Graphic design, layout, and user interface design from design insight to thumbnail sketch on paper through digital mockup to press-ready print or web-based digital application. Photo correction and manipulation, and vector artwork. Choice of typefaces and ability to work with them. Includes Adobe Creative Suite and Adobe Creative Cloud (Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, etc), Quark Xpress and other similar programs
Extensive print pre-press skills including troubleshooting design-related issues, digital impositions, and manual separation of plate-ready 2- 3- and 4-color layers via both digital and paper
Video editing and scripting, Adobe Premiere. Some sound correction
Brand identity and logo creation for both print and web, and social media presence
Fine art, illustrations, greeting cards/stationery, and production art, primarily digital or ink and watercolor
Technical and journalistic writing, editing, and proofreading
Detail-oriented project management skills including cross-team communication, project tracking, budgeting
Search engine optimization
Self-directed and self-motivated, comfortable with remote work
Outstanding stakeholder support and client/customer service
Proficient in Microsoft Office and basic familiarity with Google Workspace (G Suite)
Web development programming and markup languages including php, html, css, js, jsp on *nix systems, and related editors and versioning software
Work History
Self-Employed Creative and Freelance Designer
(May 2022 - Present) - I create original art, writing, and video content across multiple platforms including two Youtube channels, two Etsy stores and a Patreon channel, in addition to freelance. Currently working on a series of art history/tutorial videos about various style movements and a fantasy novel set in an original world.
Sr. Specialist, Store Presentation
Ross Stores, Inc (Sept 2016 - April 2022) - Creation and project management of internal-facing instructional materials and operational tools that translate merchandising initiatives into executable direction for store associates, including monthly merchandising direction updates, diagrams and maps, store merchandising handbooks and other one-off communications and projects. Also budget maintenance, planning, image manipulation, and coordinating with print shop, stores, and buyer teams.
Graphic Designer/Web Developer
Self-employed/Contract Work/Some Contracts through Adecco (May 2012 - May 2022) - Among other contracts, I:
Created logos for various clients including political candidates, gaming guilds, and small businesses
Produced written and visual communication, and redesigned a handbook for Ross Stores, Inc
Worked pre-press for Minted
Created logos and web designs for Samsa
My other work ranged from online sales pages and site design to print advertising, business cards and brochures, to logos and production art
User Interface Designer/System Developer
Myers Internet/MGIC (Oct 2007 - May 2012) - My work at the nation's largest private mortgage insurer included interface and visual design on primarily AgentCenter and OriginatorNetwork, with additional work on Myers.com, Defender, MortgageApp, eMagic and internal administration sites. Headed up user-defined templating project. Created and presented seminars including "User Interface Design for Business Stakeholders" and "What is HTML?" Was tapped as the interface designer or consultant for several out-of-department projects including a metrics dashboard, an online mortgage application, an electronic documents delivery/order system, and a lender-facing peer reporting application.
Web Development Specialist
OnYourMark, LLC (Nov 2004 - Oct 2007) - Responsible for creation of client websites, including graphic design, programming, customer service/sales and technical support, desktop publishing, search engine optimization and registration, all general webmastering, and documentation.
Web Designer
Self-employed (Oct 2003 - Nov 2004) - Took the year to transition into web development from print design via freelance projects.
Production Coordinator
The Milwaukee Employment Guide/Trader Publishing (May 2002 - Oct 2003) - Layout of pages and ads for The Milwaukee Employment Guide, Today's Careers, Today's Nurse, and all internal and client-facing collateral. Supervised one graphic designer and dealt with print vendors. Responsible for making our office ratio of paid print to filler top in the company; at no point during my time as coordinator did we exceed one flat of filler in The Milwaukee Employment Guide.
Design Specialist
The Plymouth Review (Jan 1999 - April 2002) - Created display ads, illustrations and special section layouts for the paper, logos and layout for print customers. Assisted in troubleshooting pagination process and outputting paginated pages to film. Handled email duties for the Advertising department. Dealt with format incompatibilities, computer maintenance and troubleshooting. Trained new people in our design process and often answered computer problems in other departments.
Education
Double BA in Studio Art (Digital Specialization) and Classical Philology, Beloit College, 1997
Other Experience
Member, Society for Classical Studies (2017-Present)
Guild Leader (2010-2017) - Seelund Trading Co, rp-pvp guild in World of Warcraft, Guild Wars 2, Landmark, and Star Wars: The Old Republic.
Fine Arts (Lifelong) - Primarily in oil pastel, and in pen/ink/watercolor