GENERAL SUMMARY:

• Over 14 award - winning years' experience and expertise optimizing user engagement through clear content, simple navigation and clean, dynamic, corporate design including layout, visual / graphic design, graphic theory, typography, photo manipulation and retouching, and animation on multi-platforms and on multi-mediums.
• Easily transitions between the customer / business side to the technical side to translate requirements for technical execution.
• Passion not only to bring people together but to leverage for businesses to increase their revenues, an ability to integrate judgment, flexibility and human understanding into products.
• A thorough, responsible and dependable, well-organized and hardworking professional with client facing, customer service and vendor relations experience and expertise.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Good analytical and critical thinking skills. A user liaison and advocate and additionally:
• Agile team environment experience
• Project management knowledge
• Team lead experience
• Takes ownership of work and delivers under tight schedules
• Capable of carrying projects from concept to resolution
• Experience with confidential and classified information / materials
• Ability to produce whiteboard / graph paper renderings by virtue of drawing skills
• Strong interpersonal and management skills with strong work ethic and moral character
• Proven ability to initiate, develop, and grow with emerging technologies in the rapidly changing work place
• Passion for my work, willingness to learn, quest for knowledge, can do attitude
• Demonstrated ability to design to the strengths and weaknesses of modern web technologies
• Internet / Intranet experience and expertise including user-centered User Experience Design (Visual Design, User Interface Design, Graphic Design, Usability, Interaction Design, Layout Design, Accessibility / Section 508 Design (ADA Section 508 requirements and W3C WAI guidelines), Content Management, Information Architecture, Usability, Interaction Design), Web Design (Page Responsive / Grid Systems / Site Design, Page testing, Publishing, Graphics, Copy writing, W3C standard and best practices), Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and Content Strategy (front-end only), since 1998
• Skill in reverse engineering, research, and self-study
• Proficient in optimizing user engagement, user experience design, usability, simple user interface design, visual / graphic design, information architecture (IA), search engine optimization (SEO), content management, web page design, and website creation
• Strong graphic theory, layout, & design application over cross mediums. Typography specialist
• Expertise in logo design, retouching digital images, creating original images, photo manipulation / conversion and optimizing images for the web
• Strong cross platform with Macintosh and Windows OS, familiar with UNIX

TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY:

Visual Designer, Web Designer, Graphic Specialist, Graphic Designer, Visual Artist, Visual Information Specialist, User Interface Designer, User Experience Designer, UX Designer, UI Designer, Computer Graphic Interface Designer, Usability Designer, Navigation Designer, Information Architecture Specialist, Information Architect, Digital Designer, Interactive Designer, Webmaster, Photographer, Communication Designer, New Media Designer, Motion Designer, FLASH Designer, Aesthetic Designer, Cosmetic Designer, CGI Designer, Photo Retoucher, Cameraman, Videographer, Sound Editor, Sound Designer, Titler, Computer Animator, New Media, Motion Design, Opening Credits, Closing Credits, Titles, Title Artist, Digital Media Designer, Multi-media Designer, Multimedia Designer, Multi Media Designer, Lead Designer, Accessibility Expert, Accessibility Specialist, Search Engine Optimization, Advertising, Branding, Magazine, Newsletter, Typography, Creative Design, user flows, user flow docs, site maps, wireframes, mockups, hi-fidelity prototype development, infographics, web graphics, animated gif, sprite navigation, banner ads, leaderboards, skyscrapers, usability testing, Content management, Graphic Arts, Web, Photography, Video, Audio, Interface Design, Chromatics, DTP Associate, Federal Accessibility Guidelines, Federal Accessibility Standards, Visual Communication, Interactive Design, Informational Design, Storyboarding, Multi-media Design, Multi media Design, Digital Photo, Archival Photos, Visiogram, Creative Services, Creative Professional, Macintosh, Mac, UNIX, Adobe, XHTML, HTML, HTML5, CSS, XML, Section 508, ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act, Corporate Identity Package, Display ads, Page layout, Print, Prepress, Electronic Paste-up, Desktop Publishing, Packaging, Pretty

TECHNICAL SKILLS:

Software: Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, Photoshop, Fireworks, Illustrator, Freehand, Dreamweaver, GimpBlender, InDesign, QuarkXPress, OpenOffice, Dia, Aptana, Microsoft Publisher, Audacity, Final Cut Pro, ProTools, Microsoft Office Suite 2003 / 2007, MS Visio 2000, Microsoft Producer, familiar w/ Axure

Programming: Proficient in hand coded XHTML, HTML, CSS, and Accessibility / Section 508. Basic level JavaScript skill with basics only in the language itself

Specialties: User Experience Design, Content Strategy, Web Design, SEO, Web AccessibilityDigital Design, Multi-medium Communications, Photography, Videography

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Designer, Senior

Confidential, Palmetto, GA

Responsibilities:

• Multiple concurrent projects, dynamic scheduling, tight deadlines.
• Oversee & participate in all aspects of project design, production, and finalization.
• Collaborate with clients, vendors, contract support staff, and stakeholders.
• Work with clients to determine themes and purpose of projects depending on background of target audience without benefit of established formats or clear, unambiguous visual models or samples.
• Maintain full ownership & accountability for projects. Optimize user experience through clear content, simple navigation and dynamic design.
• Working experience & comprehensive knowledge of graphics software and equipment, layout, graphic theory, & design over cross mediums through multiple projects, dynamic scheduling, and tight deadlines.
• Create sketches, designs & layouts for various MARCOM components including, but not limited to, websites, interactive dashboards, landing pages, banner ads, desktop wallpapers, direct mail, brochures, newsletters, trade-show booths.
• Reverse engineering. Agile team environment. Lead team meetings.
• Work in team or individual arrangements as needed.
• Oversee & participate in all aspects of project design, production, & finalization. Recruit, select, hire, & terminate staff and contractors.
• Train & instruct personnel. Mission critical, decision maker.
• Art direct production team of nine professionals on several ongoing project.
• Web: Design and publish website resulting in source for 50+ new patients for client.
• Web design winner of industry recognized award for creativity and design excellence in web page design in global competition of web page designers.
• Create website, UX and IA design solutions for clients of diverse industries.
• Conduct focus group research, interviews, surveys & usability testing including A / B and Card Sort, and usability evaluations.
• Create strategy and design / create information schemes and structure organization; select appropriate approaches for hierarchy & navigation system to categorize content of whole site, based on hierarchy / navigation system.
• Create user flows / user flow docs, site maps to generate wireframes, mockups and hi-fidelity prototype designs with understanding of web design constraints utilizing tools such as Visio, Dia, Axure, Dreamweaver and Photoshop.
• Design and publish W3C standard & section 508-compliant, interactive, websites using responsive or grid systems design with focus on user-centered design, User Experience.
• Design, create and test website architecture. Search engine optimize (SEO) websites. Write XHTML, HTML, CSS, and modify JavaScript code.
• Content management of site and pages utilizing input from stakeholders.
• Create web forms and .PDF files.
• Create infographics. Create web graphics, animated GIF, icons, favicons, Apple-Touch icons, and FLASH animations / movies.
• Conduct photo and illustration research.
• Write & proofread copy for websites.
• Create digital media. Design and produce banner ads, leaderboards, & skyscrapers for web use. Publish web pages
• Photoshop, edit & retouch, manipulate, optimize photographs for web. Shoot & edit video presentations including for web presentation. Create desktop wallpapers & icons. Award-winning photographer. Georgia photographer award winner for Ujena Swimwear calendar shoot out of 5000+ photographers. Southern Living Magazine, Scenic Photography category, award winner out of 1000+ photographers.
• Direct and shoot photo & video sessions. Create video title, film credits, and special effects. Create PowerPoint presentations, advertising, product packaging & informational and instructional materials.
• Create promotional loops. Create CDs / DVDs

Graphics Specialist

Confidential, Atlanta, GA

Responsibilities:

• Created sketches, designs & layouts for various MARCOM components including, but not limited to, direct mail, brochures, course books, informational & instructional materials, advertising specialties, websites, landing pages, and PowerPoint presentations. Spec print jobs including stock type & bindery operations.
• Collaborated with client, vendors, and stakeholders including CEO.
• Attended meetings, teleconferences with stakeholders & colleagues.
• Worked with subject matter experts, & authors to determine themes & purpose of projects depending on background of target audience without benefit of established formats or clear, unambiguous visual models or samples.
• Maintained a strong client satisfaction rating and consistently completed projects on time.
• Established proper project procedures through knowledge & artistic abilities.
• Maintained high level of security as needed or required.
• Operated & maintained all graphics section equipment; determined current & proposed need; anticipated requirements for regular & special supplies and equipment.
• Authored scholarly technical paper.
• Trained & instructed personnel in use of software & provided guidance in branding compliance.
• Supported community outreach programs.
• Designed and published intranet landing page & support pages including page templates, graphics, user interface, FLASH animation, CSS, and HTML. Wrote copy for website. Selected appropriate approach for hierarchy & navigation system to categorize content of site, based on hierarchy / navigation system to generate wireframes, mockups & hi-fidelity prototype designs with understanding of web design constraints. Conducted focus group research & usability testing.
• Content management of site & pages utilizing input from stakeholders
• Created own design ideas through research & study of proposed projects to prepare original concepts to enhance or take place of portions of written text in executive-literature, analytical studies, program plans, etc., replacing narrative & emphasize key points.
• Exercised own judgment, imagination, and ingenuity in designing & selecting visual displays required for specific projects using extensive knowledge & skill in the use of, art media, materials, & reproduction processes, the wide variety of printing processes, the use of manual graphics production equipment, a variety of state-of-the-art automated equipment, and a variety of software packages to determine the appropriate layout & design of executive publications. Designed and created large print posters, business cards, brochures, covers, directories, programs, invitations, CD / DVD labels, and catalogs.
• Desktop publishing activities.
• Created modifications of floor plan in architectural blueprint.
• Conducted photo & illustration research & made recommendations based upon appropriateness to project content.
• Preflight & proofread jobs. Spec print jobs including stock type.
• Conducted press checks
• Photographed various special events, meetings, individual & group portraits.
• Shot & edited video presentations for web presentation.
• Photoshop, edit & retouch, manipulate, photographs for web & print.
• Optimized images for web. Created CDs / DVDs

Intern Audio Engineer

Confidential, Jonesboro, GA

Responsibilities:

• Gripped sound equipment, recorded audio sessions, performed post audio editing and assembly, published CD media, set-up Recording Studio

Intern Web Designer

Confidential, Morrow, GA

Responsibilities:

• Designed and published W3C standard and section 508-compliant, website winner of industry recognized award for creativity and design excellence in web page design in global competition of web page designers.
• Designed and published departmental website landing page and support pages including page templates, user interface, CSS, and HTML.
• Designed, created, and implemented weekly status reports, wireframes, and hi-fidelity prototypes.
• Conducted weekly meetings with stakeholders.
• Designed and published college’s first website section to feature section 508 compliant, web page design and accessibility. created heightened awareness in lack of ADA compliant design, site wide, inspiring redesign of entire campus website to meet section 508 compliant design standards and accessibility guidelines.