Hello, my name is Cathy Brookes. I’m a designer and curator who cares about creating beautiful, accessible products that help people.
UX Design
While I’m new to UX Design by title, I bring over two decades of hands-on design experience that directly supports the skills needed in this space.
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My background in graphic design has given me a deep understanding of how to guide a viewer’s eye, establish clear visual hierarchy, and communicate ideas effectively through layout, typography, and color. These core principles translate seamlessly into UI design, where visual clarity and intuitive navigation are essential.
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I’ve worked extensively within brand guidelines to create cohesive visual identities and scalable design systems. That experience maps directly to building consistent UI components, design libraries, and accessible interfaces that support a seamless user experience.
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From designing complex reports to turning dense information into engaging infographics, I know how to transform raw data into meaningful visuals. This ability is especially useful in UX/UI, where clear, human-centered data presentation is often key to the user experience.
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I’ve spent years collaborating with cross-functional teams and stakeholders — gathering requirements, aligning on goals, and delivering solutions that meet both business needs and audience expectations. This communication skill is critical in UX, especially during research, prototyping, and iterative design.
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Graphic design and UX/UI design are both rooted in problem-solving. My experience across diverse industries has trained me to think strategically and creatively — whether the challenge is visual, functional, or business-driven.
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I’m highly proficient in Adobe Creative Suite and have recently expanded into Figma and other UX/UI tools. My visual design foundation makes it easy to adopt new platforms and workflows with confidence and efficiency.
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Coming from a visual background, I bring a refined aesthetic sense that complements usability-focused UX thinking. I aim to create interfaces that are not only functional, but also visually polished, engaging, and brand-aligned.
Hotel booking website
A redesign of the hotel booking experience, aimed at streamlining the process and making it more intuitive, accessible, and user-friendly. The project prioritised clear pricing, informative visuals, and upfront filters with interactive maps — allowing users to easily explore, compare, and confidently book their stays, with the freedom to change their minds and start fresh at any point.
Hayes Street Art Meet
After my daughter’s art club closed and she spent months on the waitlist for the only other local option, I saw how limited the opportunities were for young artists in our area. With a degree in fine art and over 20 years working as a designer, I decided to channel my skills into starting an art club of my own, following research into the local need.
ARC branding
Brand identity for ARC, a B2B risk and compliance software provider specialising in credit insurance solutions, following an in-depth discovery process with key stakeholders.
Flying Colours pottery
Brand redesign for a mobile pottery painting company — a playful, hand-drawn logo that blends childlike charm with a crisp, colourful design. The final logo refreshed the business’s image and helped it stand out in a competitive market.