Award winning Art Director/Designer/Illustrator with 11 years experience in design strategy, print, branding, identity and interactive design. Capable of creating and managing projects from conception to completion, selecting and working with vendors, and meeting tight deadlines. Passionate about design, solid work ethic, team player and always striving to learn and improve. Currently seeking full-time, freelance, project based and/or collaborative opportunities.

EXPERIENCE

FREELANCE ART DIRECTOR/DESIGNER/ILLUSTRATOR
Everywhere, USA
April 2009 - Present

Work as an independent designer and partner with corporations, design firms and advertising agencies. Design marketing and promotional communications materials. Develop print advertising campaigns, web sites, digital/social media initiatives, outdoor billboards, in-store signage, corporate ID, posters, packaging, annual reports, corporate collateral, editorial illustration, and retail video promotion.

DESIGNER
gabriel degrood bendt  | Minneapolis
February 2010 — November 2010

Provided art direction, design and illustration for print and interactive projects. Collaborated and concepted with copywriters and creative directors. Partnered with account and strategy teams on implementation of client objectives. Interfaced with clients and presented creative. Directed outside vendors.

clients: Arizant Healthcare, Crystal Farms, First American Funds, Summit Brewing, Barber Foods, Western International University, Danze, Gillette Children’s, US Bank

ART DIRECTOR
Peggy Lauritsen Design Group | Minneapolis
April 2006 - April 2009

Led creative strategy and brand work. Provided creative vision, art direction, research, design, illustration, photography and copywriting for print and interactive projects. Managed outside vendors. Interfaced with clients and presented creative. Helped manage scheduling, budgeting, proofing and press checks. Led creative for agency�s print and interactive initiatives.Designed company�s first blog. Improved company web site through SEO efforts and application of Google analytics.

Specialties: Integrated branding programs, company collateral, corporate identity, annual reports, logo development, brand standards, print advertising, packaging, trade show signage, direct mail, web sites, blogs, interactive kiosks and e-marketing creative. 
 
Clients: Medtronic, Imation, American Medical Systems, Jeremiah Program, Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota, Michigan Department of Transportation, PLATO Learning

SENIOR DESIGNER
Strategy One | Glen Ellyn, IL 
November 2003 - January 2006

Provided creative strategy/brand direction. Led design, illustration, copywriting and project management duties. Performed file preparation, comp creation and selected and managed vendors. Obtained quotes and attended press checks. Presented creative to clients and provided account management services. Assisted in managing junior designer.

Specialties: business and corporate collateral, corporate identity, logo development, brand standards, print advertising, trade show signage, direct mail and web sites.

Clients: Motorola, Wheaton College, Hiwin, St. Xavier University, Connor Sports Flooring, Focused Health Solutions, National Council of State Boards of Nursing

ART DIRECTOR
Hamilton Communications Group | Chicago, IL
June 2003 - November 2003

Conceptualized, art directed and designed sales and marketing collateral, branding style guides, trade show graphics and print advertising. Presented creative to clients. Interfaced with account management for project success. Collaborated with copywriters and creative directors on conceptual direction of projects. Mentored graphic design interns.

Clients: Abbott Labs, Vysis, Myobloc, Baxter.

ART DIRECTOR 
June 2002 - June 2003
GRAPHIC DESIGNER 
June 1998 - June 2002
Practical Communications, Inc., Cary, IL 

ART DIRECTOR
Established concepts, stylistic direction and maintained creative authority over advertising, marketing and communication initiatives. Managed and coordinated production process, obtained quotes, selected vendors and oversaw quality assurance checks. Provided direction to photographers. Promoted to Art Director in June 2002.

GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Responsible for art direction, layout, design, production and promotion of Utility Safety Magazine. Created illustrations for feature stories . Performed photo editing duties and assisted editorial team with cover lines, titles and story concepts. Worked with printer on production issues and scheduling. Conceptualized and designed advertising, marketing and promotional materials, corporate identity, web sites, and trade show graphics. Served as staff photographer for trade show events.

SKILLS
Proficient in Quark X-Press, InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator, 
Experience with Dreamweaver, Flash, Fireworks, Acrobat, CSS, Wordpress, Emma, Google Analytics
Copywriting, Illustration, and Photography

EDUCATION
St. Norbert College, De Pere, WI
Bachelor of Arts, May 1998, Cum Laude
Graphic Communication
John F. Kennedy Scholarship

MEMBERSHIPS
AIGA Member
AIGA MN Portfolio One-on-One Reviewer, 2008-2011
Judge, O’Toole Awards

AWARDS

2011
AIGA Minnesota Design Awards (2)
American Graphic Design Awards (3) American Illustration 30 (5)
The Big Book of Packaging, HarperCollins
Communication Arts EXHIBIT (online)
Communication Arts EXHIBIT (Nov/Dec)
Creativity 41 (Gold, 3 Silver, Merit) 
Creative Quarterly 23
designworklife
Droga Magazine, featured designer
Eatspiration, Viction:ary (publisher)
FormFifyFive
FPO: For Print Only 
Graphic Exchange
Lovely Package
The MPLS Egotist 
The Show ‘11
Society of Illustrators 54

2010
AIGA Minnesota Design Awards
AGDA Awards: (2), 2 Best in Category
American Graphic Design Awards (2)
American Package Design Awards
Creativity 40: (2), 1 Silver 
Communication Arts EXHIBIT (online)
FPO: For Print Only
Impressions, Gestalten Publishing
Mr. French Sample Room (2)
The Show ‘10: Silver

2009
American Graphic Design Awards 
Communication Arts EXHIBIT: January and June (online)
Communication Arts Insights: featured designer (online)
Creativity 39: Silver Award
Designing for the Greater Good, Crescent Hill Books: 4 entries
FPO: For Print Only
HOW Self Promotion Design Annual
PRINT Regional Design Annual
The Show 09: Bronze
Wilmer Shields Rich Awards: Gold  

2008
AIGA Minnesota Design Show
American Graphic Design Awards
American Corporate ID 24 : 2 entries
Communication Arts: EXHIBIT, 2008 - Sept./Oct issue
Communication Arts: EXHIBIT (online) Feb, March, April, May
Creativity 38: 2 entries, 2 Gold 
HOW Self Promotion Design Annual
Minnesota PRSA Awards: Annual Report
STEP 100: Reader's Choice Finalist

2007
AIGA Minnesota Design Show
APEX Awards '07 
American Graphic Design Awards
Creativity 37: 3 entries, 2 Gold 
LACP Awards: Silver Award
MarComm Awards: Platinum Award

2006
American Graphic Design Awards:  3 entries
Creativity 36: 6 entries, 1 Silver   

2005
American Graphic Design Awards: 2 entries
American Corporate ID 21 
CASE Awards: Silver Medal
Creativity 35  
Logo Lounge 3

2004
American Graphic Design Awards: 2 entries 
Creativity 34: 3 entries
LOGO 2004
PRINT Regional Design Annual

2003
American Graphic Design Awards: '03: 2 entries
The Big Book of NEW Design Ideas
Creativity 33: 3 entries 
Society of Publication Designers 38: Merit Award

2002
Creativity 32: 4 entries 
PRINT Regional Design Annual

2000-2001
Digital Memories, International Library of Photography
Exhibitor, St. Norbert College Alumni Graphic Design Show