About Me

When I sat down to complete this portfolio, I struggled to categorise myself nicely as a certain type of designer. Was I a brand designer? But…I love creating more than just brands. Was I only a marketer? But I love design succeeding more than just high conversion rates. A UX designer? A motion designer? A strategist? A storyteller? What am I, and how do I fit into the ever-changing design world?

When I interrogated myself on why I loved branding, UX, and marketing, the true Russell Lee surfaced. I realised I loved creating that ‘wow’ experience for anyone – no matter the brief. Branding, UX, and marketing were just the most exciting ways to provide these experiences.

Behold: Russell Lee. Creative strategist and designer who loves crafting impactful and meaningful experiences with a people-first attitude. I love understanding the nuances of why designs work (or not). I love exploring big problems before talking about solutions, and I love creating lean but bespoke solutions after diving into the deep ends. I love reminding others of the power of design in a world that reduces designs to mere functionality because we now always seek to lower costs and increase margins at the expense of the charm which used to twinkle in everything – now buildings, systems, and even street poles publicly rot without personality.

Sound nerdy? Well, in other words: I overthink designs so you don’t have to.

Club Penguin. Star Wars. Cool spaces. PowerPoint animations. The natural awe for cool designs in young Russell grew into undertaking a visual communication degree, and having worked at a few design and marketing agencies.

Working at Kmart for many years, leading a navy squad, running a small Etsy business, church youth leading, capturing basketball moments in video edits, cold-calling venues and bars selling alcoholic bitters, and being an enthusiastic mentor at university have all grown my appreciation for how intentional care & good systems can have a large and noticeable impact on the people and world around me.

As a junior designer with well-rounded technical skills, I am now growing in scrutinising my own work, understanding how to take briefs and independently own them, and selling my work to everyone.

Want to yarn more? Please, reach out!

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If you need to use Google to know how to turn a doorknob, it’s probably not a very well-designed doorknob. Likewise, if you always need to use Google to know which bus to take maybe bus information should be better provided.

If you need to use Google to know how to turn a doorknob, it’s probably not a very well-designed doorknob. Likewise, if you always need to use Google to know which bus to take maybe bus information should be better provided.

If you need to use Google to know how to turn a doorknob, it’s probably not a very well-designed doorknob.

Likewise, if you always need to use Google to know which bus to take maybe bus information should be better provided.

If you need to use Google to know how to turn a doorknob, it’s probably not a very well-designed doorknob.

Likewise, if you always need to use Google to know which bus to take maybe bus information should be better provided.