazines
• Computer Arts
• Wallpaper
• Colors

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Helder Olivier

• 10) Freestyle! Is there anything you would like
  to tell our readers?
• Working as an international freelance designer
  has been a very rewarding experience. Through
  networking I had the opportunity to meet some of
  the designers, artists and authors who inspired
  my career but most importantly I have met amazing
  human beings around the world who reinforced my
  believe that despite of our different cultural
  backgrounds, we all live under the same sky and
  we are all more alike than we tend to consider.
• If you are interested in learning more about who
  I am, about my services or if I can help you in
  any way, you are all welcome to connect with me
  through Linkedin, like my Facebook page, follow
  me on Twitter and on my Behance portfolio.

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