Los Angeles Visual Designer

Kristen Maslanka, Visual Designer

208-***-**** ********************@*****.*** https://kristenmaslanka.artstation.com About Me

I’m an artist with over 8+ years of experience providing art for products, advertisements, video games, and animation. My classic training ensures mastery of my skill sets, and my strong work ethic ensures I’m always adaptable, well-organized, and ready to tackle a challenge. I believe firmly that form follows function, and I want our customers to appreciate the functionality AND the aesthetic of our product. I want them to be happy they spent the time and money on our product, because that in itself- is a great honor. Skills

● Soft Skills: Creative, Empathetic, Thoughtful, Strong Listening Skills, Communication, Organization, Heart.

● Hard Skills: Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, In-Design, Premier Pro, and After Effects, Figma, Photoshop, Storyboard Pro, Google Workspace, Asana, ShotGrid, Salesforce, Game Development, Research, Production Art, Sewing, Assembly, Narrative Design, Proof-reading, Typography.

● Product Design, Graphic Design, Brand Design, Presentation, Storyboarding and Concept Design.

● Passion for research, community, and learning!

Work Experience

Instructor- Concept Design 2, Concept Design 1

Toronto Film School Toronto, CA Part Time Remote January 2024 - Current

● Communicated timely, specific, and balanced feedback to students.

● Inspired a newfound appreciation for digital arts among students.

● Prepared a comprehensive curriculum including Character Design, Digital Painting, Costume Design 101, and Prop Design for Video Game Design students.

See Gull Draw Freelance/Contract Artist and Pop Up Shop at Faires and Markets. Various Los Angeles, CA Hybrid January 2015 - Current

● Notable clients include Mattel, Betsoft Gaming, Engine House VFX, StoneBlade Entertainment, and many more.

● Notable products include ‘Bowser- The Corgi with a Tail’ pins and ‘Casper and Wendy’ prints.

● Adapt to the market, cater to the niche kawaii-monster market I’m fond of, and keep maintaining quality! Visual Development and Concept Artist

DoubleDown Interactive Seattle, WA Hybrid August 2022 - September 2023

● Laid off due to economic changes, not performance-based.

● Created captivating mobile game assets for 5 successful games in development and 2 published titles.

● Created character assets for Match-3 games, and accompanying model sheets, emotions, and poses.

● Led art direction on multiple projects, defining the visual style for each game.

● Expanded skill set through collaborative learning in areas like game design, modeling, and UI design. Concept Artist

Big Fish Games Seattle, WA Remote August 2021 - August 2022

● Successfully completed contract.

● Concept art, character turnarounds, expression sheets, and storyboards for 12+ successful animated advertisements.

● Collaborated with outsourcers to deliver high-performance outcomes.

● Designed game concepts for future Big Fish releases, including slots, match-3 games, and more. Lead Graphic Designer and Illustrator

Ultra Pro International Los Angeles, CA Onsite>>Remote January 2020 - August 2021

● Designs and illustrations for 15+ Games, TCG, and Toys from concept to market.

● Conducted research, authored style guides, and formulated brand marketing strategies.

● Worked with licensed intellectual properties such as Frogger, LOTR, and NPR. Game Artist

Diamond Game Enterprises Los Angeles, CA Remote June 2018 - January 2020

● Successfully advanced from part-time to full-time.

● Created redline sketches and UV map texture paints to enhance model quality.

● Developed concepts into final illustrations and animations for various assets including environmental elements, characters, creatures, props, VFX, and costume variations. Customer Service Representative and Sales.

Oasis Marketing Solutions: Angie's List Los Angeles, CA Remote November 2016- December 2017

● Tele-sales, Assistance, and Customer Outreach.

● Tailored experience for each customer.

● Active listening.

Student Library Assistant

Laguna College of Art and Design Library Laguna Beach, CA On-Site August 2011- December 2015

● Resources, Research, Customer Service.

● Cataloging and Organization.

● Archiving, repairing, and identification of delicate books and materials.

● Event organization, designing, and activity coordination. Business Sales Representative

Center Partners: T-mobile Division Twin Falls, Idaho On-Site Summer of 2011

● Customer Service.

● Business Outreach.

● Business and Consumer Sales and Assistance.

News Editor and Journalist

Reporter Magazine Rochester, NY On-Site October 2010-May 2011

● Research, Editing, Proofreading, Writing.

● Print Review and Design Coordination.

● Team Lead; Organization and Development.

Education

Laguna College of Art and Design

Laguna Beach, CA

BFA - Illustration for Film and Animation, June 2011 - December 2015

● Achieved Dean's List several years in a row.

● Completed and thrived in a foundation-based curriculum.

● Learned to make educated and well-thought-out decisions.

● Worked in the Library while full-time schooling. Rochester Institute of Technology

Rochester, NY

Transferred- Film and Animation, June 2010-June 2011

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