Experience

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  Top Step Design - Contract graphic & packaging design firm

  • Nampa, ID

  • Freelance Packaging Designer / Freelance Graphic Designer

    • Jul 2003 - Present
    • Nampa, ID

    I provide marketing and technical consultation along with professional level graphic design, retail packaging design, FDA compliant nutrition facts panels for food packaging, website design and SEO, product photography and copywriting services in view of helping clients develop effective marketing strategies and materials. Online portfolio may be viewed at http://www.topstepdesign.comRange of Projects:-Contract Graphic Designer for MOR Manufacturing, brochures, stationary, web design and trade show display design. Provided SEO services for company website which took the page ranks from the 30-40 range to top 10 ranking for most important keywords. Quote requests moved from 1-2 per month to 1-2 per day. - Freelance Graphic Designer for Copper Basin Construction, advertisement design, brochure, identity, and signage design. Marketing efforts moved Copper Basin from the #8 area builder to #1 in 4 years. - Contract Packaging Designer for Bio2Petlabs, logo design and identity package, bottle label design- Freelance Graphic Design Services for Trafficalm Systems, Identity Design, brochure design, trade show booth design, price sheet template design- Freelance Graphic Design for Interstate Cargo Trailers, product photography, poster design, logo design- Contract Packaging Design Services for Xtreme Technologies, logo design, website design, beverage packaging design, product photography- Contract Graphic Designer for Best Bath Systems, brochure design, logo design, control panel artwork, trade show graphics- Freelance Graphics Services for Systematic Machinery, logo design, brochure design, ad design, trade show graphic design- Contract Packaging Designer for One Click Butter Cutter, paperboard packaging design for CPG kitchen product- Freelance Package Design for Uni-key Health Systems, Fast Track Detox Diet CPG food product package- Contract Packaging Design for Raw Power Organic Foods, identity package design, bag and bottle label design

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  Bassett & Brush Design

  • Spokane, Washington Area

  • Senior Packaging Designer

    • Apr 1997 - Jul 2003
    • Spokane, Washington Area

    Created high-end retail package design for CPG clients in software, audio, and housewares industries. Consulted directly with clients to determine marketing objectives for each project, and completed all work from concept to final press-ready print files. Mindset: Mastered the "packaging mindset" required to design effective, shelf-ready paperboard packages, and the attention to detail required for retail package inserts, including inserted DVD sleeve graphics, CD and DVD imprint graphics, and any collateral material design that was needed for a complete retail package. Produced highly complex package design graphics aimed at strong shelf presence and a priority on selling the product right in the store aisle.Technical: Worked with complex die lines which included numerous folds, and flaps. Prepared files for offset printing with foil and emboss production techniques. Also created skin cards graphics, clamshell insert graphics, and food label designs as projects required.Fully acquainted with UPC code production and Nutrition Information Bar graphic production.Range of projects:Retail packaging design (numerous) for TOPICS Entertainment software, gaming and audio productsDVD sleeve design for Simply Software audio and software productsRetail package design for Pocketec, external hard drivesMagazine concept design, Advertisement Design and Fleet Graphic Design for Oxarc Logo Design, Video Sleeve Design and DVD sleeve design for Railway ProductionsRetail packaging design for Baby Genius audio productsRetail packaging design for Encore Software, software and gaming productsRetail package design for See'ms, eyeglass accessoriesRetail packaging design for NetProspector software productIdentity and retail package design for Heidizine quilting productsHardline sleeve design for BBQ set in caseWebsite design for Countertop Software

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  Printing Technologies

  • Erie, Pennsylvania Area

  • Pre-Press Technician/Graphic Designer

    • Sep 1994 - Mar 1997
    • Erie, Pennsylvania Area

    Responsible for troubleshooting and correcting client files for high resolution output of 1, 2 and 4 color printed pieces for fast-paced full service commercial printer. Also created a wide range of original designs for printed materials, doing all color correction, trapping, preflighting and proofing. Output electronic files to color laser printer, large format "Displaymaker" printer, and high resolution imagesetter.

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  Auto Meter Products, Inc

  • Greater Chicago Area

  • Graphic Designer/Packaging Designer

    • Jan 1985 - Jan 1990
    • Greater Chicago Area

    Created and produced graphic design for various promotional materials for racing instrument manufacturer. Projects included full color catalog design and brochure design, magazine ad design, product photography, technical installation instruction sheet design, trade show display design, retail packaging design and product design.