Being a creative director isn’t about managing creatives or controlling design, it’s about facilitating and coordinating collaborations. Being president of AIGA Richmond allowed me to explore aspects of myself and engage in new areas of design, design thinking and integration. I discovered new talents and grew in areas already established. A colleague recently paid me an empowering compliment, “If you ever need a cheerleader, you’ll have to hold tryouts.” As a result of my ongoing professional development, I have started my own company, Protozoa Design.
Curriculum Vitae (pdf)
Work Experience
Principal / Creative Director
- 01.2011 to present
Protozoa Design
• Creating identities, corresponding collateral and web sites for small to medium sized businesses across the country
• Contracting with local agencies on small to medium projects
Web Designer - 03.2004 to 01.2011
University of Richmond
• Created sustainable design systems for the University’s web site and online collateral that supported the branding and strategic plan
• Designed online marketing that included advertising, mini-sites and HTML emails
• Insured visual consistencies in design, photography and logo usage
• Managed digital assets for the University
• Created and maintained the processes insured proper usage of photography and logos
• Scheduled and managed photographers and photo shoots to supplement image library
• Worked with clients on multiple types of web based projects that included assessing the client’s needs, suggesting options, creation of timelines, execution, site architecture and supervision of any required vendors.
• Creates guides and workshops for campus units to insure a clear understanding of the
University’s web design systems and proper usage of assets
Freelance Designer - 10.2003 to 08.2007
Created web sites, logos and print collateral for a variety start up companies
Web Designer / E-Account Manager -
04.2001 to 09.2003
Concepts Direct Inc./eCDImail
• Designed, developed and managed e-marketing accounts
• Coordinated with clients to develop email strategy and scheduling
• Worked directly with clients on web design strategy and overall project development
Teaching Experience
Adjunct Professor - 01.2011 to present
Virginia Commonwealth University
• Teaching GDES: 491 Design and the Language of Interactive Media, GDES: 346 Visual Narrative I and GDES: 366 Visual Narrative II
Adjunct Instructor - 08.2011 to present
Virginia State University
• Teaching VCAD: 401 Web Design II and ARTS 207: 3D Methods & Material
Certifications
SWaM
eVA Network
Ariba Network
Memberships
GRCC
Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce
AIGA
the professional association for design
Education
Master of Liberal Arts - 2010
Film Studies - University of Richmond
Bachelor of Fine Arts - 2002
Communication Design - Virginia Commonwealth University
Bachelor of Fine Arts - 1997
Crafts - Virginia Commonwealth University
Speaking
Starting a Graphic Design Business - 09.2011
AIGA VSU Student Group
Coffee Talk: Avoiding the PDF - 12.2010
AIGA Richmond
GRADE 5 - 03.2010
AIGA Richmond’s Biennial, Greater Richmond Awards in Design Excellence
Annual Members Meeting - 11.2008
AIGA Richmond
Student Meet n Greets - Fall 2008
AIGA Richmond: Virginia Commonwealth University, Piedmont Virginia Community College and Virginia State University
Annual Members Meeting - 09.2007
AIGA Richmond
Community
Vice President - 08.2011 to present
AIGA Richmond
Contributing Artist - 06.2011
First International Skull Appreciation Day Invitational Exhibition
Gallery 5
Co-Founder/Coordinator -
05.2011 to present
The Independent Creative
Student Mentor/Advisor - 2011, 2010, 2009
CreateAThon on Campus
Virginia Commonwealth University
Contributing Artist - 10.2010 to 01.2011
The Sketchbook Project: 2011
Art House Co-op and Brooklyn Art Library
Judge - 03.2010
Annual Juried Student Show
Virginia State University
Exhibition Designer, Coordinator - 2009
AIGA Richmond
Advisory Board -
2008 to present
Piedmont Virginia Community College
In-House Task Force - 2008 to 2010
AIGA
President - 2007 to 2009
AIGA Richmond
Signage/Promotional Designer - 2007
AIGA Richmond
New Media Coordinator - 2006 to 2008
AIGA Richmond
Additional Skills
Thorough knowledge of Adobe CS: Photoshop, Illustrator, Bridge, Fireworks, Dreamweaver, Flash and InDesign, in addition to Coda, Transmit, Final Cut Pro, CSS, XHTML, Wordpress and Wordpress Multi-User, Moveable Type and Blogger theme customization and development, Google Analytics, content management systems (Cascade Server, Expression Engine), SEO, information architecture, usability, social media integration, Agile methodology, video production and editing, black & white photography and darkroom.
General knowledge of JQuery, Javascript, Action Script, XML, PHP and ColdFusion.