I am a recent graduate who is passionate about design and want to further my knowledge and practice applying myself within a creative team. I have the opportunity to gain a one-year work visa in the United States. My specialties in graphic design are publications, illustration, typography and packaging. Though these are my skills as of now, I am always looking to expand my knowledge in all things graphic design.

I attended Whanganui School of Design, Whanganui, New Zealand where I graduated with Honors in 2011. I was also lucky enough to have the opportunity to travel abroad where I attended a one-semester exchange at the University of Wisconsin, Stout. There I learnt a lot about new and traditional design techniques as well as international creative processes. In conjunction with finishing my final year of university study I also made myself available for freelance design opportunities. I worked with a range of interesting clients including art galleries, restaurants, cafes and charities. Currently I am a graphic design consultant with a Wellington construction firm. I am working in a range of media including print advertising, publications and also collaborated with web designers on web content and design.

I have this fantastic opportunity to work in the United States. Ideally this would be as part of a creative design team however I am realistic in my expectations and believe that any role will be beneficial

for me.

Yours sincerely

Tom McGuinness

EDUCATION

Whanganui School of Design

-Bachelor of Graphic Design

2008-2010

University of Wisconsin: Stout

Semester Exchange Programme

2010

Whanganui School of Design

Honors in Graphic Design

2011

SKILLS

Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Adobe Acrobat

Motion Graphics: Adobe After Effects, Final Cut Pro.

Theory & Working Knowledge:

Typography, Illustration, Color theory, tradition printing techniques (screen printing and moveable typography) and packaging.

EXPERIENCE

Freelance Graphic Designer:

2009-2012

While studying I made myself available to work within a wide range of clients including

-Art Galleries

-Restaurants

-Small Businesses

-New paper advertisements

LT McGuinness Graphic Design Consultant

2011-2012

Working within a building firm to up hold the graphic image held in such things as:

Brochure design

Website Re-imaging

Newspaper and Advertising

& Signage

REFERENCES

Jo Giddens

Lecturer at the Whanganui School of Design

jo.giddens.ac.nz

Andres Salinas

Lecturer at the Whanganui School of Design

sv93im@r.postjobfree.com

John Malthuis

Supervisor at LT McGuinness

sv93im@r.postjobfree.com

letter of reference

Jo Giddens

Senior Lecturer

sv93im@r.postjobfree.com

telephone 06 9653801 extn 61600

14 May 2012

To Whom It May Concern:

Tom McGuiness graduated in December 2011 with a Bachelor of Computer Graphic Design Honours; a conjoint degree qualification with the Whanganui School of Design and the University of Waikato.

It has been my pleasure to work with Tom as advisor for his Honours thesis dissertation, Exhibition implementation and as his lecturer in several papers over the past four years. I have very much enjoyed Tom’s creative approach to the conceptual development and construction of his projects with a special emphasis on illustration and typography aspects of the design industry a subtle humor often underpins his work. Tom’s Honours research project titled Pre Ripped Levis was one of the most successful in the Honours exhibition at the Information Centre, Whanganui in December 2011. The overall professional design and aesthetic of this show can be attributed to the team of students working well together in the participation during the semester and in the curating of the space.

An important aspect of Tom’s work is his ability to draw his ideas and concepts as they come up in his head, this constant graphic recording allows him to push the boundaries of any brief and yet meet all the requirements by the deadlines. His work is innovative and often involves using a wide range of print based media to achieve the truly original and creative work presented. Tom is a talented illustrator and is able to produce quirky, edgy streetwise work, however he is equally capable of designing more sophisticated, refined typographic and formal publication work. He has a firm grasp of typographic composition and has an innate sense of style commensurate with his Honours qualification from the Whanganui School of Design.

Tom is an extremely likeable, talented and self-motivated guy. I have been impressed with his constant drawing, research and passion for design. He has the ability to research with independence and to synthesis the findings in his own voice. He has made a point of attending the Semi Permanent Design Industry conferences and makes it his business to keep up to date with what is current in the world of Art and Design. Tom is well liked by his peers and staff, he fits in well with the group and contributes his ideas freely; therefore it is without hesitation I recommend him as a candidate for a position as a graphic designer or for further education in a Master programme.

Please feel free to contact me at any stage if more full information is required.

Yours faithfully

Jo Giddens

Senior Lecturer

Contact this candidate