Raúl Peña
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About
I am a graphic designer and educator based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
I have worked as a freelance designer since 2009, serving clients throughout the U.S.. I specialize in branding & identity design, brand collateral, digital design (user interface & visual design), and all things print.
Between 2012 and 2015, I was part of amazing creative teams in Chicago, contributing to the creation of intuitive and beautiful digital experiences for Fortune 500 and 1000 companies. From 2003 to 2009, I was part of the award-winning Marketing & Graphics team at Zingerman’s, a company once named “the coolest small company in America” by Inc. Magazine.
My work for the arts and culture industries has been published by Farrar Straus and Giroux, S. Fischer Verlag in Germany, Yep Roc Records and Northwestern University, among others.
In 2016, I joined the faculty at Grand Valley State University as an assistant professor and teach beginning through advanced courses in Typography and Graphic Design. My research is focused on the exploration of confluences between graphic design and music. -
Education
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Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Graphic DesignUniversity of Illinois at Chicago2010 - 2012
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Certificate Summer Poster WorkshopThe Basel School of Design (FHNW HGK)2011 - 2011
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BFA Graphic DesignEastern Michigan University2005 - 2010
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Web DesignWashtenaw Community College2008 - 2009Took courses on Web Technology
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A.A.S. Graphic DesignWashtenaw Community College2001 - 2003
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ArchitectureUniversidad de Los Andes1996 - 1999
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Experience
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Freelance Graphic DesignerSelf-EmployedJun 2009 - Present (12 years 11 months)Print and Web design / Wordpress theme customization / book covers / posters / illustrations
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Contract InstructorStreet Level Youth MediaJul 2012 - Jul 2012Taught a week-long youth workshop (ages 8–14). The course focused on music visualization as an introduction to basic elements of graphic design.
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Graduate InstructorUniversity of Illinois at ChicagoAug 2011 - Apr 2012 (8 months)While completing my MFA at UIC, I taught an introductory Graphic Design course to first year undergraduate students.
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Contract DesignerSapientNitro2012 - 2012Worked as a visual designer, and as part of a team, in large and small interactive projects.
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Graphic DesignerOtherwise Incorporated2010 - 2011 (1 year)Worked as design contractor during the spring of 2010 and the summer of 2011.
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Graphic Design InstructorWashtenaw Community CollegeJan 2010 - Jul 2010 (6 months)Taught an introductory Graphic Design course, as well as a course on Adobe Illustrator.
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Graphic DesignerZingerman'sDec 2003 - Jun 2009 (5 years 6 months)Print and web designer. Designed and hand-coded websites using XHTM/CSS. Was Responsible for conceptualization, design direction and production of a wide variety of projects, ranging from newsletters and catalogs to packaging and illustration. Prepared graphics for print. Worked directly with printers.
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Graphic Design ContractorAnn Arbor Film FestivalJan 2007 - Aug 2008 (1 year 7 months)Designed the organization’s logo and the promotional material for the 45th and the 46th festivals.
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Industries
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Skills
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Elsewhere on the Web
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On Coroflot@rauldesign, member since 2007
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Following 55
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Followers 41
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