EXPERIENCE Web Media [ empowering through management / pushing design ability ] SENIOR ART DIRECTOR, PLURAL 1999 - 2001 created Plural's initial website upon company changing name and business direction; responsible for hiring design staff and developing process; presented portfolio of previous experience to prove Plural's creative capability to potential clients   |   created compelling design concepts and mood boards for clients such as Polo Ralph Lauren, Liberty Travel, US Bank, Port and Institutional Investor; developed designs to make best use of proposed technologies for project, with key consideration to user-experience and usability   |   participated in brainstorming pitches, developing site analysis and forming strategic approach to project's pitch   |   nurtured strong communication with clients; related strategic and aesthetic reasoning behind design concepts, allowing client to trust art direction and process   |   efficiently managed by mentoring designers, with a goal to improve designers' abilities as well as project by enhancing designers' conceptual vision of project; communicated designers' intentions to clients and translated clients' goals to designers; ensured efficient work flow between design staff and production team; promoted balance among designers, programmers and client   |   developed crucial organizational skills to oversee projects in their entirety Clients included: Polo Ralph Lauren, Institutional Investor (www.iimagazine.com), RedChip (www.redchip.com), Targus, Port (www.port.com), Suite Home Chicago (www.chicagourbanart.org), Financial Services Volunteer Corps ART DIRECTOR, AGENCY.COM 1997-1999 mastered all facets of web design, applying print experience, typography skills, and acute sense of brand; responsible for visual integrity of work from design team; oversaw creation of designs from concept to production; assessed implementation throughout projects' production and completion, sometimes done in other offices nationally   |   ensured designs' tone and consistency in projects involving multiple designers; divided work among designers and coordinated production schedules; estimated delivery schedules for design work   |   designed and art directed It's My Body site for Johnson & Johnson (www.itsmybody.com) with ambitious timeframe; casted models and directed photo shoot; storyboarded flash pieces; winner of London International Advertising Awards, 1999 "Best Health/Home/Living" Web site; International Web Page Awards, 1999 Best in Category: Education, 1999 Creative Excellence Award; Applied Arts Annual Contest, 1999 "Informative/Educational" Web site Winner   |   worked with photographers and illustrators in realizing design concepts; developed designs in close communication with information architects, creative directors, and producers   |   mentored designers by determining strengths and encouraging discussion of design throughout changing team structures and business process Clients included Colgate, Johnson & Johnson (www.itsmybody.com), Armstrong, Uncle Ben's, and Lazard Frère Print Media, 1991-1997 [ design foundation / branding experience ] Senior Designer, Frankfurt Balkind designed print collaterals for clients of Frankfurt Balkind, specializing in corporate identities, advertising materials and annual reports; versed in all aspects of print production, working within tight deadlines; clients included Time Warner, Lifetime Channel, IBM, MCI and HMV Music Senior Designer, RCA Records/BMG Music explored creative possibilities designing for entertainment industry clients; collateral included CD cover artwork, posters and promotional materials for BMG music recording artists Freelance and Consultancy designed brochures and various promotional materials for clients such as PlanetOut, Philip Morris, Metropolitan Furniture; freelanced for design firms such as Dentsu, Liquid Edge, Studio Archetype and Ogilvy & Mather EDUCATION [ Germany: Bauhaus design philosophy / Switzerland: Swiss Typography / America: creative freedom ] Art Center College of Design BFA with Honors from Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, California Art Center College of Design, La Tours de Peilz, Switzerland