Artist & Designer at Gingerblah

Justin Cownden

Lakewood, OH

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About

Summary:

Creative designer and Illustrator with technical expertise in graphic software as well as a strong background in Fine Art. Advanced knowledge of package design, illustration, typography, pattern design, painting murals, and printmaking. Key strengths in hand drawing or computer based drawing, interpretation of concepts, and marketability of designs.
Education
- M.F.A. Painting
  
  Memphis College of Art
  
  1998 - 2000
  
  - Merit Scholarship from Memphis College of Art
- B.F.A. Graphic Design and Printmaking
  
  Youngstown State University
  
  1993 - 1998
  
  Awards: - John Naberezny Drawing award 1997. - Student Art Association award for Printmaking 1997. - McDonough Museum merit prize purchase award, 1997 Works On Paper. - Cedars Cafe S.W.E.A.T. Gallery show, 1998. - Golden Key National Honor Society - YSU Florence Simon Beecher Scholarship
Experience
- Freelance Graphic Designer / Illustrator
  
  The Creative Group
  
  Feb 2011 - Present (13 years 9 months)
  
  Freelance Graphic Design and Illustration with The Creative Group for various clients: General Electric, Southern Graphics Systems, 4Walls, Proforma, Linear Design, Darice, HMT Associates, Doner Advertising, Faber-Castell and others in and around Cleveland, Ohio.
- Freelance Designer & Artist
  
  Gingerblah
  
  Dec 2010 - Present (13 years 11 months)
  
  Freelance Graphic Design & Illustration
- Graphic Design
  
  Ai Design Group
  
  Nov 2011 - Jan 2012 (2 months)
  
  -Layout, design and formatting of product catalogs.
  -Layout and design of email advertisements.
  -Logo illustration and design work.
- Freelance/Package Design
  
  The Creative Group
  
  Nov 2008 - Apr 2009 (5 months)
  
  · Illustration and Design of Make Your Own Art Kits.
  · Conceptualizing and planning of entire package design.
  · Design of Design Guide and Instruction booklets for each art kit.
  · Redesign of Eco-Pencil logo for Faber-Castell.
  · Research of Color Trends for use in the package design.
- Surface and Product Designer
  
  American Greetings
  
  May 2003 - Jun 2008 (5 years 1 month)
  
  · Illustration and Design of Art for Major Retailers.
  · Conceptualizing and planning of designs.
  · Pattern Making and Surface Design for use in gift wrap & gift bags.
  · Research of Color and Design Trends.
  · Color correcting art and Proofing and comping of designs.
- Designer/Technical Writer
  
  Kelley Services/Invacare
  
  Oct 2002 - Apr 2003 (6 months)
  
  · Redesign of technical manuals.
  · Production of technical illustrations.
  · Assisted in some technical writing.
- Digital Graphics Assembler
  
  American Greetings
  
  Jul 2000 - Feb 2002 (1 year 7 months)
  
  - Responsible for all pre-press functions and proofing of greeting cards and gift bags.
  - Constructed pdf files, formatted electronic files and archived jobs.
  - Achieved one of the lowest error rates in the department and exceeded production goals.
  - Trained other associates how to make pdf files more efficiently and how to research missing files.
  - Informal leader, helped other associates problem solve.
  - Completed software training in half the expected time and worked with little supervision.
- Graphic Designer
  
  YSU Graphic Services
  
  Apr 1995 - Apr 1998 (3 years)
  
  · Designed logos, brochures, posters and did some illusrtation work.
  
  Software: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe PageMaker, Adobe InDesign, Adobe GoLive, Corel Draw, Macromedia Freehand, Quark Express, Ableton Live, Soundedit 16
Skills
Elsewhere on the Web
- n
On Coroflot

@justincownden, member since 2010
- Following 2
- Followers 3

Justin Cownden

Assistant Professor - Educator, Industrial Design, Myron E. Ullman, Jr. School of Design

Assistant Professor, Graphic Design