Phive is me, Nikki Ward, a creative graphic designer with 20+ years experience in the design and advertising industry, and based in the beautiful Atherton Tablelands, North Queensland, Australia.
Over the years I’ve gained extensive industry experience in both Australia and the UK, having worked in a variety of agencies, from small boutique studios to large international firms. In 2010, I launched Phive to serve as a platform for my graphic design services. This move allowed me to omit the ‘middle man’, making the design process more accessible and less convoluted.
I never claim Phive to be ‘We‘; it’s just me. You make contact with me, I design for you, we create together. The process is simple, efficient and importantly, cost-effective. High Phive to that!
Since I branched out on my own, Phive has been dedicated to helping businesses grow their public profile through all aspects of visual communication, from logo design and brand development through to corporate literature, marketing and social media campaigns, in both print and digital platforms. I love coming up with innovative design solutions and I gain great satisfaction in seeing a client find success through their well-thought-out and beautifully designed branding and creative.
I complement my work with the latest tools available and have considerable knowledge of the Adobe Creative Suite (CC2024): InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat and Bridge. I can also easily navigate my way around other platforms like Microsoft Office and Canva. I love to assist other designers in my network with their technical queries—I get a real kick out of helping others and problem-solving; a skill that also comes in handy in strategic graphic design, ensuring a client is targeting their audience accurately and successfully.
Working direct with clients from large corporate (national and international) firms and government bodies, to small established businesses and independent start-ups, I take projects from concept to completion. I love collaborating with other creative minds on design projects and am often called on for commissioned freelance work with other designers, design studios and agencies.
I have been known to have an intuitive ‘knack’ of being able to have a conversation with a client and form an immediate image in my mind of the final outcome, for example, an image of the finished logo or marketing idea—meeting the client’s brief first time, every time. I feel the initial conversation is key to that intuitive understanding of the client’s needs and wants that ensures success every time.
Although based on the Atherton Tablelands, I enjoy managing a range of design projects for clients all along the east coast of Australia.