Cardboard Robot Creative
Design & Creative
and occasional CD / DVD Facilitation for Independent Artists 🙂
Cardboard Robot Creative
Design & Creative Leadership
Hi, I’m Steve
(you might also know me as Swerve – long story)
Design Lead at Southern Cross University – 6+ years leading institutional brand transformation and building award-winning creative teams. I’m available for freelance projects and open to new Design Lead/Director opportunities.
What I Do
For Organizations:
- Brand repositioning and strategic creative direction
- Team leadership and creative culture development
- UX/UI design and digital experience strategy
- Wayfinding strategy and environmental design
- Campaign development across all media
For Freelance Clients:
- Brand identity and visual design systems
- Web design and front-end development
- Motion graphics and digital storytelling
- Creative problem-solving and design thinking
Recent Leadership Achievements
Southern Cross University – Design Lead
2019 – Present
- Built award-winning creative team producing physical, digital, and immersive experiences
- Led institution-wide brand repositioning for greater impact and inclusivity
- Managed creative strategy across multiple high-profile campaigns
- Developed agile design solutions for rapidly changing environments
Previous Leadership Roles
Ovato/Spectrum Design Lead – Led 20+ sub-brand rebrand project
Ogilvy Senior Designer – Full-suite creative development
Academic Roles – Design education and curriculum development at UNSW, UTS
Beyond Design
Justice of the Peace, first aid officer, mental health first aid officer, bass guitar and keyboard player in local bands. I ran CD manufacturing services for independent musicians through Dual Plover, and still manufacture CDs for marginalized and DIY artists.
Ready to Work Together?
For detailed case studies and portfolio:
download
See my current work:
SCU brand projects  – Behance
Available for:
- Freelance design projects
- Creative leadership consulting
- Design Lead/Director roles
Latest Work
CD and DVD Manufacturing – The Dual Plover Story
How It Started
In 1995, Me and my good friend Lucas Abela founded Dual Plover as a solution to an expensive problem. We were releasing unconventional music through our independent label and needed affordable manufacturing options. By consolidating disc orders for ourselves and friends, we could access bulk pricing and make small-run releases financially viable.
Unexpected Growth
Word spread through the underground music community, and what began as a cost-sharing initiative among friends evolved into an international operation. At its peak, we were manufacturing 100,000-200,000 discs annually for artists and labels worldwide.
You can explore some of the music we released at [dualplover.com]
Current Status
The landscape has changed dramatically. With the decline of physical media and rising manufacturing costs, CD production has become increasingly niche and expensive. While I still offer manufacturing services, projects require significant minimum orders and higher budgets than in the past.
If you’re interested in CD/DVD manufacturing, please be aware:
- Limited production runs available
- Higher costs due to industry changes
- Best suited for special releases or archival projects
Contact me to discuss your project requirements and current pricing.
Get in Contact