Employee Spotlight Of The Month: Chryssanthi Buckley – Graphics Designer

Welcome to the seventeenth of our ‘Employee Spotlight of the Month’ interviews! At Dakota, we believe that everyone within our organisation plays an equally important role in making the company what it is today.

Each month we will be sharing an interview with a member of staff in order to showcase their key responsibilities within the business and the benefits which they offer to our valued customer base.

This month we spoke with Chryssanthi Buckley, Graphics Designer, to find out more about her role within Dakota.

1. How long have you worked at Dakota and how long have you been in your current role?

I formally joined Dakota in June 2021, having already worked with the company on a freelance basis for several months before joining the team on a permanent basis last summer.

2. What does the role of Graphics Designer at Dakota involve?

My role as Dakota’s Graphics Designer varies significantly day to day! I work extremely closely with Ellie, our Marketing Manager, and together we collaborate on pretty much everything that you see produced by Dakota on a marketing basis, from new customer-facing collateral, website updates, email campaigns, the creation of templates for internal documentation, corporate branding and the design of promotional items…the list goes on!

3. What key attributes do you believe you need in order to achieve success within your role?

In order to achieve success within my role, I need to have a keen attention to detail as well as the ability to be creative and to ensure that all the materials which we produce are fresh, modern and vibrant. A good eye for design is also important as well as having a firm understanding of various IT, creative and graphics programs. A willingness to learn new software and techniques to develop different types of media is also a must, such as the animations for some of our recent social media campaigns.

4. What do you enjoy most about your role at Dakota?

I really enjoy working at Dakota! The team is friendly and the atmosphere welcoming; so much so that I’ve felt my confidence grow exponentially since starting here.  I love the variety my role brings, from being trusted to design new collateral and corporate branding, through to website management and designing promotional items, there’s never a dull moment.  And, of course, working with Ellie, who has been a close friend of mine for over 10 years now.

5. What are the most challenging aspects of your role?

Hmm, I think the most challenging aspect of my role so far has been developing animations as part of the social media campaigns we’ve been running, and of course working towards sometimes very tight timescales at times. There have been a few occasions where my colleagues have needed a new piece of collateral to be created urgently so that has to be worked into my already busy schedule.

6. How do you believe that your role positively impacts our customers’ experience?

I like to think that the marketing material which we create is interesting and engaging for our customers, whilst being clear, concise and informative. We also always look to develop marketing materials that can be sent out as an accompaniment to campaigns which help build awareness of Dakota’s overall skill set and which are an accurate reflection of who we are as a business and what we represent.

7. And finally…..please give us an interesting or fun fact about yourself

As well as being a mum to two teenage girls, I love reading and trying out new hobbies and crafts. I also own my own crafting business with my twin sister, supplying to local businesses as well as exhibiting at craft fairs. For my next project, I am keen to start learning and experimenting in wood carving.