e
Art Director + Branding Specialist
Mark Ramdarass
New York, NY
- Contact
- Save to list
-
About
Senior creative with experience leading teams for fortune 500 companies and internationally published work for Nike, Budweiser, NBC and more.
behance.net/mr_cncpts for examples of my design work
I believe in helping people brand their messages correctly to ensure strong ideas are executed by way of stories that resonate and connect to an audience on many levels. Understanding your idea's potential is fueled by deeper understanding of your goals.
As a graphic designer and illustrator specializing in brand identities, I love to tell stories through my work and have recently switched to work for myself doing freelance graphics full time. In my 8 years of experience, I have also held in-house roles in which I lead concept development of product design, information graphics, pattern design, apparel design, and footwear design to name a few. Brands I have worked with include Nike Basketball, Nike Women, Nike Running, Reebok, Finishline, tokidoki, Pan Am, David & Goliath designing watches. Retail experience design and operations have also become a large interest for me which grew from my 7 years of management and leadership roles working at Nike and Banana Republic. -
Education
-
BFA Graphic Design & MarketingUniversity of Tennessee-Knoxville2001 - 2006Our graphic design program was tough on us. Students cried during critiques and only 50% of students graduated to the following year. Around 150 of us all started in GD 101. In my class, we had about 23 graduate.
-
-
Experience
-
DesignerFreelanceJul 2014 - Present (10 years 8 months)I believe in helping people brand their messages correctly to ensure strong ideas are matched with stories that resonate. Understanding your idea's potential is fueled by deeper understanding of your constantly evolving audience.
Branding gives me the opportunity to start a conversation that pushes the possibilities. I enjoy working with clients that who want to challenge the status quo and build a brighter tomorrow. -
Art DirectorNew York, NYApr 2015 - Apr 2018 (3 years)
-
Pacer (NIKE Running Product Specialist and Community Ambassador)NikeOct 2013 - Jul 2014 (9 months)• Offered special services to both new and seasoned runners including gait analysis and pacing
-
NIKE Training Club Tour Production AssistantOn Board Experiential MarketingMar 2014 - Mar 2014Brand Ambassador
-
Customization DesignerNikeOct 2012 - Sep 2013 (11 months)• Pitch and execute design projects for NIKE basketball, NBA, running, and training
• Create premium design experiences for invited celebrities and athletes
• Research and develop new print and packaging methods
• Expand on product stories to develop additional graphics for marketing activations
• Conceptualize and create graphics, packaging, experiences for limited basketball releases
• Train designers on Photoshop, Illustrator -
Customization Curator (Category Manager)ConverseJan 2012 - Oct 2012 (9 months)• Lead team of 10 designers. Responsible for grand opening on-boarding, and training.
• Create weekly and daily business reports including photos and consumer feedback for WHQ
• Translate consumer feedback and requests into new designs, product offerings for both the local marketplace and fleet wide execution.
• Walk customer through customization options on footwear and clothing
• Printed with, operated, and maintained commercial printers: brother GT 782 and brother GT 541
• Conducted quarterly performance reviews
• Managed inventory and ordering of printing supplies
• Maintained iPads, Computers, and customization hardware
• Created tools and systems for better tracking of customer orders and status -
Nike iD Studio Consumer Experience Specialist/Supervisor (stretch Coach - Retail Category Manager)NikeJan 2011 - Apr 2012 (1 year 3 months)• Responsible for managing NIKEiD.STUDIO and customizatoin totalling $1M/year.
• Responsible for co-managing NIKE Sportswear and kids categories totalling $23M/year.
• Report weekly business and consumer feedback to WHQ
• Presented category results in-person for high level walk-thrus with corporate partners.
• Manage 13 Design Consultants, including scheduling, zoning, and reviews
• Manage additional 24 Athletes/sale associates, including scheduling, zoning, replenishment, loss prevention, and reviews.
• Responsible for NIKEiD on board training at Santa Monica field house grand opening
• Create graphics for in-store training and promotional material including corporate event outreach, simple customization graphics, and 2011 NYC Marathon
• Participate in NIKEiD.2U youth marketing events throughout NYC area -
Nike Air Force 1 Bespoke Design ConsultantNikeAug 2010 - Apr 2011 (8 months)• Guide clients through 3 hour premium design experience of the Air Force 1
• Assist in training other designers in Photoshop and illustration
• Lead groups of clients through customization experience in group events
• Execute NIKEiD and Bespoke experience for NBA all star weekend in Los Angeles, CA -
Nike iD Studio Design ConsultantNikeFeb 2008 - Jan 2011 (2 years 11 months)• Walked customers through 45 minute 1-on-1 design sessions customizing NIKE footwear and apparel in the NIKEiD.STUDIO
• In increased volume events was responsible for faster turnaround while maintaining premium service. Responsible for up to 5 completed sessions within 1 hour.
• Maintained appointments and scheduling of 8 designers across 4 design stations and events
• Lead large groups of clients through customization experience in corporate events -
Design DirectorEOS New YorkMar 2007 - May 2009 (2 years 2 months)• Design watches, watch graphics, and packaging for 1st party and licensed brands
• Pitch design and marketing concepts for clients
• Create line sheets and catalogue
• Select materials and case styles for seasonal lines
• Re brand company graphics and flagship store signage
• Design website elements, advertisements, and marketing material
• Design packaging and instruction manuals for all product
• Manage and assist in hiring of additional designers -
Shipping and Receiving ManagerGap Inc./Banana RepublicJan 2007 - Jan 2008 (1 year)• Managed, zoned, and scheduled 23 shipping and receiving associates at New York flagship
• Reported weekly business and consumer feedback to HQ via email and conference calls
• Manage sales and BOH associates on sales floor and conducting replenishment audits.
• Responsible for, receiving shipment trucks, managing processing, and inventory control.
• Managed multiple store-wide REGIS inventory audits and preparation -
Shipping and Receiving ManagerBanana Republic / Gap Inc.Jul 2006 - Dec 2006 (5 months)• Managed, zoned, and scheduled 35 shipping and receiving associates at Chicago flagship.
• Key Holder: responsible for opening and closing store, loss prevention, trash inspection,
emergency safety procedures, out of store transfers and shipping orders.
• Reported weekly business and consumer feedback to HQ via email and conference calls
• Managed BOH store opening and closing duties as well as overnights.
• Responsible for stock room planning, receiving shipment, processing, and stocking inventory.
• Participated in overnight visual team installations and floor sets.
• Managed, zoned, and scheduled 35 shipping and receiving associates at Chicago flagship
• Proactively expanded on consolidation methods increasing stock room space by 10% -
ServerThe Cheesecake FactoryJul 2006 - Dec 2006 (5 months)I never had to memorize so many different items and their full descriptions. Working at their flagship location in the John Hancock building was surreal and extremely busy, Quickly I learned how to multitask, interact with so many personalities and I even got to serve Jerry Springer.
My favorite cheescake has to be vanilla bean and my favorite dish was the Pasta da Vinci. :) -
Ceam MemberTaco BellJun 2006 - Jul 2006 (1 month)After I was hired, they told me I scored the highest they ever saw on their application test. I was flattered, but also just got a good laugh out of it. The previous "record holder" at my store wasn't as amused.
I definitely perfected cooking Chalupas and measuring the perfect portion size of beef for tacos during my short time there. No, seriously- we used scales to measure the weight of food as fun incentive based way to quality check ourselves. Rewards would only be given if food was within a 0.001 - 0.003 g mark from perfect so you can imagine, this was difficult and not easily achieved during peak hours.
You meet some interesting people operating a drive through late at night not far from campus. -
Sale AssociateBanana Republic / Gap Inc.May 2006 - Jul 2006 (2 months)• Balanced the roles of sales associate, cashier, and stock checks in level 1 store simultaneously.
-
PhotographerPortrait InnovationsMar 2006 - Jun 2006 (3 months)• Responsible for taking Portrait photography for individuals, couples, families, and babies in
studio environment
• Scheduled appointments, walk-ins, and balanced scheduling across 3 photographers in 2
studios
• Developed film with, operated, and maintained commercial printer: Fujifilm 355
• Walked customers through entire photoshoot set and pitched sales packages and options.
• Utilized Photoshop for minor photo manipulation and retouching -
Sandwich ArtistSubwayJan 2006 - Jun 2006 (5 months)Sub of U Alumni. This job provided my first journey into the fast food industry. I ate a lot of Meatballs with Pepperoni and Italian BMTs in my time there. I was a fun and interesting experience working in a mall food court. Though I was a senior in college, this was certainly better than eating ramen all day, and allowed me a flexible schedule to focus on my studies.
-
Alley CoordinatorRed LobsterMar 2005 - Jan 2006 (10 months)
-
Takeaway ServerOutback SteakhouseMar 1999 - Jul 2002 (3 years 4 months)
-
-
Industries
-
Skills
-
Elsewhere on the Web
-
On Coroflot@Ramdarass, member since 2015