CAREER SUMMARY
Professional graphic designer with 5+ years agency experience in advertising and marketing. Classically trained (deadly with a pencil), but modernly experienced (know Adobe CS inside-out). Never shy in meetings– with colleagues or clients. Specialize in print but versed in web design and development (HTML+CSS). Love to brainstorm and doodle. Enjoy design on and off-the-clock, always looking forward to work with independent musicians, local artists, and non-profit organizations. Since majoring in design, have been on a productive career in the visual and commercial arts.
Have Mac– will travel.



PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Graphic Designer at Helen of Troy
January 2011 - Present (1 year 8 months)
Entrusted with the design, pre-flight, and physical layout of product packaging and manuals for the company's professional line of beauty products. These include hair dryers, straighteners, and curling irons under brands such as Hot Tools™, Gold N' Not™, Belson™, Wigo™, and smart heat™. Created original package concepts, designed new product graphics, and directed model photography for product shoots. Executed designs, and maintained graphical standards as established by the corporate identity. Efficiently communicated and collaborated with senior designers and marketers for every project.

Graphic Design Specialist at Helen of Troy
November 2008 - January 2011 (2 years 3 months)
Designed packaging for beauty products under world-renowned brands including Vidal Sassoon™, Revlon™, Tony & Guy™, and Bed Head™. Implemented original designs as well as designs appointed from Creative Direction. Responsible for the typographical layout of their respective instruction manuals. Worked with copywriters and translators to typeset up to 18 different languages per product for a worldwide audience.

Graphic and Web Designer at Lopez Marketing
August 2006 - November 2008 (2 years 4 months)
In charge of graphic and web design duties in a privately-run advertising firm. Responsible for the design, and pre-print production for mass-media designs including point-of-sale advertisements/displays, billboards, posters, and TV-commercial graphics. Brainstormed concepts with marketing and creative teams and participated in pitching ideas to clients. Responsible for print production of samples/proofs for proposed packagings and displays, and storyboards for TV commercials. As Web Designer, took control of the design, the coding (HTML+CSS), and maintenance of clients’ web sites, e-mail newsletters, and web graphics, etc.

Graphic Artist and Printer at Paper Chase
2002 - 2006 (4 years)
In charge of graphic design and print production of promotional material for local businesses, private organizations, and individual clients. Designed, typeset and printed catalogs, menus, brochures, flyers, and teaching manuals. Used industry-standard software, maintained contact with local off-set printer and conducted print checks. Entrusted with complex customer service issues and promptly resolved concerns to satisfy customers.



EDUCATION
The University of Texas at El Paso
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Graphic Design. 2000 - 2004
Dean's List 2004
Student Art Showcase Honorable Mention 2003

New Mexico State University
Excelled in Life Drawing, Art History, and Basic Design courses. 1999 - 2000

QUALIFICATIONS
• Bachelor of Arts Degree (Graphic Design Major, Creative Writing Minor)
• 100% Spanish Fluency (read, write, and speak eloquently)
• Creative aptitude with both pencil and mouse
• Manual dexterity for print production and comprehensive proof assembly
• Software specialty: Adobe Creative Suite (CS3 and above), Quark Xpress, Flash, Dreamweaver, Macromedia
• Literate in HTML/XHTML & CSS
• Efficient with both Macs and PCs