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Marc Backwell is a seasoned creative leader with a proven track record of delivering award-winning publications and magazines. As Senior Book Designer at Lonely Planet, he has successfully led the design of flagship titles, including High Life SA for British Airways, and has won numerous awards for his work, including Designer of the Year and the APA Awards. With expertise in art direction, creative direction, and graphic design, Backwell has worked with top brands such as Cedar Communications, Kowhai Media, and FireBelly, and has a strong background in managing teams and mentoring designers. Backwell's extensive experience spans over two decades, with notable roles at CREAM PUBLISHING LIMITED, Hardie Grant Magazines, Cedar Communications, and Tangible Media. He has a strong portfolio of publications, including Mercedes Australia, High Life, and Nikon Pro, and has won several pitches for top brands such as Vauxhall and Asda. With a National Diploma in Graphic Design from Cape Peninsula University of Technology and a Google Ads Search Certification, Backwell brings a unique combination of technical skills and creative expertise to the table.

Credentials

  • National Diploma Graphic Design
    -
    Nov, 1992
    - May, 2026
  • Google Ads Search Certification
    Google Digital Academy (Skillshop)
    Sep, 2021
    - May, 2026

Experience

  • Lonely Planet
    • Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
    • Senior Book Designer
      • Nov 2022 - Present
      • Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

  • Woodstock Laundry
    • Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
    • Design Support
      • Mar 2022 - Present
      • Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

  • FireBelly
    • London, England, United Kingdom
    • Freelance Creative and Art Director
      • Dec 2020 - Jul 2022
      • London, England, United Kingdom

      I've recently been working as a senior creative with Andy at Firebelly on some really cool projects.

  • Cedar Communications
    • Cape Town Area, South Africa
    • Head of Creative (South Africa)
      • Aug 2015 - Dec 2020
      • Cape Town Area, South Africa

      Main responsibilities include art directing High Life SA (British Airways inflight magazine), design work on new business pitches and overseeing the overall creative output of the company. Pitches won: Shoprite (internal comms), Massmart (digital content)

    • Creative Director
      • Feb 2011 - Jul 2015
      • Auckland

      Art directed New Zealand Geographic, one of New Zealand’s longest-running newsstand magazine. The role also involved the redesign of the magazine’s website (nzgeo.com) and the transition of traditional print content into digital media. Kowhai Media launched Pro Photographer (a trade magazine aimed at professional photographers) in 2013 and I was responsible for the overall look of the brand, including the print magazine, website and digital apps.I also art directed Mana (New Zealand’s largest magazine for the Maori population), which Kowhai Media published under license. This involved a complete redesign of the print publication, as well a fully redesigned website and smartphone app.

  • Tangible Media
    • Auckland, New Zealand
    • Art Director
      • Mar 2010 - Jan 2011
      • Auckland, New Zealand

      My responsibilities at Tangible included managing and mentoring a studio of five designers, as well as art directing and designing their award-winning flagship business title, Idealog. The role also included the redesign of various newsstand titles such as NZ Rugby World and Real Groove (a monthly music magazine), as well as pitch work for the agency’s customer content division.Pitches won: Spark (formerly Telecom, internal comms), Mercury Energy (customer print comms)

  • CREAM PUBLISHING LIMITED
    • London, England, United Kingdom
    • Creative Director
      • May 2005 - Jun 2009
      • London, England, United Kingdom

      At Cream we launched Good Call (Carphone Warehouse customer magazine) as well as digital content for Talk Talk. I also art directed At Home (EDF Energy customer magazine), as well as digital content for The Pod, a schools programme sponsored by EDF Energy.

  • Rare Publishing
    • London, England, United Kingdom
    • Creative Director
      • May 2003 - Apr 2005
      • London, England, United Kingdom

      Responsible for the overall creative output which included titles for Somerfield, Royal Mail and The DTI. I was also in charge of the design aspect of a successful new business drive.Pitches won: Ruler (Teacher Training Agency print title), Beyond Travel (print and digital CD-Rom magazine for The Airmiles Travel Company), Access (G4S security B2B print title), Yeah Baby (inflight magazine for BMI Baby).

  • Hardie Grant Magazines
    • Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
    • Studio Manager
      • Jun 2002 - May 2003
      • Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

      In 2002 I was recruited from London to take up the role as Studio Manager of Hardie Grant Magazines, in Melbourne. I managed a studio of eight designers, art directed their flagship title Mercedes Australia, and was responsible for new business pitches.Pitches won: Beomag (Bang & Olufsen customer magazine), Real Business (print magazine for CAA, Australia)

  • Cedar Communications
    • London, England, United Kingdom
    • Art Director
      • May 1995 - May 2002
      • London, England, United Kingdom

      I art directed High Life (British Airways inflight magazine) and was also responsible for its redesign as part of a 1999 re-pitch for the BA titles. That year, I won Designer of the Year and the APA Awards for my work on High Life. Also designed the launch edition of Nikon Pro (print title for Nikon Europe) and worked on various pitches for Cedar.Pitches won: Vauxhall (Vauxhall Motors customer magazine), Asda (print magazine for Asda)

  • Naspers (Woman's Value)
    • Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
    • Designer
      • Feb 1993 - Apr 1995
      • Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

      Employed as a junior designer on Woman’s Value magazine.

Education

  • 1989 - 1992
    Cape Peninsula University of Technology
    National Diploma, Graphic Design
  • 1983 - 1988
    Rondebosch Boys High School
    Matric

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Industry Focus. “Book and Periodical Publishing”

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