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UX Creative Director, Strategy, Experience Designer
Erik Ewert
Atlanta, GA
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About
I love the excitement of developing ideas from inception through tangible success; with all the steps in-between. And for the last ten years, exhibit design has been that medium. The design process, sketching and ideation are key elements I enjoy, but I also like to produce away from the desk. And I've found great satisfaction in working with clients, support teams and fabrication to bring exciting, functional and compelling ideas into existence.
My world is at the intersection of Marketing, Design and Reality. Within that confluence I've designed water-parks and spatulas, crafted teak furniture, sold exhibits, managed budgets and teams, sourced truck loads of gummy bears, and a thousand other details that make the circus happen. I love finding solutions to design, budgets, logistics, and technical constraints. Overcoming those challenges is when I find my self at my best and most energized.
DESIGN FOCUS: Brand-Driven Architecture / Exhibits / Environments / Retail / Restaurant / Hospitality
SKILL SETS: Creative Team Direction / Design Process / CAD / 3D Studio Max / Micro-station / Adobe Creative Cloud / MS Office
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: Client Prospecting and Sales / Proposals + Presentations / Budget Management
DESIGN PASSION: Architecture / Furniture /Housewares / Outdoor Products / Toy Design / Hands-on Fabrication / Sculpture -
Education
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Post Education Training : Industrial Design StrategyCollege of Creative Studies2003
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B.A Industrial DesignArt Institute of Colorado1999 - 2003Product Design / Honors
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B.A Business / MarketingUniversity of Toledo1996 - 2003
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Experience
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Executive Producer - DesignerAtlanta, GAJun 2015 - Present (10 years 1 month)Within this boutique firm I was able to fully utilize my design and business skills for Virtual & Live Events. I directly produced and managed virtual seminars for 10k attendees, custom exhibits, web and mobile-app offerings, retail store fixtures as well as brand development, and marketing strategy for customers I secured. Executive responsibilities included design consultation, presentations, achieving sales targets, contract negotiations and successful event execution. Follow through and ownership of production was a key tenant of my role. Managed internal and external teams, fabrication, web design, AV technology, labor crews. Projects ranged from $20K to $500k. My entrepreneurial drive was essential for creating new B-to-B relationships, leading production teams for overlapping projects. Managed 10 accounts for multiple shows in a variety of market channels. Provided excellent customer service. Increased company offerings and billings by 30%.
Full Time Position: 2015-2020 - Current Position -
Design Consultant - ContractNew York, NYNov 2017 - Jun 2018 (7 months)Shanghai Planetarium:
Architectural design consultant for world’s largest science museum and planetarium. Tasked as lead developer for transition zones, I was also an integral team member on realizing the physical requirements of the visitor journey. Within this scientific-education focused project, I was tasked with blending the creative and functional needs required for complex story telling within an organically shaped structure. Close collaboration with scientists, architects, AV specialists, educators and government officials. Functions: Site planning, design, construction feasibility analysis, production planning, conceptual design and development, rendering, sketching, research.
Contract Position: 2017-2018 -
Creative DirectorAtlanta, GAJan 2013 - Jul 2014 (1 year 6 months)Recruited from Chicago to Atlanta to lead a team of 15 creative and production staffers in the pursuit of large scale, big budget, signature clients in the pharmaceutical (AstraZeneca), automotive (Audi), and manufacturing industries (Amada). As a change-agent I worked closely with entrench players and collaborated with the EVP leadership team. I was able to identify and implement several key tasks, including the establishment of a universal CAD software package. I fostered and educated a creative staff of 15 that grew from isolationism into a collaborative, energized and inspired team. As Design Lead on $3m to $5million budgets for pharma client (Brilinta, Crestor), I oversaw design and production aspects, collaborated on: strategy decisions, client management and outside agency message integration. During installations I was on the supervisor team which oversaw labor crews of 30, operating 24hrs/day for 3day setups.
Full Time Position: 2013-2015 -
Senior Designer - FreelanceChicago, ILNov 2008 - Jan 2013 (4 years 2 months)Freelance designer for leader in the exhibit design and production world. I developed world class environments, UX, customer experiences, retail and exhibit fixtures. Developed and delivered winning projects remotely and as needed.
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Senior Exhibit DesignerChicago, ILJun 2008 - Jan 2013 (4 years 7 months)Creative development and strategy provided primarily for the fast tempo industries of Exhibits, Events, and Live Marketing. I operate as an industry expert and outside resource for developing new concepts for physical spaces and new innovative marketing strategies for a wide range of industries including: pharmaceutical, commercial construction, military hardware, consumer electronics, real-estate holdings, flagship retail, and many more. Responsible for the creative development of many medium and large-scale design opportunities ranging in budget from $100K to $5M; across a multitude of industries. Trusted with the responsibility to deliver on-time, exceptional and highly effective solutions; I have been a direct resource for EVP and SVP sales leaders. Founding my agency, EDG - Ewert Design Group, in 2008 has given me opportunities, insights and success as a business owner far beyond the job title. I enjoy bringing this passion and dedication all my roles.
Full Time Position: 2008-2013 -
Senior Designer -FreelanceChicago, ILNov 2008 - Jan 2013 (4 years 2 months)Freelance:
Senior Exhibit Designer- Developed winning concepts for exhibits, UX, experiential and corporate environments, as needed with an on-going relationship. -
UX Designer - ContractChicago, ILJan 2011 - Jun 2011 (5 months)Contract role on BestBuy project: Designed and developed content including retail fixtures, interior store architecture, UX experiences, story boards, full brand development into new markets (IoT and new retail methods). Worked closely with multi disciplined team.
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Senior DesignerChicago, ILNov 2006 - Aug 2007 (9 months)Hi intensity 3d design and modeling and fast turn custom design production of exhibit designs. Rapid growth from Mid to Senior Designer position +40% pay.
Full Time Position: 2006-2008 -
Designer / AdvertisingTailford-MitchellToledo, OHJul 2003 - Nov 2006 (3 years 4 months)Illustrations and copy-writing for adverting clients. Adobe illustrator / Photoshop
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Project ManagementCMT General ContractingToledo, OHMay 1998 - Nov 2006 (8 years 6 months)Construction project management for commercial developments from start to completion, included re-rehabilitation and new construction. Responsible for planning and oversight of multiple projects simultaneously; orderly management of budgets and resources, collaboration with sub-contractors, engineers and inspectors; oversight of labor crews; multi-tasking and time management skills; worked closely with ownership to ensure clear communication and forecasting. Included apartments, retail storefront, restaurant, hotel, hospitality sites. Oversaw the building of 6 new construction jobs and 15 commercial renovations. Commercial Budgets: $250-$1m / New home builds budgets: $200-$500k
Full Time Position: 1998 –2006
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Awards
EDPA Midwest Designers Challenge 2012
Exhibitor Magazine: Various Project Spreads
Event Design Magazine: Various Project Spreads -
Affiliations
IDSA, EDPA, ASMT, YEO
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Industries
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Skills
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Elsewhere on the Web
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On Coroflot@erik_ewert, member since 2003
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Following 17
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Followers 82
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