Ben Neff

Technical production specialist skilled in file preparation for large scale retail signage, vehicle wraps, catalog page production and traditional print. Image color corrections expert in product matching and high-end Photoshop manipulations. Solid knowledge of PDF workflow, digital asset management system.

Oversaw and managed photography operations for American Girl. Built an internal photo studio and team. Oversaw transition from traditional film to digital environment. Managed photography planning and execution with an internal team of 3 full-time employees, 15 temporary employees and numerous freelance talent. Shooting schedule included 15 annual lifestyle shoots (average 4 days each), 80+ days of complex doll-scale set photography and 50+ days of white sweep product photography.

Maximized a strong client-service ethic to support five major multi-channel marketing efforts annually in addition to other internal clients.

Coordinated schedules and balanced needs of multiple internal clients.

Led and managed budget of over $2 mm annually.

Led a team in the development, design and production of brand-building campaigns that included print ads, product launches, brochures, logos, and product packaging. Managed a team of 2 graphic designers.
 Art-directed campaigns and collateral, including:
 Product launches for American Girl Publishing (Pleasant Company Publications) that included design of the BEA trade show booth, business to business Bookseller catalog (AKA front list brochure) and collateral
 Direct-mail campaigns for AG magazine
 Business-to-business web site maintenance

Designed logos, product packaging, bus wraps, billboards, print ads, brochures, catalogs, and POP for Pleasant Company Publications and American Girl retail channels. Delivered technical files ready for production that included complex die lines for POP and packaging, spot colors and embossing. Attended press checks.

Designed print ads, brochures, catalogs, logos, product packaging, billboards, and POP for Pleasant Company Publications and Retail marketing channels.

Delivered page files ready for production. Created composite images and modified color for all images in the bookseller catalog. Revised logos provided from third parties to make them more efficient, including modifications for use at multiple sizes. Resized Bookseller catalog, worked with numerous multi-page and unique fold documents.

Designed print ads, sell sheets, brochures, catalogs, and logos for local and regional clients, including Kohler, Ohmeda and WPS. Prepared files for production during a rapidly evolving period for desktop computer technology using first or second generation versions of Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, PageMaker, and Quark Xpress.

Designed college textbooks from concept through final layout. Art directed and contracted with illustrators. Illustrated covers. Led physical design to desktop computer process.