Professional Profile
Award-winning work as a designer and writer, experience managing print and web projects from start to finish, and outstanding conceptual and strategic thinking skills position me to provide effective visual communications solutions. I think deeply about each project’s communication objectives and each client’s competitive environment, and strive to execute designs that integrate form and function.
Work Experience
Nov 2010–Present
Senior Web Designer/Creative Lead
Center for History and New Media,
George Mason University Fairfax, VA
- Design content-heavy education and history-related websites driven by an open-source CMS
- Collaborate with front-end php and Drupal developers
- Create wireframes, mood boards, and site maps
- Design print collateral and ads in support of CHNM projects
- Customize Wordpress themes
- Provide creative direction, training, and consultation to Center staff
Mar 2008–Nov 2010
Web Designer
Center for History and New Media,
George Mason University Fairfax, VA
- Designed content-heavy education and history-related websites for historians and the public
- Designed print collateral and ads in support of CHNM projects
Dec 2003–Mar 2008
Freelance/contract designer
Aquent, Profiles, various freelance clients
- Designed print collateral, ads, brochures, and posters
- Designed and coded html email and web pages, created web graphics
- Created Flash and animated gif ad banners
Jan 1999–Dec 2003
Designer/Art Director
Crabtree + Company Falls Church, VA
- Designed and developed websites and e-newsletters, and graphics for interactive exhibit kiosks
- Concepted and coded interactive activities for a science-for-kids website
- Concepted, designed, and produced full range of print materials, including brochures, posters, annual reports, and newsletters.
- Concepted, designed, and executed logos and identity systems.
July 1997–Dec 1998
Designer
Meadows Design Office Washington, DC
- Designed print materials from concept to production
1983–1995
Writing/editing Experience
- Director of Publications & Information Services | Association of Science-Technology Centers Washington, DC
- Assistant Editor | Chronicle of Higher Education Washington, DC
- Associate Editor | JAMA: Journal of the American Medical Association Chicago
- Writer/Researcher | Museum of Science and Industry Chicago
Technical Skills
Advanced, 5 years
XHTML & CSS
Hand coding in Textmate, CSS Edit; also conversant in Dreamweaver/Fireworks.
Beginner/Intermediate, 2+ years
jQuery/php
Can research jquery plug-ins and functions, customize and adapt for use in websites. Can understand and work with php written by front-end developers.
Intermediate, 2+ years
Wordpress
Familiar with WP themes, plug-ins, widgets, and custom php.
Expert, 10–15 years
Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Quark
Expert user of design applications and all aspects of print pre-press production.
Expert, 20+ years
Writing, copyediting, and proofreading.
Training and award-winning experience writing about science, medicine, and social science for a wide variety of audiences.
Recognitions
- Printing & Graphic Communications Association: Best of Category, Home Page Design
- Creative Network invitational logo show: McKissack & McKissack, Capital Children’s Museum logos
- Art Directors Club/DC Annual Shows: Carnegie Institution of Washington Just for Kids website
- Websites of the week for education and history professionals: Virtual exhibit Photographing History
- Art Directors Club/DC Annual Show: P&GCA PrintWeek 2000 dinner invitation and program
- Advertising Club/DC Addy Annual Show Merit Award: Capital Children’s Museum logo and stationery
- Society for Technical Communications Award of Distinction: NIH “Medicines for You” brochure
Education
1996 – 1997
Virginia Commonwealth University
Communication Arts
Studied graphic design for 4 semesters pursuant to career change.
1979 – 1983
Cornell University
M.A., Ph.D., Sociology (magna cum laude)
Specialties: sociology of mass media and sociology of science.