Resumé

Robert G. Donges
1206 Cortland Ter, Wauconda, IL 60084
847.526.1730 (home) 847.641.7503 (cell)
E-mail: rdonges72@yahoo.com
URL: http://www.coroflot.com/rdonges/portfolio


Professional Experience
As a Sr. Graphic Designer and Packaging Production Artist, I am responsible for evaluating current and competitor packaging. To develop, create and help direct the overall visual branding of design elements which directly and subliminally communicate a company's values and personality through compelling imagery and design style and apply those concepts through all packaging, promotions and trade communications. This discipline ensures business strategies, budgets and objectives can be achieved. I have worked on high profile accounts such as: Wal-Mart, Target, Costco, Sams Club, Dollar General, HEB and McDonalds.

RR Donnelly/Premedia Technologies, Elgin , IL
2012 – Present- Packaging Designer, Consumer Products
Layout and production of mechanicals for consumer packaging. Prepared digital files for pre-press. Also developed creative concepts for packaging mock-ups. Prepared final digital files for retail catalogs.

Merchandising Dynamics, Wauconda, IL
2011 - 2012 - Freelance Designer (Graphic Design & P.O.P. Design)
Design and create solutions for Business-to-Business, Retail Consumer Packaging, P.O.S./P.O.P., and Corporate Design. Layout/Design & production art for: direct mail, sales promotion, email advertising, web sites, print advertising, collateral (brochures, newsletter, posters, etc.), forms, retail catalog, presentation materials, and inserts. 3D-computer rendering as needed within project budget.

Pactiv Corporation, Lake Forest, IL
2006 - 2011- Senior Graphic Designer, Hefty Consumer Products
Worked with a team of Designers to create the overall visual branding of the Hefty consumer packaging product line. This included 4 categories; Waste, Storage, Tableware and Disposable Cookware. My core responsibility was development of creative packaging solutions, promotions, product sales sheets, signage, and shipping container solutions for all Sales and Marketing Business units of Hefty Consumer and private label packaging. Created comprehensive 3D renditions for prototyping of POP/free standing floor displays for customer presentations. Created final production art for poly bags and corrugated packaging within the Hefty product line. I coordinated production of final art for pre-press. Other responsibilities include:
•Work with outside vendors. Determine print specifications, due dates, proofing and approve mechanicals
•Work with key decision makers (Marketing Managers/Product Managers) to obtain approvals on artwork
•Review and approve all consumer/private label proofs and attend press approvals as needed

Freelance Designer for Samaritan Display, Schaumburg, IL
Graphic Design, Print Design and Production & Creative Design for Temporary & Permanent Displays P.O.P
2002 - 2006 - Freelance Designer
Designed and created solutions for Consumer Packaging, P.O.S./P.O.P. layout/design & production art for: credit card design, direct mail pieces, sales sheets, email advertising, web sites, print advertising, brochures, newsletters, posters, retail catalog design/layout and production, presentation materials, and inserts. Provided mechanicals, die vinyl’s, mock-ups/prototyping, line drawings, and 3D-computer rendering as needed within project budget.

RTC Industries, Inc. Rolling Meadows, IL - Retail In-Store Design Agency
1998 - 2002 - Senior Graphic Designer
Produced layouts, final production art, line drawings, color sketches and 3D-computer rendering for all retail display solutions for P.O.P. permanent and temporary floor displays. Helped create full-scale mock-ups of concepts for presentations. Helped provide direction of the graphic design department with weekly scheduling of jobs to designers. Helped monitored effectiveness of department and recommended appropriate changes. I have worked on high profile accounts such as: Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Anheuser-Busch, Nike, Timberland, Columbia, Hasbro, K-Mart and Wal-Mart.


Bell & Howell/Postal Systems Inc., Lincolnwood, IL - Postal Sorting Systems Designers
1995 - 1998 - Graphic & Documentation Production Manager
As a manager, I was responsible for the development and scheduling of graphics, documentation and marketing communications. I supervised a team of document production specialists. This included 3 technical writers and 1 graphic designer. Also, I provided the creation of 3D illustration drawings, graphic layout and design of all corporate marketing materials.


IPI Medical Products, Chicago, IL - Manufacturer of Respiratory and Anesthesia Devices
1992 -1995 -Advertising Manager
Responsible for advertising department budget of 250K. Managed indirectly a support team of 3. My duties were the coordination of tradeshows, booth graphics and the creation of sales support materials. I developed media kits, press releases, direct mail programs, placement of trade magazine advertisements, product brochures and power point presentations. Creative direction, design and production of all printed materials. Also scheduling of outside vendors for photography and 4-color printing.


Lawson Products, Des Plaines, IL - Distributor of Maintenance Hardware Products
1988 -1991- Graphic Designer - Sr. Graphic Designer
Catalog graphic designer in a full service, in-house Graphic Arts department, I was responsible for layout and design of a 1700 page sales product catalog. Created marker comps, air brushed artwork for backgrounds, logos and typography. Directed photographers on model and table-top shots. Supervised in-house typesetters and productions artists. Worked closely with in-house color separator and printer during press approvals.


Nolan & Company, Skokie, IL - Advertising Agency – 1985 -1988
Production Artist - Graphic Designer
Production Artist/Graphic Designer, created original artwork, prepared camera-ready boards for four-color printing. Created marker layout comps for consumer packaging of toys, candies, sporting goods and automotive accessories. Created mock-ups, packaging, catalogs and brochures. Created final production (keyline/paste-up) boards.


Technical Experience (Hardware/Software)
I possess excellent knowledge of all Adobe CS5 Suite programs including Illustrator, InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Word & Excel on both platforms Macintosh OS 10 and Windows XP
• Photoshop CS5 • Illustrator CS5 • InDesign CS5 • Quark 6.5
• Carrara Pro 8 • Cinema 4D • 3DMax
• Digital SLR Cameras • Flatbed Scanners • All Microsoft Office programs

Education
Northern Illinois University / BFA - Visual Communications – May 1983
University of South Dakota / Fine Art, Photography and Mechanical Illustration

Projects by Robert Donges