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Professional Summary

Designer with over 4 years experience interested in increasing efficiency and usability through analysis of current use, user testing, and design principles. Able to communicate design ideas and project goals with non-designers. Understand technical limitations and work well with developers. Work well as a team-player or independently, able to handle multiple roles. Very quick leaner, willing to learn any skill as the project needs.

Skills

Information Design, Mapping, Photography, Usability, Site Architecture, Illustration, Organization, Problem Solving, Analysis
Software
Aperture, Adobe Creative Suite 2, 3 (Indesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver), Microsoft Office, Mac and PC Platform, PDF Technology, QuarkXPress
Project Types
Brochures, Event Material, Forms, Applications, Identity Packages (Business Cards, Logos) Instructions, Booklets, Signage, Mapping, Websites

Experience

2004, December — Present
Stillpoint Studios LLC
Freelance Graphic Designer and Photographer
  • Manage all aspects of projects for clients.
  • Logos, Brochures, Ads, Websites
2006 — Present
Belleville Area Garden Walk
Publicity Co-Chair, Designer, Photographer
  • Determine publicity goals and implement.
  • Design material (brochure, flyer/poster, tickets). Publicity photos and images (logo, map)
  • Doubled attendance each year.
2007, February — 2007, July
University Marketing and Communications, Eastern Michigan University
Graphic Designer
  • Organized existing marketing material for analysis, for new branding and identity system.
  • Interfaced with clients and printers.
  • Produced ads, campus-wide signage and multi-page booklets.
  • Directed photo-shoots and, contributed to content and goal development on select projects.
  • For Spring Summer Registration campaign, translated design concept into full campaign. Researched main traffic areas of campus, suggested types and location of promotional material, coordinated with vendors and university personal for implementation. Met goal of increasing enrollment.
2005, October — 2007, February
Marketing and Communications, Wayne State University
Graphic Designer
  • Designed reports, campaigns, department identities, and event material.
  • Prepared print quotes, files for print, performed press checks. Producd mock-ups for client presentations.
  • As part of team, created new admissions campaign. Developed concept chosen by focus groups, coordinated with team on final design. Created final materials (booklets, billboards, posters, flyers and applications). Final product won 22nd Annual Admissions Advertising Award, Total Recruitment Package for a school with 29,000 or more.
  • Recognized as team player, for organization skills, ability to take direction and lead.
  • Took lead on project between Wayne State University and the University Cultural Center Association producing multi-page booklet "Midtown Living." Organized and tracked content from multiple contractors. Created and produced layouts focusing on information design. Coordinated with photographers and writer to develop content. Client doubled amount printed after seeing design, eventually reprinting the brochure with additional contractors. Won 2008 Gallery of Superb Printing, Detroit Club of Printing House Craftsman in Recognition of Printing Excellence.
2005, February — 2005, August
MCM Group Inc.
Graphic Designer
  • Assimilated logos and text into templates for marketing products, designed ads for MCM and Chelsea Teddy Bear Company, updated website.
  • Designed and produced instruction manual for new hires in graphics department.
  • Recognized for efficiency.
2004, August — 2004, December
Belleville Rotary Club
Independent Study Project/Graphic Designer
  • Coordinated with committee to redesign site, improved usability and usefulness.
  • Analyzed current/contemporaries' sites and needs to determine site architecture.
  • Created site that could be maintained by web novices, reducing training time as membership changed.
  • Designed manager that allowed updating of content while maintaining formatting.
2003, March — 2004, June
Web Communication Solutions, Office of Marketing and Communications, Wayne State University
Student Assistant — Web Designer
  • Designed university web sites, maintained images and graphics for homepage.
  • Coordinated with developers creating global headers and footers; reducing page real-estate and increasing compliance.
2002, May — 2004, December
Virtual Creations
Graphic Designer/Project Manager
  • Collaborated with developer and clients, designing sites, determining navigation, content and usability.
  • Kraft Foods International - DRT3, Assisted developer with usability, site structure and design for an Intranet Reporting Application. Saved money on training by writing instructions available both in downloadable interactive PDF and printed booklet.

Education

2004
Wayne State University
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Major in Art, Concentration in Graphic Design
Summa Cum Laude

Awards/Exhibitions

2006, Wayne State University Annual Presidents Report · MarCom Creative Awards, Publications Brochure
2003, Detroit Synergy Group "Arts in the City" · Exhibition
2002, 2003, 2004; Wayne State Undergraduate Art Show · Exhibitions