Raúl Peña

Freelance Graphic Designer at Self-Employed

Grand Rapids, MI

raulpg.com

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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
- Master of Fine Arts (MFA) Graphic Design
  
  University of Illinois at Chicago
  
  2010 - 2012
- Certificate Summer Poster Workshop
  
  The Basel School of Design (FHNW HGK)
  
  2011 - 2011
- BFA Graphic Design
  
  Eastern Michigan University
  
  2005 - 2010
- Web Design
  
  Washtenaw Community College
  
  2008 - 2009
  
  Took courses on Web Technology
- A.A.S. Graphic Design
  
  Washtenaw Community College
  
  2001 - 2003
- Architecture
  
  Universidad de Los Andes
  
  1996 - 1999
Experience
- Freelance Graphic Designer
  
  Self-Employed
  
  Jun 2009 - Present (12 years)
  
  Print and Web design / Wordpress theme customization / book covers / posters / illustrations
- Contract Instructor
  
  Street Level Youth Media
  
  Jul 2012 - Jul 2012
  
  Taught a week-long youth workshop (ages 8–14). The course focused on music visualization as an introduction to basic elements of graphic design.
- Graduate Instructor
  
  University of Illinois at Chicago
  
  Aug 2011 - Apr 2012 (8 months)
  
  While completing my MFA at UIC, I taught an introductory Graphic Design course to first year undergraduate students.
- Contract Designer
  
  SapientNitro
  
  2012 - 2012
  
  Worked as a visual designer, and as part of a team, in large and small interactive projects.
- Graphic Designer
  
  Otherwise Incorporated
  
  2010 - 2011 (1 year)
  
  Worked as design contractor during the spring of 2010 and the summer of 2011.
- Graphic Design Instructor
  
  Washtenaw Community College
  
  Jan 2010 - Jul 2010 (6 months)
  
  Taught an introductory Graphic Design course, as well as a course on Adobe Illustrator.
- Graphic Designer
  
  Zingerman's
  
  Dec 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.
- Graphic Design Contractor
  
  Ann Arbor Film Festival
  
  Jan 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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- Education
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On Coroflot

@rauldesign, member since 2007
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