Renaissance Monkey Design 2009 – present
Self-employed graphic designer
Back in 2009 I decided to take the leap and start my own business. It has been a blast. As a self-employed graphic designer I have had the opportunity to work with a variety of interesting and exciting people and projects. I have worked with clients from many walks of life including arts & crafts, construction, entertainment, festival planning, health/wellness, industrial services, landscaping, manufacturing, property management, retail services, a variety of not-for-profit organizations and more. My responsibilities include design, layout, illustration, photo-editing, photography, web development, WordPress training and technical support.

SW Design / Real Women Magazine (Canada) 2006 – 2009
Senior artist / creative director

With SW Design my responsibilities included design, layout, illustration, photo-editing, photography, web development and copywriting. Additional responsibilities included maintenance and troubleshooting of the computers, printers and the local area network. When the company began to change its focus — changing the name to Real Women, phasing out marketing and instead concentrating on the magazine — I retained the aforementioned responsibilities for the business and added the design and layout of the magazine (10 issues per year). In the final year of publication a quarterly companion magazine (Urban Home & Decor) was added. I worked directly with the publisher and the editor to shape both magazines. I was also responsible for the creation and production of all Real Women’s marketing material. I supervised and directed the freelance photographer in shooting many of the images used for the covers and inside feature articles. In addition to the layout I was also responsible for designing and creating a large portion of the advertising within the book, working directly with the sales representatives, creating and implementing a system for insertion requests, ad creation and client proofing. Between issues I was responsible for the design, coding and maintenance of the magazine’s web presences for Real Women Magazine and Urban Home & Decor as well as the conversion, video editing and posting of the weekly Rogers TV talk show Real Women Live! onto the website.

Internal Designs / Sharpfusion 1998 – 2006
Senior graphic artist / art director

With Internal Designs my responsibilities included web-based design and layout as well as the design and production of printed marketing material for the company. As the company expanded (and changed its name to Sharpfusion) my responsibilities expanded to include design, layout, illustration, multi-media development, copywriting and photography. I was responsible for the supervision and direction of 2 junior artists and 2 coders. I worked with the sales representatives rather than directly with the clients. I was responsible for communications with printers and other out-of-house service providers. In addition I was trained on large format digital printing equipment as well as colour printer/copier machines to produce client materials in-house.

ReAct Communications Inc. 1996 – 1998
Senior graphic artist

My responsibilities included design, layout, illustration, pre-press preparation, multi-media and web development. I worked directly with the clients and out-of-house service providers such as printers and sign shops.

MacTop Publishing 1994 – 1996
Senior graphic artist

My responsibilities included design, layout, illustration and pre-press preparation as well as working directly with the clients. I also assisted walk-in customers with using the onsite rental computers (including training), coloured copiers, digital printers and duplication machines. In addition I was responsible for general maintenance and troubleshooting of printers, copiers, computers and the local area network.

Barry & Weedmark 1992 – 1994
Senior graphic artist

My responsibilities included design, layout, illustration, photography and pre-press preparation. I worked directly with clients, filmhouses and printers.

Geoff Dray & Associates 1990 – 1992
Senior graphic artist

My responsibilities included the design and layout of client projects. This is also where I first began working with computer layout applications and expanded my responsibilities to include production and pre-press preparation. I worked directly with clients, filmhouses and printers.

StrikeRite Matches 1987 – 1989
Graphic artist

I worked in both the stock and specialty design departments, responsible for design, layout and paste-up. I also worked with the copy camera to reproduce mechanical artwork. Additional responsibilities included producing film and plates for print production of one and two colour jobs. I created artwork specifically for matchbooks, Tissuepaks®, coasters, cups and other imprinted product lines.

Bothwell Graphic Communications 1985 – 1987
Graphic artist

I worked under an art director but also worked directly with the clients. My responsibilities included design, layout and paste-up.

Education

Fanshawe College 1982 – 1985
Course of study – Advertising Art (Major: Design)

I received training in design, estimating, illustration, layout, mechanical art, paste-up, photography and typography. The course also provided training in copy camera operation, film stripping, platemaking and typesetting.

Dryden High School 1976 – 1981
Course of study – General.