Fiona Sproles

Do you write copy here and there? You should check out the Australian Government Style Guide! The most common one I see is probably using - (dash symbol) instead of the actual word 'to'. It should always be "from 10:30 am to 11:30 am" instead of "from 10:30 - 11:30 am" Dashes can affect readability unless a user changes their screen reader’s default settings (punctuation verbosity settings). Screen readers generally won’t read out dashes by default. This simple change can allow people to quickly understand spans.

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Kia ora, LinkedIn whānau. These last couple of months have been pretty rough as a freelancer. Between the EOFY and budget cuts there just hasn’t been much to go around. I’ve chased up all the trees I can think of, but while things are slowly kicking off again I'm left with loads of capacity to fill. So it’s time for a scatter-gun approach. If you're in need of graphic input (whether you’re an individual, a design studio, a company) then please let me know. I’m available to help effective immediately through all of March (and likely through a chunk of April). Regarding services; I’m a good fit for projects in need of: —Logos & marks —Graphic systems and patterns —Brand collateral rollout & templates —Editorial design —Copywriting in a graphic context —Wayfinding & spatial graphics. Regarding specialty, I'm particularly experienced in navigating projects with an architectural context and/or projects with a need for cultural sensitivity. If any of that sounds handy, please feel free to reach out for more details and a formal portfolio. Ngā mihi -- Work shown includes studio projects, completed as part of a broader team: RUN Aotearoa: Te Aratini, TSI, OpinioNative, Te Kāhui Whetū o Matariki. Isthmus: Queens Wharf graphics, Te Ara Tupua cultural manifestations, Studio 246, AIA Transport hub canopies, 2023 Isthmus Wānanga publications. P.S. A massive word of thanks to Nick Riley (PDINZ) at Nonfiction, I’d be in a far worse spot if not for the work he consistently pulls me into.

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I’m all for things ending naturally. Insatiable growth is problematic. 25 years is incredible. -but this feels premature… Creatives being pushed to the boundaries. Unable to afford city rents, absence of live venues - now being passionately rectified by Michael Rodrigues but the long tail of loss to creative industry and livelihood continues. Small purposeful enterprises need to be nurtured. Relational rather than transactional architecture should be elevated. The most important business model is the one that has immeasurable ripple effects to culture, economy, environment and of course society. Not easy to monetise but infinitely rich in its contribution to resilience and adaptive capacity. The fact it took a creative in industry to see the important link between label and artist (hermi’s) to trigger a global launchpad is a case in point. My amazing brother, Tim Levinson aka Urthboy and the other beautiful humans behind Elefant Traks deserve recognition for confirming that independant music can be ✅ viable, ✅ maintain integrity and ✅ bring opportunity to underrepresented members of industry. BUT it doesn’t stop there. The pipeline of renewal / construction projects across Australia have great potential to nurture maker industries and creative districts for future generational enjoyment. Interim use strategies and vibrancy pilots are your best friend and for business like Elefant Traks, their greatest ally. To the next 25 years for the future indie label, the many artists and their Fams and communities that benefit from it.

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It's time to get fearless about your brand! Make sure you join me on Thursday, 31 October, from 10am - 1:30pm at my 'How to Design a Fearless Brand' Workshop held in Bendigo. Your business absolutely needs a fearless brand to: 1. Stand Out In a world full of competitors, a fearless brand helps you break through the noise. It’s not just about looking polished – it’s about creating an identity that demands attention and establishes you as a leader who embraces authenticity and a killer visual brand. 2. Attract Aligned Clients (and make money!) A fearless brand doesn’t just attract any clients – it pulls in the right ones. By confidently showcasing your unique story and values, you’ll connect with those dream clients who are ready to invest in your expertise and align with your mission. If you’ve been: - Feeling like your brand doesn’t match your current success - Afraid to make bold branding moves, unsure how they’ll land - Stuck comparing your brand to others, feeling like you’re playing small... This workshop is your chance to redefine your brand’s core identity, design a bold visual presence, and fearlessly execute a strategy that positions you to dominate your space. Join me on the 31st of October, 10am - 1:30pm at the Mecure Bendigo to create a brand that commands attention and truly reflects who you are. This is your moment to stop playing small and step into the fearless brand your business deserves. Tickets are available: https://lnkd.in/gMjuKiJQ #FearlessBranding #ElevateYourBrand #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #BrandStrategy #Bendigo

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Looking to make a real impact with your tender and grant applications? Showcase your organisation's impact with these top strategies: 1. Spin a yarn that grabs attention 📖 2. Back it up with solid data 📊 3. Highlight what makes you a cut above 🌟 4. Paint a clear picture of outcomes 🎯 5. Tailor your pitch to each funder 🎭 Got a top tip or burning question? Drop them in the comments below! #WinningTenders #GrantSuccess #ImpactfulProposals #ImpactfulProposals

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The eSafety Commissioner's directive to X and Meta to remove violent videos after the horrific Sydney events over the last few days is a wake-up call. Kudos to Julie Inman - Grant for getting on the megaphone and taking decisive action to protect users and uphold community standards. However, these incidents highlight the need for proactive strategies to prevent the spread of harmful material in the first place. As individuals and organisations committed to fostering a safe online environment, let's amplify our efforts to raise awareness, advocate for policy reforms, and support initiatives that promote digital well-being for all. Together, we can build a safer, more inclusive internet where everyone, especially children, can thrive without fear of exposure to violence or exploitation. #onlinesafety #digitalwellbeing #digitalsafety #responsibletech

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How can clients make more time for design? What are their barriers? This article provides some insight, using a local lens.

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As one who's utilized various standards and complaints "authorities", and come away disappointed, I imagine the threshold to succeed with a complaint about a violation of the Advertising Authority's Standards is pretty high. I wish You all the best, but remember: It's not enough that We're simply offended by Hobson's Pledge's (HP's) agenda: everyone has the right to freedom of expression (with the proviso that it isn't seeking to instigate violence or harm to others). On the face of it I reckon it'd be difficult to win a complaint on those grounds. A better use of Our efforts might be to determine what specific disinformation or malinformation is on HP's website, and campaign to shut the website down on that basis. Or, see if there's any way to find out who are the big players supporting HP and shame them publicly. Or fundraise for a NZH ad that mirrors the format, but has a pro-Te Tiriti message - or (if that's unaffordable, or We can't compete with HP's money) run an assertive campaign on free social media (using the strength of numbers, rather than money) with viral messaging that shames HP and gives accurate context about the foreshore and seabed situation.

MENTAL HEALTH DESIGN | Can gender separation support mental health? Tonya Hinde, BLP Principal & Design Lead, comments on gender separation in the context of mental health design. One in four Australians experience challenges with their mental health. While each of these people have unique individual needs, our approach to designing treatment environments often assumes a one-size-fits-all solution. Read more about the benefits and differences of gender separated units in the article, published on Indesign Media Asia Pacific Live below. https://lnkd.in/giJJEFi6 #designforahealthyworld #INDESIGNLIVE #gender #mentalhealth #mentalhealthdesign

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DESIGN BY COMMITTEE How often have you engaged widely in your design or creative process, only to discover everyone now expects to see everything they contributed turn up in the final output? Wide scattered ‘consultation’ with an expectation you will be able to take everything onboard is a recipe for disaster. This happens a lot in te ao Māori with an expectation or need to ‘consult Māori’ or get Iwi or hapū endorsement, only to discover as you would expect that they all have different views, and a right to those views, and a rightful expectation their views will be heard and heeded. Great codesign is a participatory creative process that navigates complexity and diversity to eventually arrive at one solution, not a hundred. Getting the process right avoids a chicken and lolly pizza, although a shredded Tītī, Koroī and Wātakirihi one could be interesting!?! #TītīPizza

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Check out this excellent report and important findings coming out of the Untapped Project.

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Earlier this year, when I first started thinking about creating Artura Studio, Wellington was facing over 1,300 (now close to 6,000) government staff cuts. Economic uncertainty was high, and countless people told me it was a terrible time to start a marketing studio. My response? Equally terrified but curious, I thought, why not? I’m VERY passionate about where I live; I love Whanganui. In other regions like here, many businesses don’t have the luxury of large budgets for trial and error when it comes to marketing—we need to be savvy with every dollar. I’ve worked with clients who worked with agencies for SEO/SEM support in hopes of moving the dial with their leads, only to find that their essential marketing foundations were overlooked—a functioning website, a strategic social media presence, and a clear marketing strategy. It’s frustrating to see businesses with such potential not understand the support they need to truly grow. Given these challenges, it’s more important than ever to prepare for the growth curve ahead—even in a recession. According to the latest eCommerce Insights from NZ Post, an economic upturn could be just around the corner, with better times potentially arriving as early as 2025. Leading economist Shamubeel Eaqub advises online retailers to use the next six months wisely—stay connected with your customers, optimise your infrastructure (website, fulfilment, delivery, and customer service processes), and start planning your promotional strategies to capture those buyers who have been holding back. Despite the typical advice to cut marketing budgets during tough economic times (which, by the way, I 100% disagree with—not just because I'm a marketer but because I’m a business owner that values cost-effective plans for the long term), I’ve found that many business owners are looking ahead, just like I am. Even before officially opening the doors of Artura, I had businesses reaching out for support. People get it—they see the gaps in their customer journeys, they know their social media strategies are lacking, and, most importantly, they believe they can do better. Now is the perfect time to stay connected with your customers, get your infrastructure in place, and plan how you're going to make marketing sustainable for your business. Let’s get ready for what’s next. Here’s a quick snap of me heading out for a photoshoot last week. It’s been a hectic few months with my clients, but I wouldn't change it for the world. 🌎 📸

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The Australian Government writing handbook has launched. It's a companion to the Australian Government Style Manual but focuses more on the craft of writing and covers the style elements people use most often in government writing. ✅ Write to inform, educate and engage. ✅ Always write with your readers in mind. If you don't know who you’re writing for, you risk writing something that they won’t understand. Australians usually engage with government writing to get something done. Respect people’s time by writing content that is readable and usable. Clear, concise and consistent writing is essential. It ensures that government content is effective and useful. And it underpins government services that Australians rely on. The Government writing handbook is designed for print and copies will be distributed to Australian Government agencies. See an accessible version: https://lnkd.in/gP9eyrJB https://lnkd.in/gq25i5pe #ContentDesign #AustralianGovernment #APS #WritingHandbook #StyleGuide

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Petition update: Creative and Experiential Therapies Belong in the NDIS Minister for NDIS acknowledges the need for a fair review of Creative Therapies 7 Dec 2024 We are eleven days into this solid campaign for "Creative and Experiential Therapies Belong in the NDIS". In these eleven days, the campaign has generated nearly 30,000 supporters and thousands of testimonials, public statements of support from disabled people, NDIS participants, numerous organisations and political leaders, hundreds of letters sent directly to decision-makers, thousands of social media posts, dozens of Creative and Experiential therapists hosting meetings with their local MPs all around the country, discussions on live-to-air radio, and feature stories in the mainstream TV news. THANK YOU. PLEASE KEEP SHARING THE LINK TO THIS CAMPAIGN AND HELP KEEP OUR VOICE ACTIVE OVER THE COMING WEEKS. This is a massive, concerted, collective effort, and, yesterday, the Minister for NDIS Bill Shorten spent the day meeting in Canberra with many representatives about various NDIS concerns. By the end of the day, we had reports that the Minister acknowledged the need for a fair review of Art and Music Therapy as evidence-based Allied Health Therapeutic Supports within the NDIS. This news comes as a welcome step forward, providing some breathing space for all those affected by the potential loss of these essential supports. The details of this review are expected to be released next week. We continue to advocate for the following: The importance and need for a fair and transparent review of creative and experiential therapies, including art and music therapy, to maintain and ensure the quality of therapeutic services being provided to participants under the NDIS. More time should be provided to enable a comprehensive review, consultation and decision-making. On this basis, there should be no changes to the NDIS therapeutic supports pricing guidelines until at least July 2025. Read the full update here: https://lnkd.in/gpFq2e8s

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In the Queensland government, job titles often fall short in capturing the breadth of our roles. My title might not scream creativity, but my daily tasks certainly do! From crafting intricate graphics to motion design, animations, filming captivating video series, post-production magic, editing, photographing, and engaging with schools, every day is a new adventure. It's a role that's far from one-size-fits-all. While my title may seem mundane, the work is anything but. It's rewarding, fun, and diverse. I thrive in the variety and challenges it brings, and every day brings something new and exciting. Who says job titles have to define us? #QueenslandGovernment #CreativityUnleashed #DiverseRoles #RewardingCareer #EmbraceVariety #JobTitlesDontDefineMe

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Side-hustle spruiking alert! Hey. We all know those people who are constantly saying I NEED A WEBSITE. Right? And then they always add a big old BUT. Like, BUT I DON’T HAVE TIME. Or, BUT I CAN’T AFFORD IT. Well, to them we shall say JUST SHUT UP AND GET ONE. Then add a big old: UNFANCY. And maybe they’ll finally stop going on about it. Presented by Small Town, UNFANCY is a new all-in-one website creation service for procrastinators. Design + words. Done + dusted. Templated. Quick. Affordable. It’s called UNFANCY for a reason. If you want a fancy website, DON’T CALL ME. (In fact if you want a fancy website, I can recommend many talented, proper website designers who actually know coding and stuff. And they deserve to be paid HANDSOMELY for their superior skills).

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