Summary of Qualifications
Strong conceptualization and ideation skills - Experienced at taking projects from concept to completion - Adept at both web and print based projects - Strong technical understanding of Adobe Creative Suite for both Mac and PC OS - Experienced with Microsoft Office Suite - Excellent skills in digital asset management, creating graphics and imagery for web and print, including optimizing for SEO
Professional Experience
ART DIRECTOR/GRAPHIC DESIGNER, Freelance, Hillsboro, OR, 10/2003-Present
- Specialized in providing exceptional design and crafting brand guidelines to small businesses Managed projects from conceptualization to completion. Projects have included identities, logos, brochures, direct mail, advertisements, posters, web site UI , promotional pieces, cd cases and covers, and postcards.
- Helped inexperienced businessmen create strategies to improve use of social media platforms with the goal of increase overall sales.
- Initiated marketing and promotion programs to gain new clients. Met with potential clients to sell them on my creative abilities and my competence to provide them with solutions for their design problems.
- Displayed excellent time management skills while juggling priorities, completing multiple projects on time and under budget.
- Maintained client relationships, ensured job quality and customer satisfaction. Provided customer service and training where necessary for clients who wished to maintain their own web sites.
- Responsible for all book keeping, client billing and bill collection.
- Contributed to the success of several start up companies with development of brand identities, logos, and website designs. Including campaigns for companies ranging from construction companies to comic book shops. Projects required all my skills in concept creation, layout, typography, character design and illustration.
ART DIRECTOR/GRAPHIC DESIGNER, Information Systems Management, Portland, OR, 12/2002-10/2003
- Conceptualized new designs for product and brand marketing, including brochures, direct mail and email campaigns, print ads, cd-roms, sell sheets, and postcards.
- Designed new company logo and identity package
- Directed all design projects from conception to completion. Regularly met with clients and service bureaus to ensure consistent quality in finished products and maintain a high level of customer satisfaction.
- Designed and developed web sites for ISM as well as for a variety of clients such as Ringor, Grand and Benedicts, RV Rental Experts. Responsible for concept development, graphic creation, and implementing designs. Used tools such as Dreamweaver, Flash, and CSS to help develop projects as well as in modifying ebusiness templates.
GRAPHIC DESIGNER, Lithtex Printing, Hillsboro, OR, 8/2002-12/2002
- Conceptualized new designs for product and brand marketing, including brochures, direct mail, print ads, promotional give aways, and postcards,
- Prepared files for press and monitored their progress to ensure quality of printing.
ILLUSTRATOR/ GRAPHIC DESIGNER, Internship, Spirit Press, Portland, OR 12/2001-8/2002
- Collaborated with the writer and publisher to create a children’s book.
- Designed characters, created full color illustrations for a 32 page book using Photoshop and Illustrator, laid out pages and set type in Quark, and prepared files for press.
- Dependably designed book covers on tight deadlines.
ILLUSTRATOR/ DESIGNER, Freelance, Hillsboro, OR, 10/1990-08/2000
- Consistently provided bi-weekly editorial illustrations for the Hillsboro Argus using Adobe software such as Photoshop and Illustrator for over ten years
- Regularly sold editorial illustrations to national magazines such as Better Homes & Gardens, Woman’s World, and the National Enquirer
PRODUCTION ARTIST, Trader Publishing, Portland, OR, 06/1997-02/1998
- Created effective ad layouts in Quark while working under tight deadline pressure on a weekly publication.
- Scanned and color corrected images in Photoshop
- Proofread copy and filled any other role when necessary to meet deadline.
Education
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN GRAPHIC DESIGN, Art Institute of Portland, Portland, OR, 2002
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (Minor in Marketing), Portland State University, Portland, OR, 1986