John Herold
Graphic Designer / Art Director / Marketing Specialist
9335 Chestnut Circle, Dexter, MI 48130
(734) 645-6775
Online Portfolio: jherolddesign.com
Profile Summary
Outgoing, veteran creative professional with extensive experience in all aspects of graphic design and artwork production, project planning and management. Flexible working style – effectively works both independently or in team settings. Adapts quickly to changing project and client needs. Excels in managing multiple projects with strong attention to detail, problem solving, and follow through. Superb written communications, interpersonal, and organizational skills. Areas of expertise include:
• Graphic design, art direction, and art production
• Adobe Creative Suite: InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Lightroom, and Premier
• Microsoft Office, Powerpoint
• Print collateral materials, advertising, packaging design
• Knowledge of all aspects of offset and digital prepress and print production processes
• Studio photography, image retouching and compositing
• Video editing and audio production
• Web graphics and Email marketing; WordPress
• Trade show team leader
• Copywriting
• Quotations and budgeting; vendor relationships
• Creative briefs, team leader, process mapping
Professional Experience
Graphic Design & Art Direction
30 years’ experience as a graphic designer, production artist, and art director in fast-paced, high-volume environments. Responsibilities have encompassed every aspect of the creative process – concept, design, copywriting, in-house photography and video, prepress, vendor coordination, approvals and quality control. Produced corporate identity systems, brochures, sales collateral, direct mail, catalogs, advertising, web graphics, newsletters and trade show graphics.
Marketing Project Management
Proven track record as a resourceful problem solver. Excels at analyzing client and customer needs to develop compelling brand and marketing strategies. Works well under pressure in demanding, time-sensitive situations. Works with internal departments and external clients to provide expert recommendations for concept, design, copy, art direction, final production and print. Inspires, motivates, and collaborates with the marketing team to produce top notch results, overseeing all projects to ensure consistent branding and messaging.
Employment History
Thetford Corp., Ann Arbor, MI • Art Director / Graphic Designer • 2011-Present
• Full-time marketing contractor for global leader in the RV industry.
• Served OEM, distributor channel, consumer, and internal audiences.
• Responsible for graphic design and production of print collateral, including brochures, catalogs, technical documents, advertising, trade show graphics, POP, web graphics, and product photography.
• Designed consumer product packaging requiring strict printing guidelines and government regulations.
• Created and maintained extensive digital file archives and image library.
• Executed build-out of photography studio – brought all product photography in-house, realizing over $10,000 a year in cost savings.
ReCellular, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI • Senior Graphic Designer and Marketing Project Manager • 2006-2011
• Recruited as lead graphic designer and project coordinator for rapidly growing “green” business.
• Revitalized branding and communications to emphasize the company’s environmental image, including brochures, product slicks, presentations, trade show graphics, advertising, POP, and direct mail.
• Developed compelling and effective recycling campaigns for Cell Phones for Soldiers, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Sprint, Verizon Wireless, Motorola, Virgin Mobile and others.
• Produced web graphics, banner ads, and HTML email campaigns; directed IT group on website improvements.
• Successfully managed $120K trade show budget for major exhibits at Consumer Electronics Show and CTIA Wireless: exhibit layout and design, planning and logistics, staff training, vendor sourcing, pre- and post-show communication, and travel coordination. Saved $30K on build out of new exhibit.
• Revamped lead capture strategies, reducing floor-up from several days to less than an hour.
• Championed new email marketing initiative for sales group: developed contact lists, created HTML email campaigns, managed ConstantContact account and third-party email vendor. Consistently achieved 50% open and 45% click rates.
• Negotiated advertising contracts.
• Managed contract employees and interns.
McCullagh Creative, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI • Art Director and Graphic Designer • 1997-2006
• Served as a one-man art department for a fast-paced, full-service advertising agency.
• Handled every phase of the creative process – concept, design, photo art direction, print production, and copywriting.
• Delivered 3,000 projects over eight years, including corporate identity, brochures, menus, billboards, newspaper and magazine ads, web and trade show graphics.
• Direct interaction with a diverse roster of clients: high tech, medical, financial, hospitality, retail, and nonprofit.
Shar Music Company, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI • Art Director and Graphic Designer • 1993-1997
• Designed and wrote copy for bi-annual 64-page mail order catalog for stringed instruments, sales circulars, and direct mail that pushed the creative thinking of an otherwise traditionally-minded company.
• Wrote and designed print ads for prominent international publications such as Strings and The Strad.
• Extensive experience in photo art direction and retouching, print buying, and press proofing.
Nonprofit Enterprise at Work, Ann Arbor, MI • Freelance Graphic Designer • 1993-2008
• Designed catalog for educational courses, as well as other print collateral.
• Worked with the program manager to streamline production time by 50%.
Meader & Meader, Ann Arbor, MI • Graphic Designer • 1993
• Excelled at delivering work on tight deadlines and even tighter budgets for hi-tech and medical clients.
• Designed and produced brochures, ads, logos, packaging, trade show graphics, and direct mail.
Stephenson+Taylor, Inc., Toledo, OH • Graphic Designer • 1991-1992
• Academic success led to an advertising agency internship – hired full time upon graduation.
• Designed and produced ads, brochures, technical documents, and logos.
• Clients included Owens Corning, Mercy Hospital, Gates Roofing Products, and The Andersons.
Education
BFA in Graphic Design, 1993, Bowling Green State University