Resumé

Justin Cownden
13911 Clifton Blvd #3
Lakewood, Ohio 44107
216-990-0704
justin.cownden@gmail.com
www.gingerblah.blogspot.com

Career Summary

Innovative Graphic Designer and Illustrator. Diversified experience with designing brochures, logos, posters, CD Packages; painting large scale murals; and printmaking. Possess key strengths in hand drawing, interpreting concepts, and marketability of designs. Organized, creative, able to work independently or in team environment. Thrive in fast-paced constantly changing work environment.
*Drawing expertise in graphic software and traditional mediums.
*Expert in creating Patterns for use in surface designs.
*Expert in Adobe Photoshop.
*Strong Graphics & Fine Arts Background.
*Surface and Pattern Design
*Interpreting concepts
*Hand Drawing
*Marketable Designs
*Adobe Creative Suites
*Print Production Processes

Professional Experience:
• 02/2011 - 02/2011 Freelance Catalog Design
The Creative Group/Linear Design Cleveland, Ohio
- Design and formatting of Framing Product Catalog.

• 11/2009 - 04/2010 Freelance Package Design
The Creative Group/Faber-Castell Cleveland, Ohio
- Illustration and Design of Make Your Own Art Kits for ages 15 & up.
- Conceptualizing and planning of entire package design.
- Design of Instruction Booklets and Design Guides for each art kit.
- Redesign of Eco-Pencil logo for Faber-Castell.
- Research of color trends for use in the package design.

• 5/2003 - 6/2008 Surface and Product Designer
American Greetings, Cleveland, Ohio
-Illustration and Design of Art for Major Retailers.
-Conceptualizing and planning of designs.
-Pattern Making and Surface Design for use in gift wrap & gift bags.
-Color correcting art.
-Research of Color and Design Trends.
-Proofing and comping of designs.
-Nominated for 2008 AG Chairman’s Award for design contribution on Wal-Mart Value Wrap Campaign. Award is based upon artistic and commercial success of product.
-Had large number of designs included in Target's spring 2009 gift wrap & gift bag line.
-Brainstormed new technology products that resulted in a line of musical cards and giftbags. Line is in current production.

• 10/2002 - 4/2003 Designer/Technical Writer
Kelley Services/Invacare, Elyria, Ohio
-Redesign of technical manuals.
-Production of technical illustrations.
-Assisted in some technical writing.

• 7/2000 - 2/2002 Digital Graphics Assembler
American Greetings, Cleveland, Ohio
- Responsible for all pre-press functions and proofing of greeting cards and gift bags.
- Constructed pdf files, formatted electronic files and archived jobs.
- Achieved one of the lowest error rates in the department and exceeded production goals.
- Trained other associates how to make pdf files more efficiently and how to research missing files.
- Informal leader, helped other associates problem solve.
- Completed software training in half the expected time and worked with little supervision.

• 4/1995 - 4/1998 Graphic Designer
Graphic Services YSU, Youngstown/OH
Designed logos, brochures, posters and did some illustration work.

Education:
MFA, Painting, Memphis College of Art, Memphis, Tennessee
BFA, Graphic Design/Printmaking, Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio

Software:
Macintosh and Windows Computers
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe InDesign
Adobe PageMaker
Adobe GoLive
Corel Draw
Macromedia Freehand
Quark Express
Ableton Live
Soundedit 16

Exhibitions

- Pages: Artist Books and Sketchbooks exhibition, Kansas City, MO 2010
- Renegadez Ungergrount Art, Lincoln Park 2008
- Untitled Painting Exhibition, 1300 Hundred Gallery 2003
- Small Doses Exhibition, 1300 Hundred Gallery 2003
- 50/50 Exhibition, 1300 Hundred Gallery 2003
- MCA Graduate Thesis Show 2000
- MCA Graduate and Faculty show 1999
- MCA Works On Paper 1999 - (student curated)
- Cedars Cafe S.W.E.A.T. Gallery show, 1998.
- YSU annual student Art Shows (juried), 1995, 1996 and 1997
- Four Student Collaborative Installation McDonough Museum of Art 1997
- Dual Show with X-Files artist Miran Kim at the Trumbull Art Gallery in Warren, OH.in June 1998
- Works On Paper juried biannual exhibit, McDonough Museum of Art in 1995 and 1997.
- Cedars Cafe S.W.E.A.T. Gallery show, 1998.

Awards

- John Naberezny Drawing award 1997.
- Student Art Association award for Printmaking 1997.
- McDonough Museum merit prize purchase award, 1997 Works On Paper.
- Golden Key National Honor Society
- YSU Florence Simon Beecher Scholarship
- Merit Scholarship from Memphis College of Art

Projects by Justin Cownden