EDUCATION:
M.F.A. 2D DESIGN, 2009
Cranbrook Academy of Art (Bloomfield Hills, MI)
B.A. INDIVIDUALIZED STUDIES (MARKETING & ARTS MANAGEMENT, CREATIVE WRITING), 2005
Eastern Michigan University (Ypsilanti, MI)
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
COMPUWARE CORPORATION
EMERGING MEDIA / SOCIAL STRATEGY CONSULTANT, 2011-PRESENT (Detroit, MI)
• Consulting on mobile app concepts, specifically focused on the Auto Industry.
• Guiding Social Integration in mobile app concepts.
• Consulting on mobile app concepts, specifically focused on the Auto Industry.
• Guiding Social Integration in mobile app concepts.
• Ideating and designing for large scale integrated marketing projects.
• Project Management / Arts Management. Guiding the quality of the project from ideation to implementation.
COMPUWARE CORPORATION
VISUAL DESIGNER / UX DESIGNER, 2009-PRESENT (new position, see above) (Detroit, MI)
• Ideating new visual solutions for software interfaces across a variety of platforms including mobile devices.
• Tasked with developing new ways of visualizing complex data systems.
• Collaborating directly with software programmers and engineers in a self-directed, Agile environment.
• Expanded knowledge of new best practices in GUI design and implementation.
• Ideating new visual solutions for software interfaces across a variety of platforms including mobile devices.
• Tasked with developing new ways of visualizing complex data systems.
• Collaborating directly with software programmers and engineers in a self-directed, Agile environment.
• Expanded knowledge of new best practices in GUI design and implementation.
PANDORA INK DESIGN, INC
FREELANCE DESIGN & MARKETING, 2007-PRESENT (Beverly Hills, MI)
• Freelance graphic design for print and web.
• Marketing consultation for small-to-large businesses; b-to-b or b-to-c strategies.
• Freelance graphic design for print and web.
• Marketing consultation for small-to-large businesses; b-to-b or b-to-c strategies.
• List of clients and references are available upon request.
INSIDEOUT LITERARY ARTS PROJECT
LEAD GRAPHIC DESIGNER / INSTRUCTOR, 2008-2009 (Detroit, MI)
• Recruiting and coordinating/managing a team of 30+ independent volunteer graphic designers.
• Responsible for the completion of 33 poetry anthologies, including designing 4 books personally due to GD attrition.
• Assisting InsideOut in maintaining its visual identity by designing marketing pieces including newsletters, bookmarks,
calendars, Gala program materials, corporate correspondences, fund-raising materials, posters, etc.
• Coordinating and communicating with vendors and overseeing the production process.
• Developing / Implementing revised publication strategy (updating out-moded manuscript prep. and production strategies).
• Instructing High-School and adult students in Graphic Design concepts and software (Adobe CS3) in a weekly class at the
LMPC (Literary Magazine Publication Center), ensuring each student completed a culminating project.
ROSETTA SOLUTIONS / SEATTLE BOOK COMPANY
PROJECT MANAGER, 2007-2008 (Poulsbo, WA remote basis from Royal Oak, MI)
• Responsible for Market Research in assessment and development of NetGalley product (specifically with regards
to the Web 2.0 community, with a particular sensitivity for the needs and interests of the Blogging community).
• Project development of new service offerings, ideating a social networking solution for the Creative Class.
• Work was completed on a self-directed, remote basis, proven success in this “new” work environment.
• Graphic Design refresh of existing branding and website.
• Consulted (pro bono) from 2006-2007, prior to joining the staff.
LMPC (Literary Magazine Publication Center), ensuring each student completed a culminating project.
ROSETTA SOLUTIONS / SEATTLE BOOK COMPANY
PROJECT MANAGER, 2007-2008 (Poulsbo, WA remote basis from Royal Oak, MI)
• Responsible for Market Research in assessment and development of NetGalley product (specifically with regards
to the Web 2.0 community, with a particular sensitivity for the needs and interests of the Blogging community).
• Project development of new service offerings, ideating a social networking solution for the Creative Class.
• Work was completed on a self-directed, remote basis, proven success in this “new” work environment.
• Graphic Design refresh of existing branding and website.
• Consulted (pro bono) from 2006-2007, prior to joining the staff.
INTEGRATED COMPUTER SYSTEMS SUPPORT, INC.
MARKETING COORDINATOR, 2006-2007 (Redmond, WA)
• Responsible for developing and implementing marketing strategies for four distinct service areas / product groups.
• Product groups included Microsoft Dynamics NAV as well as Sage Software, and so was responsible for communicating
and collaborating directly with these partner and co-op marketing teams.
• Planning and executing marketing campaigns, including Graphic Design and production.
• Responsible for Graphic Identity of the company as well as the individual product groups. Major projects included graphic
refresh of corporate identity, major website overhaul, office relocation and interior design of new office space.
• Designed b-to-b marketing campaigns which leveraged new strategies of VDP and “lumpy mail”. This work was praised
by Microsoft’s Partner Marketing team, as well as modernpostcard.com, as exemplary design and used as examples for
campaigns for other partner organizations. This work continues to be highlighted on modernpostcard.com’s website.
BECKER&MAYER! BOOK PRODUCERS
PRODUCTION COORDINATOR, 2006-2006 internship (Bellevue, WA)
• Responsible for managing and overseeing complex “book+” projects.
• This included communicating with vendors in Asia, maintaining the production schedule, coordinating with Editorial
and Design departments, and communicating with multiple component vendors.
• Requesting and evaluating competitive bids from print vendors.
• Assisting the design team in anticipating logistical challenges prior to production.
POLK CITY DIRECTORIES (INFOUSA)
MARKETING CONSULTANT, 2005-2006 (Livonia, MI)
• Counseled customers in marketing strategies which leveraged the b-to-b and b-to-c databases of InfoUSA.
• Clients ranged from law firms to landscapers, large to small. This necessitated a great diversity of strategies and flexibility
as well as an innate understanding of business’ needs, marketing strategies, and excellent listening/communication skills
in order to understand the unique as well as universal challenges for such diverse business types and develop
strategies for each.
• Graphic Design of marketing materials for Polk identity (including a large “mix & match” customizable sales brochure).
• Was promoted from an in-house role to a field position and was relocated to Washington.
CELLAR ROOTS, EASTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY DEPT. OF STUDENT MEDIA
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, CELLAR ROOTS, 2004-2005 (Ypsilanti, MI)
• Cellar Roots is EMU’s student Art & Literature Journal.
• Graphic Designer from 2003-04,E.I.C. from 2004-05, Alumni (pro bono) Graphic Designer from 2005-06.
• As EIC, responsible for all aspects of leading and managing the program, including hiring and managing a staff of twelve,
maintaining budget, event planning, and design/production of an Award-winning publication.
• Highlights of my EIC term included growing revenue by 30% and reducing reliance on a single income source (which was
at risk), increasing publication from annual to quarterly, increasing campus awareness and involvement in the program,
and increasing community awareness and involvement in the program by expanding the scope of publication release events.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
BIRMINGHAM BLOOMFIELD ART CENTER
INSTRUCTOR, 2010 (Birmingham, MI)• Developing a curriculum for teen as well as adult students in basic graphic design.
• Leading students in ADobe CS5 for one semester at a mac lab at Lawrence Tech University.
• Creating engaging projects for a group with diverse technical ability, background, and interests.
CRANBROOK SUMMER ARTS INSTITUTE
INSTRUCTOR, 2009 seasonal (Bloomfield Hills, MI)
• Developing a curriculum for students aged 14-18 in Web 2.0 strategies to be harnessed for art making.
• Leading students in coursework for 3 weeks, 5 days a week, 8 hours a day. Including initiating out-of-doors activities.
• Projects include: webdesign using solely web-hosted services (such as synthasite.com), v-logs, creating digital
representations of “IRL” collage projects, creating a “choose your own adventure” book-type GUI, designing skins for
social networking sites, etc.
• Teaching methodology is of a self-directed nature, and projects will be tailored to students’ interests.
INSIDEOUT LITERARY ARTS PROJECT
LEAD GRAPHIC DESIGNER / INSTRUCTOR, 2008-2009 (Detroit, MI)
• Instructing High-School and adult students in Graphic Design concepts and software (Adobe CS3) in a weekly class at the
LMPC (Literary Magazine Publication Center), ensuring each student completed a culminating project (one of InsideOut's annual
student publications).
SKILLS:
COMPUTER PROFICIENCIES:
- Adobe Creative Suite (especially InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop; also Flash Catalyst beta)
- Microsoft Office Programs
- Internet Strategies (use and leveraging Web 2.0 online service offerings such as social networking sites)
DESIGN EXPERIENCE:
- Design for Print (postcard, brochure, signage, identity branding, etc.)
- Design for Publication (book design and book+)
- Web Design and online identity
- Design for mobile devices (iPhone)
- Variable Data Printing / Vanity URLs
PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE:
- Art Managing and directing divergent creative assets to deliver cohesive and reliable results.
- Art Managing and directing divergent creative assets to deliver cohesive and reliable results.
- Marketing Consultation and strategic planning.
- Early adopter of new strategies provided by evolving technologies such as Variable Data Printing, “Lumpy Mail”, “Book+”,
as well as leveraging Web 2.0 offerings (such as Print-on-Demand, Social Networking, blogging, wiki, podcasts, and more.)
- Self-motivated with track record of success in positions held on a remote, self-directed status.
- Self-motivated with track record of success in positions held on a remote, self-directed status.
- Experience in training and instructing others, as well as proven leadership and management success.
- Quality, team, and goal-oriented.
- Quality, team, and goal-oriented.
VIEW PDFs OF PORTFOLIO BY SECTION:
Marketing Design: Last updated June 2009, 6MB. View Now
Book Design: Last updated June 2009, 3MB. View Now
Poster Design: Last updated June 2009, 2MB. View Now
Fine Art: Last updated June 2009, 2MB View Now
Book Arts: Last updated June 2009, 1MB View Now
The portfolio is split into low-resolution sections because of file size limits.
For high-res examples of work, please contact me at melissa (at) pandoraink (dot) com
References and additional work samples available upon request.
