Kathleen Dames, Knitwear Designer/Art Director in New York, NY

About

I am an independent hand knit/knitwear designer, as well as an art director and graphic designer. I focus on figure-flattering sweaters, interesting construction, and clear patterns. My background in publishing has given me extensive experience in print/online art direction, layout, and production, which give my independent publications a unique look and feel.

Knitwear

• Swatching, sketching

• Sample knitting

• Schematic creation

• Pattern writing, chart creation, grading patterns for multiple sizes

• Cables, lace, colorwork

• Garments for women, men, and children

• Accessories and toys

Design

• Advertising: direct mail, print, online

• Art direction: direct freelance designers, photographers, illustrators, typesetters

• Book cover & interior: comps, specifications, templates, production

• Brand identity: logo design, printed goods, email and Word templates, on-site graphics for conventions

• Catalog: design and production

• Website: mock-ups, specifications, flow diagrams, live sites, user interface

Communications

• Blog, tweet, instagram, moderate Facebook page and Ravelry group to promote Kathleen Dames Design

• Facilitate communication between preschool staff and families

• Translate editorial/marketing/sales needs to creatives

• Manage freelance designers, photographers, illustrators, and typesetters

• Manage design and production schedules

• Manage art and design budgets

• Oversee small in-house design staff

Technical

• Social media: Blogger, Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, LinkedIn, MailChimp, Pinterest, Tumblr, Twitter, Vine, and YouTube

• HTML, CSS, and some JavaScript

• Copyediting and proofreading

• Template and style sheet creation

• Prepress, preflight, scanning, color correction

• Programs: Adobe Creative Suite, Filemaker Pro, Google Drive, Microsoft Office, QuarkXPress

Education

Bachelor of Arts (BA) English Language and Literature/Letters

Washington University in St. Louis

1990 - 1993

Co-editor, Cadenza, weekly arts supplement Copy editor, Student Life, twice-weekly student newspaper President, Washington University Effort for AIDS
Certificate Publishing Program

Rice University

1992 - 1992

Intensive four-week program focused on the business of book and magazine publishing. Students formed publishing houses and put together frontlists complete with budgets, cover comps, and sales information. Students also created magazines with budgets, article stubs, and circulation plans.

Experience

Knitwear Designer

Freelance / Graphic Design Services

Jan 2008 - Present (16 years 11 months)

Design, art direct, produce, and publish hand-knitting patterns, selling them via Craftsy, Etsy and Ravelry, and promoting them via kathleendames.blogspot.com, as well as on Facebook, Flickr, Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter, and YouTube. Patterns published in Knitscene, Knitty, and Jane Austen Knits, as well as independently, plus forthcoming from Enchanted Knits, Interweave Knits, Jane Austen Knits, and KnittySpin.
Art Director/Graphic Designer

Freelance

Jun 2007 - Present (17 years 6 months)

Book cover design, book interior design and production, and promotional materials design and production for clients, including Girl Scouts of the USA and the United Nations/Charette Communications Design, Inc.; Maison Française at Columbia University; and O’Reilly Media, Inc.
President, Parents Association

Tompkins Hall Nursery School & Childcare Center

Aug 2011 - Jun 2013 (1 year 10 months)

Worked closely with the director, faculty, and staff, as well as 60 families across three classrooms to enhance communication between home and school. Managed Google groups and calendars to inform everyone of events. Collaborated with Social and Fundraising committee chairs to improve and increase school fundraising efforts, including creation and production of inaugural yearbook. Co-directed search for new Director. Served as Lead Working Parent, coordinating schedules for parents participating in the teacher co-op. Continue to serve on Board of Directors.
Senior Art Director

Course Technology

Jul 2006 - May 2007 (10 months)

Designed and directed the design of collegiate-level computer science textbook covers, ancillaries, and interiors working with Creative Director, fellow Art Directors, Editorial, Sales, and Marketing staff, and freelance designers.
Art Director

Red Wheel/Weiser

Aug 2000 - Dec 2005 (5 years 4 months)

Designed and directed the design of all book covers and interiors, working with Publisher, Editorial, and Marketing staff, and freelance designers, including four titles chosen for the Bookbuilders of Boston 2003, 2004, and 2005 Annual New England Book Show. Designed catalogs, advertisements, promotional items, and websites for three distinct imprints (Conari Press, Red Wheel, and Weiser Books). Managed production of all titles from cover concept to final files, collaborating with Production Manager and supervising Production Design Coordinator.
Senior Designer

Gomez, Inc.

Aug 2000 - Apr 2001 (8 months)

Served as lead designer for professional services division of company, worked with internal clients, as well as development team, to design new web tools that were both attractive and highly usable, based on requirements lists. Generated schematics, Photoshop sketches, flow diagrams, site graphics, and html.
Junior->Senior Graphic Designer

O'Reilly & Associates

May 1997 - Aug 2000 (3 years 3 months)

Senior Graphic Designer, Web
Sole designer of Safari: O’Reilly Books Online. Responsible for look and feel of site, as well as name. Produced Photoshop sketches, site graphics, and html, working with site developer in Europe, as well as team on East and West Coasts.

Senior Graphic Designer, Print
Continued duties of Graphic Designer. Oversaw and managed production for all in-house book and software products, supervising the work of production designers and consulting with art directors on special projects. Streamlined production and pre-press processes.

Graphic Designer, Print
Continued duties of Junior Graphic Designer. Produced covers for all two-color books and labels for all bound-in software.

Junior Graphic Designer, Print
Created mini-catalogs for new titles and reprints. Provided technical support for Macintosh users.
Production Assistant->Advertising Designer

PWS Publishing Company

Feb 1994 - May 1997 (3 years 3 months)

Advertising Designer/Marketing Specialist • February 1996–May 1997
Continued duties of Advertising Designer. Managed development and distribution of sales information to in-house teams and various sales divisions. Developed new system for book cover art electronic archives. Answered marketing queries from customers and sales representatives. Attended semi-annual sales conferences.

Advertising Designer • September 1995–February 1996
Designed, produced, and coordinated printing and mailing of direct mail pieces, journal advertising, and convention posters. Managed trafficking of cover art, book information, author approval, and ad distribution and storage. Assisted Advertising Manager as needed.

Production Assistant • February 1994–September 1995
Managed production process for ancillary materials. Designed book covers. Performed duties of copy editor, proofreader, reprint editor, and indexer for main texts and supplements. Applied for Cataloging-in-Publication data to Library of Congress. Answered all out-of-house permissions requests.

Skills

Elsewhere on the Web

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On Coroflot

@kathleendames, member since 2014

Kathleen Dames

Associate Gear Designer

Letter and Script Engraver (Banknote) Apprentice