PORTFOLIO URL: www.KostCreative.com

WORK EXPERIENCE

Xylem Inc.

Creative Graphic Designer - February 2011 - June 2020

• End-to-end Designer for a global water technology provider and engineering manufacturer of water pumps for public utility, residential, commercial, agricultural and industrial settings.

• Worked with international and national teams to develop content and determine project scope, concept illustration and layout, seek approvals and simultaneously implement multimedia projects.

• As Xylem Brand Ambassador, infused brand guidelines and maintained consistency across all marketing channels, including look and feel for all consumer-facing creative online, in print and across social media platforms.

• Created brochures, instruction manuals, catalogs, labels, packaging, specifications, posters, curves, case studies, white papers, ads, exhibit booth graphics, banner stands, product photography, event photography, logo designs, web and social media graphics.

• Used WordPress to upload and create website graphics, updates and new product overview pages.

• Served as Administrator for Workfront DAM (Digital Asset Management) for the Americas.

• Managed Print on Demand (ViaTech), which included approvals for new users, ordering and billing.

Ar-En Printers

Designer/Production Artist - July 2009 - February 2011

• Delivered high-quality creative products to customers to achieve their visions.

• Managed all file-to-print processes while staying within deadlines and budgets.

Handi-Foil Inc.

Senior Graphic Designer - April 2006 - Juy 2008

• Senior Designer for retail foil products company with end-to-end responsibilities.

• Mentored and supervised graphic designer, as well as managed contractors and vendors.

• Designed B2C labels, packaging, displays, sales collateral, PowerPoint presentations and ads, as well as B2B exhibit designs and product catalogs.

• Directed brand, product and e-commerce photo shoots.

• Managed image selection following shoots, which included photo retouching and color corrections.

PeopleScout

Creative Manager/Designer - May 2004 - January 2006

• Supervised onsite, full-time Designer (direct report). Reviewed and approved work to maintain brand consistency and cohesiveness. Mentored and motivated designer to achieve all goals and excel at work.

• Designed color and B&W ads, flyers, billboards, movie screens, exhibits, bus signs and web-based graphics. Photo sourced for editorial content.

• Estimated jobs for print, exhibit and premium items to stay within clients’ budgets.

• Clients: Jenny Craig, Anna’s Linens, Waste Management, Convergys (now Concentrix) and United Rentals.

SRDS/Kantar Media

Art Director/Designer - April 1999 - May 2004

• Applied conceptual thinking and creativity to complex design problems. New company logo. Rebranding.

• Managed all graphic content for new website, from concepts to launch.

• As Marketing Lead, interfaced with Technology to create homepage, landing pages, banners and pop-up ads.

• Designed product launch collateral, direct mail, product catalogs, exhibit designs, trade ads and logos.

• Clients: Sports Illustrated, Saturday Evening Post, IDG, ESPN, National Geographic Kids, G & J, and Forbes.

Creative Marketing Resource

Associate Creative Director/Designer - May 1997 - April 1999

• Associate Creative Director/Designer for Marketing/Advertising agency.

• Designed and produced brochures, collateral packages, trade ads, direct mail, logos, trade exhibits, outdoor signage and posters.

• Worked with internal and external writers, photographers, illustrators, photo retouchers and paper vendors.

• Clients: TransUnion, MacNeal Hospital (Loyola Medicine), Celtic Insurance and Select Portfolio Servicing (SPS).

Abbott Laboratories

Graphic Designer - May 1993 - May 1997

• Graphic Designer for the Hospital Products Division, an in-house design department for this multinational medical devices and health care company.

• Delivered end-to-end project management, which included meeting with all levels of Abbott employees, estimating jobs, creating concepts, design, and presentations, overseeing photo shoots, managing vendors and supervising contractors.

• Responsible for pre-press production, internal tracking through regulated circulation procedures, print estimates, executive approvals, billing and press checks on various print and exhibit projects.

• Managed print budget of $1.3 million.

FREELANCE

Wilbur Wright College

Adjunct Visual Arts Professor - January 2005 - Present

• Adjunct Instructor for beginning and advanced Illustrator and Photoshop.

• General drawing and independent study design classes.

Harrington College of Design

Adjunct Instructor - January 2009 - August 2010

• Adjunct instructor for Senior Design Studio, Advanced Photoshop and Illustrator.

• Objective of classes was to develop design skills using software, layout, color, type, and problem solving.

EDUCATION

The School of The Art Institute of Chicago, (Chicago, Illinois) Master of Fine Arts

College for Creative Studies (Detroit, Michigan) Bachelor of Fine Arts

InDesign CC, Photoshop CC, Illustrator CC, Acrobat Pro DC, Outlook, WordPress, PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Print on Demand (Digital printing), Smartsheet, Basecamp, MyAdExpress, and Workfront Digital Asset Management (DAM).

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